Moylan Hotline Law to Help Police Combat Carjacking

DES PLAINES, Ill. – A new law by state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, will help law enforcement work together to locate vehicles that have been hijacked or used in a kidnapping by establishing a hotline to connect law enforcement agencies with each other as well as with vehicle manufacturers and vehicle location vendors.

“Effective protection for the victims of violent crime is essential in any public safety plan,” Moylan said. “As carjackings are a growing concern across our region, it’s critical that we give police the tools they need to solve these crimes, locate people’s stolen property, and show perpetrators that they will be caught and punished.”

Moylan’s House Bill 2245 empowers the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to lead a vehicle theft hotline that brings together regional law enforcement agencies and police departments to help solve crimes like carjacking. The hotline will help law enforcement connect with vehicle manufacturers and vehicle location vendors when attempting to locate a stolen vehicle, when there is a clear and present danger of death or great bodily harm.

Manufacturers and vendors will be required to staff the hotline with an operator so that law enforcement can quickly get a hold of them to obtain information about a vehicle’s location or features. In addition, if the vehicle is equipped with a location tracking device which is not currently activated or subscribed, the company is required to waive any and all fees associated with activating the device and providing law enforcement with that information for the duration of the investigation, provided a police officer has confirmed that there is a clear and present danger of death or great bodily harm.

Finally, the law modifies the Freedom from Location Surveillance Act to permit the disclosure and use of this location data in situations falling under the new law.

The bill was passed unanimously by both the House and Senate and has been signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“When a vehicle is used in a kidnapping or stolen while a victim remains inside, that vehicle has to be located by law enforcement without delay,” Moylan said. “Victims of such crimes cannot afford to wait for law enforcement to wrangle a deal with companies from scratch. That’s why having a system already in place is the right answer in seeking to promote public safety on Illinois’ roadways.”