News: 2011 Press Release

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today announced $23 million in grants to California District Attorneys that will aid them in the battle against automobile insurance fraud. Grant funds totaling $15.2 million were distributed to 35 counties for the regular auto insurance fraud grant program and $7.6 million were distributed to 10 counties for their Organized Auto Fraud program. These funds will assist the District Attorneys with the investigation and prosecution of automobile insurance fraud.  

"With the rise of insurance related fraud in California, local District Attorneys often have fewer resources at their disposal to fight fraud," said Commissioner Dave Jones. "These funds will assist District Attorney's across the state in the on-going fight to combat these types of fraud perpetrated against consumers."  

The Commissioner distributes the grant funds to District Attorneys who participate in insurance fraud investigation and prosecution efforts. The grant funds that are distributed come from statutory authority granted to the Commissioner which allows the collection of assessments from insurance companies based on the number of vehicles they insure.  

"These funds will allow local District Attorneys to attack this problem at the core," said Commissioner Jones. "Automobile insurance fraud drives up premiums for California Consumers and every effort is being made to combat it."  

The breakdown to individual counties is as follows: 

Regular Auto Insurance Fraud Program
FY 11/12 Grant Awards
County	Amount
Alameda	$872,426
Amador	$80,000
Butte	$115,000
Contra Costa	$417,457
El Dorado	$298,957
Fresno	$365,468
Humboldt	$43,307
Imperial	$45,122
Kern	$324,556
Kings	$121,636
Los Angeles	$4,306,309
Marin	$94,171
Mendocino	$27,646
Merced	$85,513
Monterey	$352,666
Napa	$34,974
Orange	$1,402,843
Riverside	$580,000
Sacramento	$532,567
San Bernardino	$637,495
San Diego	$1,500,000
San Francisco	$250,000
San Joaquin	$329,185
San Luis Obispo	$64,128
San Mateo	$278,605
Santa Clara	$785,000
Santa Cruz	$90,771
Shasta	$63,312
Solano	$113,738
Sonoma	$106,691
Stanislaus	$191,079
Tehama	$50,000
Tulare	$200,000
Ventura	$345,955
Yolo	$152,423
Total	$15,259,000
Organized Auto Fraud Interdiction Program
FY 11/12 Grant Awards
County	Amount
Alameda	$695,675
Fresno	$366,640
Los Angeles	$2,741,147
Orange	$428,340
Riverside	$417,318
Sacramento	$369,930
San Bernardino	$225,218
San Diego	$1,196,166
San Francisco	$246,290
Santa Clara	$956,693
Total	$7,643,417