Michigan Takes Car Hacking Rather Seriously

[dales]

Michigan Senate Bills Would Give Car Hackers Life In Prison


The FBI sent out a PSA just over a month ago warning us all about the risks of car hacking, but drivers in Michigan may not have to worry about that too much after all. If two new bills pass through the state’s Senate, hackers of electronic vehicle systems could face a sentence of up to life in prison.

According to reports by Automotive News, these are the first of several bills on car hacking expected to make it into the Michigan Senate. If passed, it would become a felony for a person to “intentionally access or cause access to be made to an electronic system of a motor vehicle to willfully destroy, damage, impair, alter or gain unauthorized control of the motor vehicle.”

The hacking proposals, Senate Bills 927 and 928, went to the Senate’s judiciary committee. Automotive News cited Sen. Mike Kowall, a sponsor of the bills, as saying he wants to be “proactive on this and try to keep up with technology” rather than waiting for something bad to happen.

“I hope that we never have to use it,” Kowall said. “That’s why the penalties are what they are. The potential for severe injury and death are pretty high.”

When viewing hacking in that context, it’s also important to remember that not all hacking is dangerous. According to the PSA sent out by the FBI, the biggest hacks can be done at slower speeds—at 10 to 15 mph, hackers can shut down engines, control steering and disable brakes. At any speed, hackers can take over door locks, turn signals, tachometers, radios, HVACs and GPS systems.

With the recall of 1.4 million Fiat Chrysler vehicles in 2015, there’s no doubt that car hacking is real. Whether or not hacking will be punishable by life in prison—at least, in Michigan—it looks as if we’ll find out soon.

[Scooter]

I've just been giving another reason to never buy another car again. Car hacking now. What next, are hijackers going to be able to remotely divert airliners from the ground?

[Lord Jim]

This is another reason why I like owning a car that doesn't have any "software"...

Nobody's going to "hack" my '98 Range Rover...

[Jarlaxle]

No need...it will stop running by itself!

[Lord Jim]

[Crackpot]

Knowing the Michigan legislature this is written so piss poor that it will wind up implicating people that expose life threatening defects.

[RayThom]

This is another reason why I like owning a car that doesn't have any "software"... Nobody's going to "hack" my '98 Range Rover...

OK... so what is your "every day driver" with the Range Roamer being in the shop most of the time?

[oldr_n_wsr]

I hope they wrote this law with the everyday car enthusiast in mind. That is, the big car people have been trying to keep the garage hot rodder from playing with their engine computer software and this could be a way to help the big three (and more) keep you from modifying a car you bought and own (i.e. you should be able to do what you want to it).

Where's my 64 dodge dart when you need it?

[No Greater Fool]

Where's my 64 dodge dart when you need it?

Probably returned to iron oxides.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I think it ended up being parted out.