April 10, 2009

Ross joins in successful fight against decreasing
auto theft punishment

In a late evening floor session Thursday, April 9, Rep. Charles Ross, R-Naches, helped defeat a measure which would have overturned auto theft punishments championed in a bipartisan fashion two years ago.

This year's Senate Bill 5746 would have changed several revisions relating to juvenile offenders. An amendment made to the bill in the House Human Services Committee reduced the fines that can be imposed on juvenile offenders when they steal a car, and removed the requirement for a minimum fine.

In 2007, House Bill 1001 passed and was signed into law. It had 56 sponsors, Republicans and Democrats. The law increased penalties for juvenile vehicle thieves with no prior convictions to $250. Those with one prior conviction now pay $400 in penalties as a result of that bill.

"Our community has seen immense benefits in increasing penalties on youth auto theft," Ross said. "The evidence tells us that auto theft leads not only to felony eluding, but also to gang recruiting and other criminal acts. Often times, vehicles are stolen for the sole purpose of committing another crime."

When Senate Bill 5746 came before the floor of the House late Thursday with the amendment attached to strike the minimum fines adopted in 2007, Ross spoke strongly against the bill.

He told other legislators that to pass the bill as amended would be an about-face on the bipartisan work from two years ago.

"I live in a world today where penalties mean something," he told his colleagues. "And to sit here and say that $400 is too much for a 17-, 18-year-old kid to pay is appalling. Anybody know how much an XBOX 360 costs? Anybody seen an iPod? Have you been to Best Buy? Have you looked at a kid at the public school and seen the clothes they're wearing? They have more than $400 in their clothing and in their pockets! But yet, when that person steals your car, the state of Washington today says, 'You know what, that's ok, we don't want to make you pay $400 for the action that you took.'"

He closed his floor remarks by saying that a 'yes' vote would condone the actions of juvenile car thieves who take one of someone's most valuable possessions.

"Turn this bill down and do the citizens of this state a favor," Ross said on the floor.

Immediately afterward, Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Morris put the House at ease. After a brief Democratic caucus, the majority returned and began running other bills. It appeared the bill was dead.

Ross said he was pleased that he and the five speakers before him who spoke against the bill were able to remind the majority of the importance of auto theft penalties.  

"It takes a village to raise a child, and that includes teaching them about consequences," Ross said. "Bobby Aguilar and Edgar Trevino-Mendoza are not alive today as a result of a car thief who was running from the police. That's a consequence that young man will have to live with for the rest of his life. These fines get the attention of the juvenile offenders as well as their parents, and can change their course in life." 

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For more information, contact:  Sarah Lamb, Public Information Officer - (360) 786-7720