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Chop Shop Legislation Passes House and Senate

24 November 1998

Chop Shop Legislation Passes House and Senate; Chop Shop Operators Could Face Prison and Fines Up to $100,000

    HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 24 -- The Pennsylvania House and Senate
passed legislation on Tuesday, November 10, that will make operating a chop
shop a second degree felony crime in Pennsylvania.  Under S.B. 1372,
introduced by Senator Ed Holl (R- Montgomery), anyone who knowingly operates a
chop shop, provides parts, or resells vehicles from such an operation could
face fines of up to $100,000 and prison sentences of up to 10 years. The bill
now moves to Governor Ridge for his signature into law.
    "Not only does the legislation work to put chop shop operators behind
bars, but it benefits law enforcement with an increased ability to identify
and permanently shut down these illegal operations," according to Julia
Hearthway, Chairperson of the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA),
and Deputy Attorney General.
    The ATPA, with the support of the Attorney General's Office, the
Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, the Pennsylvania State Police,
and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, spearheaded the legislation.
"Vehicle theft, including chop shops, costs Pennsylvanians close to 300
million dollars each year," said Hearthway.  "This year, the 14 law
enforcement and prosecutorial units funded by the ATPA have conducted over 150
chop shop investigations and recovered in excess of $14 million in stolen
vehicles and parts.  With this legislation, our arrests and convictions should
increase significantly."
    Chop shops are illegal operations where stolen cars are delivered and
processed, frequently for the resale of parts.  Chop shop mechanics can
completely dismantle a stolen vehicle in 30 minutes.  Stolen vehicles can be
re-assembled and their identities altered to make the vehicle appear
legitimate.  These parts and vehicles are then sold to unsuspecting consumers
who often bear the costs of these crimes.
    For more information on the chop shop legislation or the ATPA, contact PR
Director Sara McLin at 717-975-9074.