Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed legislation this week aimed at giving more protections to victims of domestic abuse, stalking, and sexual assault. The new law requires carmakers to disable remote access technology, such as tracking and control features, within two days of receiving a certified protective or restraining order. In doing so, Louisiana becomes the first state in the country to hold car manufacturers legally liable in court for failing to comply with protective orders.
As the Louisiana Radio Network reports, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Detective Kelly Downey was instrumental in getting House Bill 74 passed. “Any of the email addresses or anything that’s logged in to that vin, that would be severed and so it would not allow an offender to be able to abuse, harass, assault, stalk, follow, track or monitor.”
In working closely with survivors and lawmakers, Downey provided testimony which described the dangers of vehicle systems being vulnerable to control by abusers. She also relayed the fact that four out of every five victims of domestic homicide had been stalked beforehand.
Downey says, “We had to get this stopped and this bill does it. It puts the car manufacturers into a position to where they are to enforce it, but it also kind of releases them from any liability from the registered owner, so it helps both sides.” The new law stipulates that the survivor must own the vehicle or have exclusive use granted by the court.
Downey added that such legislative measures equip victims to regain a sense of safety and security, which helps then create a fresh start as they heal and move forward with their lives. And in that sense, this detective expressed pride in their efforts, which she hopes is replicated in more states across the country. She elaborated, “It’s been a very long process, but it’s been worth every step of the way to be able to give that road to other states to do the same.”
