Madison, WI – The Wisconsin State Assembly today passed a bill targeting carjacking. The bill increases the penalty for carjacking with the use of a weapon from a Class C felony to a Class B felony. The bill also renames the crimes of “operating vehicle without owner’s consent” to simply “carjacking.”
Class C felonies are punishable by a $100,000 fine and up to 40 years in prison. By changing the classification to a Class B felony, carjackers using weapons could face up to 60 years in prison.
“I can’t imagine the terror that someone must feel when they’re being pulled out of their car at gunpoint or knifepoint, maybe even with their kids still in the car,” said Rep. Cindi Duchow (R-Pewaukee). “Our current law is apparently not working well enough to deter violent criminals. While this bill won’t solve the problem overnight, it’s a step in the right direction.”
The legislation, Senate Bill 76, now goes to Gov. Evers.
