PRINTER'S NO. 1598

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 121 Session of 1985

        INTRODUCED BY MARKOSEK, MAYERNIK, ACOSTA, J. L. WRIGHT,
           KOSINSKI, HALUSKA, GODSHALL, SAURMAN, ITKIN, STABACK,
           BELFANTI, VROON, LANGTRY, COLAFELLA, FOX, TRELLO, POTT,
           NAHILL, JOHNSON, PERZEL, DEAL, PRATT, FISCHER, CIVERA,
           BELARDI, DeLUCA, OLASZ, GLADECK, CARN AND J. TAYLOR, JUNE 3,
           1985

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JUNE 3, 1985

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Providing for a special committee to investigate automobile
     2     theft and chop shops.

     3     WHEREAS, An estimated total of 1,048,310 thefts of motor
     4  vehicles occur yearly in the United States; and
     5     WHEREAS, Geographically the Northeastern States comprise 30%
     6  of this total, reporting the highest motor vehicle theft rate;
     7  and
     8     WHEREAS, In 1983, a total of 37,332 motor vehicle thefts were
     9  reported to Pennsylvania police departments, averaging 102
    10  thefts each day or one theft every 14 minutes and 5 seconds; and
    11     WHEREAS, In relation to the alarmingly high motor vehicle
    12  theft statistics, the operation of auto chop shops is rapidly
    13  growing; and
    14     WHEREAS, Auto chop shops deal with stolen automobile parts
    15  and vehicles with removed or falsified identification numbers;
    16  and

     1     WHEREAS, The incidence and prevalence of automobile theft and
     2  the operation of auto chop shops present grave problems to the
     3  citizens of this Commonwealth; therefore be it
     4     RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
     5  appoint a special committee to investigate automobile theft and
     6  chop shops. The committee shall consist of seven members, four
     7  from the majority party and three from the minority party; and
     8  be it further
     9     RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
    10  testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
    11  necessary in this Commonwealth. Each member of the committee
    12  shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations to
    13  witnesses appearing before the committee; and be it further
    14     RESOLVED, That the committee shall be paid from accounts
    15  under the control of the Chief Clerk in an amount not to exceed
    16  $30,000; and be it further
    17     RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings and
    18  recommendations for any necessary legislation to the House of
    19  Representatives as soon as possible.








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