2011-1463. Insurer Reporting Requirements; Annual Insurer Report on Motor Vehicle Theft for the 2005 Reporting Year

AGENCY:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation.

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces publication by NHTSA of the annual insurer report on motor vehicle theft for the 2005 reporting year. Section 33112(h) of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, requires this information to be compiled periodically and published by the agency in a form that will be helpful to the public, the law enforcement community, and Congress. As required by section 33112(c), this report provides information on theft and recovery of vehicles; rating rules and plans used by motor vehicle insurers to reduce premiums due to a reduction in motor vehicle thefts; and actions taken by insurers to assist in deterring thefts.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons may obtain a copy of this report or read background documents by going to http://regulations.dot.gov at any time or to Room W12-140 on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington DC, 20590, between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Requests should refer to Docket No. 2008-0055.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Carlita Ballard, Office of International Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer Programs, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Ballard's telephone number is [phone]. Her fax number is [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act of 1984 (Theft Act) was implemented to enhance detection and prosecution of motor vehicle theft (Pub. L. 98-547). The Theft Act added a new Title VI to the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, which required the Secretary of Transportation to issue a theft prevention standard for identifying major parts of certain high-theft lines of passenger cars. The Act also addressed several other actions to reduce motor vehicle theft, such as increased criminal penalties for those who traffic in stolen vehicles and parts, curtailment of the exportation of stolen motor vehicles and off-highway mobile equipment, establishment of penalties for dismantling vehicles for the purpose of trafficking in stolen parts, and development of ways to encourage decreases in premiums charged to consumers for motor vehicle theft insurance.

This notice announces publication by NHTSA of the annual insurer report on motor vehicle theft for the 2005 reporting year. Section 33112(h) of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, requires this information to be compiled periodically and published by the agency in a form that will be helpful to the public, the law enforcement community, and Congress. As required by section 33112(h), this report focuses on the assessment of information on theft and recovery of motor vehicles, comprehensive insurance coverage and actions taken by insurers to reduce thefts for the 2005 reporting period.

Section 33112 of Title 49 requires subject insurers or designated agents to report annually to the agency on theft and recovery of vehicles, on rating rules and plans used by insurers to reduce premiums due to a reduction in motor vehicle thefts, and on actions taken by insurers to assist in deterring thefts. Rental and leasing companies also are required to provide annual theft reports to the agency. In accordance with 49 CFR 544.5, each insurer, rental and leasing company to which this regulation applies must submit a report annually not later than October 25, beginning with the calendar year for which they are required to report. The report would contain information for the calendar year three years previous to the year in which the report is filed. The report that was due by October 25, 2008 contains the required information for the 2005 calendar year. Interested persons may obtain a copy of individual insurer reports for CY 2005 by contacting the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Management, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Room W12-140 ground level, Washington, DC 20590-001. Requests should refer to Docket No. 2008-0055.

The annual insurer reports provided under section 33112 are intended to aid in implementing the Theft Act and fulfilling the Department's requirements to report to the public the results of the insurer reports. The first annual insurer report, referred to as the Section 612 Report on Motor Vehicle Theft, was prepared by the agency and issued in December 1987. The report included theft and recovery data by vehicle type, make, line, and model which were tabulated by insurance companies and, rental and leasing companies. Comprehensive premium information for each of the reporting insurance companies was also included. This report, the twentieth, discloses the same subject information and follows the same reporting format.

Issued on: January 20, 2011.

Joseph S. Carra,

Acting Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.