N.Y. Counties Receive Insurance Anti-Fraud Funds

New York Governor George E. Pataki has announced the recipients of $5.3 million in grants for programs to combat motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud in communities across the state.

“These grants will help give our law enforcement officials the tools they need to fight motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud. Our police and prosecutors will use these resources to target these crimes through sting operations, specialized prosecution, and new law enforcement training,” Pataki said.

The grants fund a range of motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud prevention initiatives including enhanced prosecution, increased law enforcement and sting operations, and specialized training for prosecutors and police officers.

Pataki said similar grants in the past have helped law enforcement agencies reduce motor vehicle theft by nearly 65% since 1994.

Since 1997, the state has awarded nearly $31 million in motor vehicle and insurance fraud prevention grants. In the past two years , New York has seen a 6.6% decrease in the incidence of motor vehicle theft from 48,293 in 2002 to 45,089 in 2003.

The 29 grants this year were awarded through a competitive process administered by the Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Board. The grant funds are generated through a $5 fee collected by automobile insurance companies for each vehicle insured in the state.

The grant amounts include:
New York City Metropolitan Area $2,519,492
New York City Sheriff’s Department $60,000
Nassau County $270,562
Suffolk County $410,000
Westchester County $572,500
Albany County $188,000
Erie County $313,500
Monroe County $272,532
Monroe County Sheriff Department $39,000
Niagara County $140,000
Onondaga County $160,000
Rensselaer County District Attorney $100,000
Saratoga County District Attorney $ 35,000
Schenectady County District Attorney $100,000

Topics Auto New York Fraud Law Enforcement