"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
...
"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
...

"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
...
"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
...
Well, many states finding figured out that downplaying car theft to
"joyriding" had averse effect

Evidence please?

Well, in the early 90's, Colorado boosted their law on auto theft for
that
reason. And I understand Arizona did likewise in the mid 90's. I suspect
there's more than just the two I'm familiar with.

But what evidence (if any) was there that the previous laws were less
effective than more severe ones? The mere fact that a legislature decided
to
boost the penalties doesn't mean there was any good reason to think that
the
previous statutes were less effective. The legislators could just have
been
pandering to ideologues whose policy preferences are not based on sound
evidence.

Since that was neither the issue, nor the question (you seem to have a
strong propensity to add conditions and qualifiers to your responses) , I
fell no obligation to respond. I suggest you spend your own time researching
how auto thefts have changed on the past 20 or so years from "joyriding" to
profession car theft rings/chop shops, some even run but police officers.