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119-hr-7572119th Congress

No Vigilante Checkpoints and Civil Rights Protection Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a federal crime for false assumption of government authority in law enforcement. This bill would make it illegal for private actors to perform police-like stops, demand ID, force searches, or collect license-plate or vehicle-identification data on public roadways without lawful authority, and it would preserve protections for lawful protest and speech.

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  • Drivers and the public: Prohibits private road stops, identity demands, searches, and automated collection of plate or vehicle ID data unless done under lawful authority. Violations would carry up to 5 years in prison or a fine, and up to 10 years if a weapon is used, bodily injury results, or a federal officer or operation is targeted.
  • People harmed by these actions: Can bring a private civil suit with statutory damages of at least $10,000 per violation, plus compensatory and possible punitive damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees. The law bars qualified immunity and sets a five-year statute of limitations.
  • Organizers and public entities: Allows suits against individuals, organizations that directed or financed the conduct, and government entities that knowingly permitted or failed to prevent it on public property.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban on private checkpoints and searches

If enacted, the bill would make it a federal crime for people to set up private checkpoints or to stop, detain, or attempt to stop vehicles or people on public roads without lawful authority. It would also bar private demands for identification, private searches, and using devices to collect license-plate or vehicle identification data. Violations would carry up to 5 years in prison or a fine, and aggravated cases with a weapon, bodily injury, or targeting federal officers could bring up to 10 years. The bill would not prohibit lawful protest, speech, or assembly.

Right to sue for unlawful checkpoints

If enacted, you would be able to sue in federal court if someone stopped, detained, searched, or demanded your ID on a public road without lawful authority. Courts would award at least $10,000 per violation, plus compensatory and possible punitive damages, injunctive or declaratory relief, and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. Qualified immunity would not be available as a defense. You would have 5 years from the date of the violation to file a suit.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]

TX • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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