California is stepping up its fight against vehicle theft with an update to Section 9250.14 of the Vehicle Code. The new rule introduces a modest surcharge of $1 (or $2) on car registrations in participating counties. This fee is aimed at supporting local anti-theft initiatives. The funds will go toward efforts like recovering stolen vehicles and prosecuting thieves. To ensure accountability, counties must provide detailed reports on how the money is used, publish them online, and give annual updates to the state. Counties risk the chance of losing the surcharge for the following year if they fail to submit the reports. Therefore, when you pay that extra dollar during registration, you can rest assured it's being put to good use in the battle against car theft.
