The Help End Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) program is a voluntary statewide vehicle decal system designed to reduce car thefts. Under this program, the vehicle owner signs consent for certifying that the police may legally stop and question the driver between the hours of 1:00am and 5:00am to determine if the vehicle is being operated without the owner’s permission. Special decals are affixed to the front and back windows of the vehicle.

Procedures

1) Organize your residents for a HEAT party or combine a HEAT registration with a neighborhood meeting where many residents will be attending.

2) Call your crime watch officer at the phone number in Section I. Tell the officer that you want to schedule a HEAT registration.

3) Discuss with the officer when and where your want to do this. You may want to do it at the substation, a school or at a church parking lot. Residents must bring their vehicles so the location must be able to accommodate a large number of vehicles. Try to give two months notice of the event date to ensure an officer will be available to attend. Determine which day will provide the largest turnout of residents. Or you may contact the Texas Department of Public Safety web site at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/

4) To register, the vehicle owner must present the following: a. Vehicle certificate of title (copy) b. Valid Drivers License c. Proof of insurance or vehicle registration receipt d. Telephone number where the owner may be reached between 1:00am an 5:00am.

5) There is no cost for registration. Once the consent form has been signed the officer will affix color-coded decals to the inside front windshield and the outside rear windshield to indicate the vehicle is registered with the State of Texas.

6) Keep a list of the neighbors who registered their vehicles with HEAT.

7) Residents may individually go to the DPD substation to register their vehicle at any time. No advance notice is required. The neighbors should simply tell the desk Sergeant that they want to register their vehicle in the HEAT program.

They must bring the proper documentation with them. 1) The owner has the option of extending the authority of the police to stop the vehicle at the Mexico border 24-hours a day. 2) Prior to the sale or transfer of the vehicle or withdrawal from the program of any other reason, the owner must completely remove the decals and notify the substation.

Additional Information HEAT registration does not mean that you cannot drive your car between the hours of 1am-5am or that you cannot grant permission to others to drive your car. It merely gives the police a legitimate reason to stop your car. With proper identification, you should have no problem proving ownership of the vehicle. By signing the consent form, you acknowledge that the police may take certain precautions when stopping a registered vehicle and that you will advise anyone granted permission to operate your car of the HEAT provisions.

For more information please call the Northeast Division, ICP Unit at 214-670-7768.