Ariz. Senate Votes to Require Affidavits for Auto Theft Reports

Approving a measure aimed at helping to curb insurance fraud, the Arizona Senate voted to require that a person reporting an auto theft also present police with a signed affidavit.

The Senate approved the bill (SB1043) on a 30-0 vote, sending it to the House.

Under the bill, if an affidavit isn’t submitted within 10 days of the reported theft, the law enforcement agency that took the report would be required to remove it from criminal information databases.

The bill was supported by the Arizona Auto Theft Authority, insurance companies and police groups.

According to a legislative briefing memo, a 2004 study by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission found that between 10 percent and 20 percent of all reported auto theft cases in Arizona involved insurance fraud.