The officer can access a computerized database to not only check whether a stolen vehicle report has been filed, but also search for a potential stolen vehicle in the State's Watch Your Car Program database. If the database indicates that the vehicle is enrolled in the program, the officer knows that light-reflective Watch Your Car decals should be affixed to the vehicle. The absence of such decals would heighten the officer's suspicion that the vehicle had been stolen. The program compels thieves to remove tamper-resistant window decals while outside the vehicle, thus arousing attention by their suspicious behavior. These impediments, along with other theft prevention devices the owner may use, such as steering wheel locks, raise the deterrence threshold.
State governments have the option of participating in the program.
To register for the program, motor vehicle owners sign a consent form and obtain the program decals. The consent form authorizes law enforcement officers to stop the motor vehicle if it is being driven under certain specified conditions and take reasonable steps to determine whether the vehicle is being operated with the owner's consent. There are two program conditions. Under the second condition, the owner may consent to have the car stopped if it comes within 1 mile of a U.S. land border or international port. Motorists wishing to participate in the night program apply decals to the exterior sides of both the windshield and rear window.