Pub. date: 2004 | Online Pub. Date: September 15, 2007 | DOI:
10.4135/9781412952415 | Print ISBN: 9780761926498 | Online ISBN:
9781412952415| Publisher:SAGE Publications, Inc.About this
encyclopedia Motor Vehicle Theft Act Congress passed the Motor
Vehicle Theft Act of 1919, 18 U.S.C.A. Section 2311–2313, on
October 28, 1919. This act, commonly referred to as the Dyer
Act, named after Congressman Leonidas C. Dyer (R-MO), made
interstate transport of stolen motor vehicles a federal crime
and authorized the Federal Bureau of Investigation to
investigate vehicle thefts that crossed over state
jurisdictional lines. Prior to 1919 most states had established
comprehensive laws governing theft in its many forms. However,
few states were prepared for the unique theft problems that
resulted from the increased production, distribution, and
accessibility of the automobile in the United States, which
increased dramatically during the early part of the 20th
century. The automobile is particularly well-suited for theft.
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