The task force was established in reaction to the rate of auto theft in Massachusetts, the highest in the Nation. The task force found that auto theft was a crime characterized by an extraordinarily high repeat offender rate. Further, the State's present automobile insurance system encouraged fraud and dishonesty and guaranteed high profits to criminals involved in fraudulent automobile theft schemes. Police almost totally lacked control over the operation of motor vehicle salvage and scrap processing operations, and this lack of control encouraged such crimes as car theft, title substitution, and the destruction of evidence. The task force, therefore, endorsed a new sentencing approach which would leave judicial discretion for dealing with first offenders untouched but would authorize short and certain jail sentences for habitually convicted car thieves. It further recommended specific reforms of present State insurance practices, such as authorizing the inspection of automobiles before issuing comprehensive fire and theft insurance where application information indicated that the automobile might not exist. Other recommendations included licensing and regulating vehicle recyclers and scrap processors, enacting a salvage title law to assist in establishing proof of ownership, and standardizing a reporting procedure for all police departments handling stolen or misappropriated motor vehicles. The establishment of specialized auto theft squads and the implementation of a massive public awareness campaign were also recommended. A total of 14 tables, 15 figures, and 3 exhibits are included. Three appendixes contain a list of task force witnesses; an outline of private organizations, trade associations, and governmental involvement; and a list of advisors.