Illinois 103rd Regular Session Status: In Committee 2 D cosponsors

SB 1978 — VEH CD-DISABLEMENT TECHNOLOGY

Last action — Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 103rd Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "disablement technology" as any instrument, device, machine, or equipment, whether software or hardware, that can be used to disable the starter of a motor vehicle, prevent fuel from flowing to the engine, prevent electricity from flowing to the engine, or otherwise prevent the vehicle from being started or driven by a person. Provides that disablement technology shall not be used as an aid to the physical retrieval of a vehicle as part of repossession or as a consequence for nonpayment under a retail installment contract or other instrument. Provides that a violation is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a consumer whose vehicle is subject to the activation of disablement technology may bring an action against an activating person or entity for damages of $1,000 per month per violation plus actual damages and attorney's fees. Provides that disablement technology may be offered for sale or sold only for antitheft purposes, either on its own or for an additional fee in connection with the purchase of a motor vehicle. Requires a motor vehicle dealer that sells a motor vehicle containing disablement technology to comply with specified requirements. Provides that data generated or stored by disablement technology as the result of a consumer's vehicle usage is the personal property of the consumer, and the consumer is entitled to all profits and other benefits flowing from the sharing or sale of the data. Provides that data generated or stored by disablement technology that is installed in a consumer's vehicle, and data transmitted by or through the disablement technology that relates to the consumer or the consumer's use of a motor vehicle, may not be sold or otherwise shared with any third parties except as required by federal, State, or local law, or required by court order. Makes a corresponding change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

8 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes regulations concerning the use and sale of disablement technology for motor vehicles, prohibiting its installation as a means of repossession and ensuring consumer rights regarding data generated by such technology.

  • 625 ILCS 5/1-115.08

    Sec. 1-115.08. Disablement technology. Any instrument, device, machine, or equipment, whether software or hardware, that can be used to disable the starter of a motor vehicle, prevent fuel from flowing to the engine, prevent electricity from flowing to the engine, or otherwise prevent the vehicle from being started or driven by a person.

    This new section defines what constitutes disablement technology.

  • 625 ILCS 5/12-614

    Sec. 12-614. Disablement technology, prohibited uses. (a) Disablement technology shall not be used as an aid to the physical retrieval of a vehicle as part of repossession or as a consequence for nonpayment under a retail installment contract or other instrument.

    This section prohibits the use of disablement technology for repossession or as a penalty for nonpayment.

  • 625 ILCS 5/12-614

    (c) The installation or use of disablement technology in violation of this Section is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

    Violating the prohibition on using disablement technology for repossession is classified as an unlawful practice.

  • 625 ILCS 5/12-614

    (d) ... Any consumer whose vehicle is subject to the activation of disablement technology may bring an action against an activating person or entity for damages of $1,000 per month per violation plus actual damages and attorney's fees.

    Consumers can sue for damages if their vehicle's disablement technology is activated improperly.

  • 625 ILCS 5/12-615

    Sec. 12-615. Disablement technology, antitheft. (a) Disablement technology may be offered for sale or sold only for antitheft purposes, either on its own or for an additional fee in connection with the purchase of a motor vehicle.

    This section limits the sale of disablement technology strictly to antitheft purposes.

  • 625 ILCS 5/12-615

    (e) Data generated or stored by disablement technology as a result of a consumer's vehicle usage is the personal property of the consumer, and the consumer is entitled to all profits and other benefits flowing from the sharing or sale of this data.

    Consumers retain ownership and rights to profits from data generated by disablement technology.

  • 625 ILCS 5/12-615

    (f) Data generated or stored by disablement technology... may not be sold or otherwise shared with any third parties except as required by federal, State, or local law, or required by court order.

    This ensures consumer data from disablement technology is protected and not sold without proper legal reasons.

  • 815 ILCS 505/2Z

    Section 11-1431, 12-614, → Section 11-1431, 12-614, 12-615,

    Adds the new sections on disablement technology to the list of violations under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

Action History

  1. Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt

  2. Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

  3. To Subcommittee on Special Issues on Criminal Law & Public Safety

  4. Assigned to Special Committee on Criminal Law and Public Safety

  5. Referred to Assignments

  6. First Reading

  7. Filed with Secretary by Sen. Omar Aquino

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 181 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (181)

181 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 181 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1978 do?
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "disablement technology" as any instrument, device, machine, or equipment, whether software or hardware, that can be used to disable the starter of a motor vehicle, prevent fuel from flowing to the engine, prevent electricity from flowing to the engine, or otherwise prevent the vehicle from being started or driven by a person. Provides that disablement technology shall not be used as an aid to the physical retrieval of a vehicle as part of repossession or as a consequence for nonpayment under a retail installment contract or other instrument. Provides that a violation is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a consumer whose vehicle is subject to the activation of disablement technology may bring an action against an activating person or entity for damages of $1,000 per month per violation plus actual damages and attorney's fees. Provides that disablement technology may be offered for sale or sold only for antitheft purposes, either on its own or for an additional fee in connection with the purchase of a motor vehicle. Requires a motor vehicle dealer that sells a motor vehicle containing disablement technology to comply with specified requirements. Provides that data generated or stored by disablement technology as the result of a consumer's vehicle usage is the personal property of the consumer, and the consumer is entitled to all profits and other benefits flowing from the sharing or sale of the data. Provides that data generated or stored by disablement technology that is installed in a consumer's vehicle, and data transmitted by or through the disablement technology that relates to the consumer or the consumer's use of a motor vehicle, may not be sold or otherwise shared with any third parties except as required by federal, State, or local law, or required by court order. Makes a corresponding change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
Who sponsors SB 1978?
SB 1978 is sponsored by Omar Aquino (Democrat) and Christopher Belt (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 1978?
This bill died with 103rd Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 1978?
Track SB 1978 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 1978

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 1978

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →