The proposed bill addresses the alarming rise in motor vehicle and retail theft in Washington State, which has seen significant increases in both categories from 2019 to 2023. To combat these issues, the legislation aims to strengthen penalties for theft-related crimes, reclassifying certain offenses and establishing harsher penalties for organized retail theft based on the value of stolen goods. Key amendments include the introduction of a new provision that counts prior convictions for specific theft-related offenses as four points instead of three in calculating offender scores, as well as special allegations for habitual property offenders based on their criminal history. The bill also emphasizes the need for increased accountability and resources to support public safety and affected communities.

Additionally, the bill establishes a motor vehicle and retail theft prosecution grant program, which will be created by the criminal justice training commission in collaboration with the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. This program aims to allocate funds to local jurisdictions to support county prosecuting attorneys in high-theft areas, allowing for the hiring of specialized staff and acquisition of necessary resources for prosecuting felony offenses. The bill also includes mandatory sentencing enhancements for offenders armed with firearms during the commission of crimes and specifies additional penalties for vehicular crimes involving children. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a comprehensive approach to addressing theft-related crimes and enhancing the effectiveness of prosecution efforts in Washington State.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 46.61.024, 9A.56.350, 9A.56.360, 9.94A.834, 9.94A.525, 9.94A.533