In 1992, the Orange County police chiefs and the Sheriff elected to pursue the funding for a vehicle theft task force, selecting the District Attorney's Office as the parent agency.

In April 1992, the Orange County District Attorney, Michael Capizzi, requested the Orange County Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 9250.14, which approved the implementation of Senate Bill 2139.  This authorization makes possible the addition of $1.00 to the registration fees on each vehicle registered in the County with the money to be appropriated for the development of a multi-agency, Multijursidictional, countywide task force to investigate, apprehend and prosecute the professional thief. 

In July 1992, strategies were initiated and a new task force was on its way.  Efforts commenced to select personnel, equipment, and a covert headquarters.

On January 12, 1993, the Orange County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 93-54, bringing the task force another step closer to reality.

On April 6, 1993, by request of the District Attorney, the Board of Supervisors established the "Orange County Auto Theft Task Force" (OCATT). 

On July 5, 1993, OCATT officially began operations (after several team members spent a few months setting up operations and securing assets) to combat the increasing incidents of vehicle theft in Orange County.  The expressed mission was to "identify, arrest and prosecute the professional vehicle thief." 

On October 14, 1995, Governor Pete Wilson signed Assembly Bill 135 into law. This bill extended the sunset clause found in Vehicle Code Section 9250.14, thereby, providing funding for county vehicle theft task forces through midnight, December 31, 1999.

On August 25, 1999, Governor Gray Davis signed Assembly Bill 183 into law.  This bill extended the sunset clause found in Vehicle Code Section 9250.14, thereby, providing funding for county vehicle theft task forces through January 1, 2005.

On September 14, 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 1663 into law.  This bill extended the sunset clause found in Vehicle Code Section 9250.14, thereby, providing funding for county vehicle theft task forces through January 1, 2010.

On October 11, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 286 into law.  This bill extended the sunset clause found in Vehicle Code Section 9250.14, thereby providing funding for county vehicle theft task forces through January 1, 2018.

Assembly Bill 767 (2013) amended Vehicle Code section 9250.14 to eliminate the repeal date and thus extend the $1.00 fee to be charged on vehicle registrations and the continuous appropriation to fund themulti-jurisdictional vehicle theft task force indefinitely.