These measures allow the office “broader authority and additional tools” in order to prosecute forcible felonies, gunrunning and firearms trafficking crimes committed on Illinois highways and expressways, the AG stated. Forcible felonies include murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual assault, robbery, burglary, arson and kidnapping, among other offenses. 

“We stand ready to collaborate with the Illinois State Police to address gun violence and other violent crimes occurring on our highways and expressways,” Illinois AG Kwame Raoul said in a statement. “We are committed to capturing and holding accountable individuals who terrorize residents and visitors traveling Illinois roadways.

“I appreciate the Legislature’s action and look forward to continuing to use our partnerships with law enforcement agencies to combat shootings and violent crime wherever it takes place in our state,” Raoul continued. 

The AG wrote that crimes committed on highways and expressways are often difficult to investigate and prosecute due to the difficulty of locating evidence or offenders fleeing the scene of the crime. The measures passed recently aim to address those hurdles in investigations. 

The legislation increases the use of highway cameras and gives the ISP and local law enforcement the authority to use the captured footage in a “broader range of criminal investigations,” the AG stated, also allowing ISP to share its investigations with the Attorney General’s office. This will enable the AG’s office to prosecute an offender who is caught on a highway camera committing a forcible felony, gunrunning or firearms trafficking. 

“With the emerging crime of organized retail theft and spike in violence, we welcome strong action on behalf of law enforcement and public safety,” ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said in a statement. “The Illinois State Police will continue to work closely with the Illinois Attorney General and State’s Attorneys across the state to bring to justice those who break the law.”