SR0323 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0323 LRB103 32620 MST 62253 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Vehicular hijackings are a particularly dangerous crime that is now at historic levels in numerous cities across the country, leaving untold numbers of residents frightened that they could become the next victim, even in their own driveways; and

WHEREAS, Vehicular hijackings too frequently leave victims severely injured or dead, and the vehicles are often used to commit additional violent acts throughout communities; and

WHEREAS, Generally, vehicular hijackings are hard to solve because offenders ditch the vehicles or change vehicles frequently to avoid capture and detection; and

WHEREAS, Many vehicles made after 2015 have location technology that would enable law enforcement to quickly locate a vehicle after a hijacking incident, but automakers, car dealers, and third party providers have not created an efficient system to quickly convey this location information to law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, Some auto manufacturers or third party data providers are not available after-hours or on weekends to provide location information to law enforcement, and some refuse to provide the information even if legally able to do so or require vehicle owners to pay a fee to access the information; and

WHEREAS, A 24-hour hotline for law enforcement to access location information, when available, will allow law enforcement to more quickly locate hijacked vehicles, increasing the chance of catching and prosecuting offenders and reducing subsequent violent crimes; and

WHEREAS, Consumer privacy can be protected under such a system by requiring an owner's consent absent extenuating circumstances in which there is a clear and present danger of bodily harm or death; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly has approved such a system for auto manufacturers that sell vehicles in Illinois, that included a unanimous vote in the Senate; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation and all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to prioritize working with law enforcement, auto manufacturers, and consumer advocates to establish national tools for addressing and responding to the alarming growth in vehicular hijackings, including the creation of a national hotline for providing efficient access to vehicle location information to law enforcement in vehicular hijacking incidents; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the U.S. Senate Majority Leader, the U.S. Senate Minority Leader, the U.S. Speaker of the House, the U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader, all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, and the National Automobile Dealers Association.