One would think if someone entered your car without your permission, it would be a crimebut that’s actually not the case in Vermont. Tuesday morning, Vermont House members gave preliminary approval to a bill that would create an auto trespass law — because right now, anybody can go into your car and look around, but as long as they don’t steal something or the car, they can’t be charged.The bill comes after a Vermont State Police officer was on scene at a crime and started getting notifications on his phone that someone had gotten into his personal car at home. When officers responded to his home, they said they couldn’t charge the man, because he technically didn’t break any laws since he didn’t steal anything. The bill looks to fill multiple similar gaps by creating a tiered system when it comes to auto theft crime. “We’re creating a trespass law for someone getting in someone’s car, the next step of the process is attempted auto theft which we have no specific laws on attempted auto theft,” said Rep. Tom Burditt, a Republican from West Rutland. The House is expected to give final approval Wednesday afternoon where it will then head to the senate.
One would think if someone entered your car without your permission, it would be a crime
but that’s actually not the case in Vermont.
Tuesday morning, Vermont House members gave preliminary approval to a bill that would create an auto trespass law — because right now, anybody can go into your car and look around, but as long as they don’t steal something or the car, they can’t be charged.
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The bill comes after a Vermont State Police officer was on scene at a crime and started getting notifications on his phone that someone had gotten into his personal car at home. When officers responded to his home, they said they couldn’t charge the man, because he technically didn’t break any laws since he didn’t steal anything.
The bill looks to fill multiple similar gaps by creating a tiered system when it comes to auto theft crime.
“We’re creating a trespass law for someone getting in someone’s car, the next step of the process is attempted auto theft which we have no specific laws on attempted auto theft,” said Rep. Tom Burditt, a Republican from West Rutland.
The House is expected to give final approval Wednesday afternoon where it will then head to the senate.
