New Bills Sponsored By Arlington Heights Senator Protects Car Owners

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — A new measure to help cut down on stolen cars and car parts has been signed into law thanks to the efforts of an Arlington Heights lawmaker.

State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) sponsored a pair of legislative bills that are meant to help protect local car owners after car thefts jumped by 13 percent between 2019 and 2020, Gillespie said.

House Bill 601 updates the definition of the possession of burglary tools offense to include devices that are designed to unlock or start a vehicle without a key and devices designed to capture or duplicate a signal from a key fob, according to a news release.

According to experts, car thieves have exploited new technology that can pick up the RFID signal from a key fob at a distance, which allows a victim’s vehicle to be unlocked or stolen even while the fob remains in their home.

To prevent the theft of car parts, House Bill 107 cracks down on the sale of stolen catalytic converters by classifying them as recyclable metal.

The new classification subjects the sale of catalytic converters to thorough record-keeping that includes the license plate number of the vehicle, verified name and address of the seller, and a signed declaration that the part was not stolen, the news release said. The new law also prevents recyclable metal dealers from purchasing catalytic converters valued at over $100 with cash, which further eliminates the market for these stolen parts.

“Eliminating market incentives for stolen parts is smart on crime, preventative measure to ensure that these crimes do not happen in the first place,” Gillespie said in the release.

Both of the new bills go into effect on January 1.