December 15, 2022 – As Illinois continues to deal with vehicle thefts and carjackings, there are new laws that take effect in January aimed at addressing the problem.
California experienced the highest number of stolen vehicles overall in 2021, with over 200,000 vehicles taken. The top five states for vehicular crime, California, Illinois, Florida, Colorado and Texas, accounted for 412,008 cars stolen. Those who speculated that it was a “pandemic thing” may rethink that notion as the problem continues.
One new law expands the offense of possession of burglary tools to include possession of a device that unlocks or starts a vehicle without possession of the key fob, or which captures a duplicate signal from a key fob to unlock or start a vehicle.
Another law that goes into effect provides grants and financial support to assist with the identification, apprehension and prosecution of car hijackers and the recovery of stolen vehicles.
A third law ensures those who are victims of a carjacking are not liable for violations, fees, or other penalties if the vehicle owner files a police report in a timely manner.
