Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act

New federal carjacking penalties and rules

If enacted, this bill would change the federal carjacking crime by replacing the pre-paragraph phrase with the word "knowingly" for the basic offense. It would create an aggravated carjacking crime punishable by a fine or up to 25 years in prison when the car is taken with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm, or when the taker brandishes or fires a firearm during the taking, and serious bodily injury results (as defined in federal law). It would also make the death-result enhancement apply only when the car was taken with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm and a death occurs, narrowing when that higher penalty can be used. The bill would also correct a small drafting punctuation error in the statute.