WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SD 1052

An Act relative to car theft with digital devices

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Moore

Bill creates criminal penalties for using relay devices to steal vehicles via digital signals, targeting a growing theft method that bypasses traditional car security systems.

0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 1052

Legislative bill overview

SD 1052 addresses the use of digital devices to steal vehicles by establishing new criminal penalties and law enforcement tools to combat "relay attacks" and similar electronic car theft methods. The bill likely creates or strengthens statutes criminalizing the possession of signal-relay devices or signal-amplification equipment used to intercept and manipulate vehicle key fob signals.

Why is this important

Car thefts using digital relay devices have surged significantly in recent years, with thieves using inexpensive electronics to capture and repeat key fob signals from distances away, bypassing traditional security systems. Massachusetts vehicle owners face increasing vulnerability to this crime method, which police struggle to prevent and prosecute under existing laws not specifically designed for digital theft techniques.

Potential points of contention

  • Technology definitions: The bill must clearly define what constitutes illegal "digital devices" without inadvertently criminalizing legitimate security research tools, electronics hobbyists, or cybersecurity equipment that has dual-use applications.
  • Penalties and proportionality: Critics may question whether criminal penalties align with theft severity, and whether the bill distinguishes between possessing relay devices versus actually using them to steal vehicles.
  • Privacy and law enforcement scope: The legislation may grant police new surveillance or investigative powers regarding electronic signals and vehicle systems, raising Fourth Amendment concerns about warrantless tracking or data collection.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.