In Illinois, forcibly taking someone else’s vehicle is illegal and could result in serious consequences. If certain factors exist during the commission of this crime, the punishments could increase.
What Is Carjacking?
Carjacking is legally referred to as vehicular hijacking. Under Statute 720 ILCS 5/18-3, a person commits this offense when they use or threaten to use force to take a vehicle from a person who is in or around the car.
Carjacking is charged as a class 1 felony, which is punishable by up to 15 years in state prison and/or up to $25,000 in fines.
What Is Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking?
Although the penalties for vehicular hijacking are harsh, a person could face even more severe consequences if they commit aggravated carjacking.
Under Statute 720 ILCS 5/18-4, an individual could be charged with this offense if they take a person’s vehicle by force and:
- The alleged victim is disabled or over 59 years of age, or
- A passenger in the vehicle is under 16 years of age, or
- They are carrying a deadly weapon or firearm, or
- They discharge their firearm while engaged in the offense, or
- They discharge their firearm, causing serious bodily injury, disfigurement, or death to another
Aggravated vehicular hijacking is charged as a class X felony. The specific factors of the crime determine the penalties for this offense. For example, if a person took the vehicle of a 60-year-old individual, the alleged perpetrator could face 6 to 30 years in prison if convicted. If they shot and injured someone during the commission of the crime, they could spend 25 years to life in prison.
Contact the Law Office of Steven Fine – Your Initial Consultation Is Free
Our lawyer is dedicated to providing aggressive legal defense for individuals charged with felony offenses. If you are facing criminal allegations for carjacking, contact us today to discuss your case. When you retain our services, we will thoroughly investigate the facts of the situation to develop a defense strategy and fight charges.
To get over 20 years of legal experience on your side, call us at (312) 436-0638 or contact us online.
