SPRINGFIELD – Drivers throughout Illinois will profit from a bundle of measures that purpose to discourage future automotive thefts and hijackings due to the assist of State Senator Doris Turner.
In keeping with a January report from CNN, cities across the nation have seen a rise within the charge of carjackings.
“Nobody ought to ever should concern if their automotive shall be violently taken from them. However sadly the unhappy actuality is increasingly more persons are changing into victims of carjackings every day,” stated Turner (D-Springfield). “This has to cease. We should do all we are able to to fight this nationwide epidemic and alleviate the monetary and emotional stress these crimes trigger.”
Home Invoice 601 modernizes the definition of the possession of housebreaking instruments offense to incorporate subsequent technology carjacking know-how. Automobile thieves have exploited new know-how that may decide up the RFID sign from a key fob at a distance, permitting a sufferer’s automobile to be unlocked or stolen even whereas the fob stays of their dwelling. In keeping with the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau, Illinois noticed a 13% improve in automotive thefts from 2019-2020.
Home Invoice 3699 will present regulation enforcement with extra assets to coordinate efforts to place a cease to carjackings. Beneath the laws, the Motor Car Theft Prevention Council – made up of representatives from the insurance coverage trade, state’s attorneys and regulation enforcement – shall be tasked with working collectively to scale back carjackings. The Council presently offers grant funding to a few activity forces – comprised of regulation enforcement and state’s attorneys – which examine and prosecute motorcar menace and related crimes.
Home Invoice 3772 will present protections for victims of carjackings who obtain crimson mild or velocity digital camera violations after their automobile has been hijacked. Beneath the brand new regulation, if an individual receives a quotation resulting from certainly one of these digital camera violations, the courtroom or listening to officer would have the ability to think about whether or not the automobile was hijacked earlier than the violation occurred or the sufferer not beneath the management of or possession of the automobile on the time of violation.
“Expertise has quickly superior within the latest years, and our legal guidelines must advance as properly,” Turner stated. “These measures do exactly that. This isn’t only a win for drivers, it’s a win for regulation enforcement.”
The brand new legal guidelines take impact Jan. 1, 2023.