South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-01
AUTO THEFT ACT
BECOMES A LAW
Provides Fine of $500 With
Possible Imprisonment
of Five Years.

WASHINGTON, ID. C.. Nov. 20
South Bend motorists will be inter
'ested 10 learn that the act known as
tho seCational Motor Vehicle Theft
Act. has become a law. having been
PRESENTED 10 the president OF the
United States for his approval and
rot having been returned by him
10 the house OF congress in which
81 originated within the time pre-
Ecribed by the constitution OF the
United States. This act. which is the
work OF Rep. Dyer OF Missouri. Is
for the purpose OF Furnishing the
transportation Of stolen motor We
hlcles in interstate or foreign com
merce-
The act provides that whoever
shall transport or cause 20 be trans
ported in interstate or foreign COM
1,ierce q motor vehicle. knowing the
same TO have been stolen, shall be
punished by a fine OF $4,000, or by
imprisonment Of not more than five
years or both. Whoever receives
sonceals, stores. barters. sells, or
disposes Of any motor vehicle, mcv-
ing as. or which Is a part Of, or
which constitutes interstate or for
eign commerce, knowing the same
so have been stolen, may also re-
ceive the Same punishment. Any
person violating this act may be
punished in any district In or
through which such motor vehicle
has been transported or removed
- e-1cb offender
Committees Report.
The committee on judiciary Of the
house. TO which the bill was re-
ferred. in recommending it's passage
reported as follows:
THE congress OF the United
states can scarcely enact any law
at this session that is more needed
than the bill herein recommended,
md that has for it's purpose the pro-
Viding of severe punishment of those
guilty of the stealing Of automo-
biles in interstate or foreign COM
snerce. There has been and is now a
most widespread demand for such
"a law. State laws upon the subject
have been inadequate TO meet the
evil. Thieves steal automobiles and
take them from one state to another
and oft-times have associates in
this crime who receive and sell the
stolen machines.
The losses to the people OF the
United States by reason OF this
stealing amount 70 hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars every year. Tt
is getting worse. IL is getting so now
that 1t is difficult for the owners OF
the cheaper cars TO obtain theft in
surance, due to the great loss that
insurance companies have sustained.
During the last year automobile
theft insurance on this class of cars
has increased 100 percent. 1t is au-
tomoblles of that price that are
generally stolen. Automobile thieves
who make n specially Of this crime
do not steal many OF the higher
priced cars, the reason being, of
course. that they are not so easily
sold
Purpose OF Law.
The purpose of the proposed law
is 20 suppress crime in interstate
commerce. Automobiles admittedly
are tangible property. capable Of be-
ing transmitted in interstate COM
merce. The larceny Of automobiles
Is made a crime uSder the laws of
all the states in the Union. No good
reason exists why congress, invested
with the power to regulate COM
merCe among the several states
should not provide that such com
,merce should not be polluted by the
carrying Of stolen property from one
state 10 another. Congress is the only
power competent to legislate upon
this evil, and the purpose OF this
bIl is to crush il, with the penal
ties attached"