77-720 Revision CITY OF HOPKINS MIN N.
TO: Peter Cotton, City Manager
FROM: Ovide LaBerge, Police Superintendent of
SUBJECT: Revision of Ordinance #720
DATE: January 13, 1977
The current City Ordinance regarding unattended vehicles is inadequate for the
following reasons:
1. Violation of the ordinance is a Criminal Violation and should
be reduced to a Petty Misdemeanor.
411 2. The ordinance cannot be enforced on private property.
The proposed revision is more in keeping with the original intent behind this
kind of law, and that is to aid in the prevention of crime; more specifically,
auto theft.
The proposed revision makes our ordinance on unattended vehicles more uniform
with the other cities in the area.
Please read Officer Jack Pratt's attached memo for additional information.
cc: LaBerge
Pratt
attachements: One (1 )
141,
1010 FIRST STREET SOUTH • HOPKINS, MIN N. • 612/935-8474
CITY OF I Q E INS MIN N.
0
TO: Supt. 0. L. LaBerge
FROM: Crime Prevention Unit
SUBJECT: Proposed Ordinance Section 720 Revision
DATE: January 5, 1977
The Minnesota Governor's Commission on Crime Prevention and Control reports that
a car is stolen every thirty three seconds in the United States. This amounts to
one fifth of all reported crimes. Most vehicles are stolen because it was easy to
do so. Eighty percent of cars stolen were left unlocked, and forty-two percent
had the keys left inside.
In Hopkins for 1976, twenty-three (23) motor vehicles were reported as stolen
from automobile sales dealers. In addition, fifty (50) vehicles were reported
II* stolen from private and public parking lots, streets, alleys, and even garages.
The greatest majority of these stolen vehicles had the keys in the ignition.
On two days preceeding Christmas, the Crime Prevention Unit made random spot checks
of public and private parking areas throughout the City. Thirty-one (31) vehicles
were found unlocked with keys in the ignition. No citations were issued because
current Hopkins Ordinances do not prohibit keys to be left in the ignition of cars
parked on private property.
In reviewing the current Hopkins Ordinance regarding unattended vehicles, we find
that this offense is still a criminal violation and should be reduced to a petty
misdemeanor. The locations should be changed to cover anywhere within the City
because the motor vehicles are being stolen from private property as well as public
property.
With the proper ordinance, our police department should he able to greatly reduce
the number of motor vehicles stolen within the City.
S.
1010 FIRST STREET SOUTH • 1-1 ca=I INS, MILAN. • 612 1035-847 4