The Louisiana Automobile Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority (LATIFPA) is a public agency within the Department of Insurance (DOI) that was created under Act 711 of the 2004 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Its purpose is to combat motor vehicle insurance fraud, including fraud by theft and other criminal acts, through a statewide cooperative effort of generating funds to enhance or finance fraud prevention efforts. Act 711 also establishes an Automobile Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority Fund within the LATIFPA. This specially created funding mechanism will be used to collect and disburse funds through a grant process for the purpose of reducing motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud.

LATIFPA awards three types of grants:

1. Law Enforcement Grants will be awarded to state agencies, local governing authorities and law enforcement agencies to promote more efficient and effective law enforcement of vehicle theft investigation, enforcement and prevention through the establishment of automobile theft enforcement teams and other detection/apprehension devices and programs.Funds may also be awarded to state, parish and municipal law enforcement agencies for the purpose of promoting more efficient and effective law enforcement activities of insurance fraud investigation, enforcement and prevention and enforcement efforts, targeting areas of the state that have large motor vehicle theft problems.
2. Prosecution Grants will be awarded to prosecutorial agencies within the State of Louisiana to enhance the prosecution of vehicle theft and insurance fraud through programs designed to increase the number of vehicle theft and insurance fraud cases by dedicating funding for the hiring of prosecutors, investigators and analysts to work exclusively on those cases specific to vehicle theft offenses and other offenses of insurance fraud.
3. Public Awareness/Fraud Education and Prevention Grants will be awarded to state agencies, local governing authorities and law enforcement agencies to promote public awareness and community and student education on vehicle theft prevention and insurance fraud.
   

Grant Applications, Grant Award Guidelines and Grant Policies and Procedures will be made available on the website in the near future.

For more information please review the information on the DOI website linked below or contact LATIFPA directly using the information provided.

http://www.ldi.state.la.us/Legal_Services/LATIFPA/index.htm