ST. PAUL, Minn. – A bill passed by the Minnesota House Commerce committee this week requires manufacturers to put anti-theft devices on certain vehicles at no charge.
Democratic Rep. Brad Tabke of Shakopee said the measure was prompted by a major spike in Kia and Hyundai thefts in the state.
“In 2022, we had over 3,300 thefts of Hyundai and Kias. [That’s] an 893 percent increase in those thefts in Minneapolis alone,” Tabke said.
Companies would have to install the devices on all vehicles manufactured without “immobilizers” after Jan 1, 2013.
Tabke said those devices cause the horn to sound, lights to flash, or the vehicle to be inoperable.
