AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VEHICLE SECURITY CIRCUMVENTION DEVICES.

Crime Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Cooke
Last action: 2026-06-25
Official status: Passed 6/25/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

HB351: Rules for Vehicle Security Circumvention Devices

This bill makes it a crime to knowingly make, sell, transfer, or keep devices that can unlock or start cars without permission and requires authorized users to report lost or stolen devices within 48 hours.

What This Bill Does

Makes it illegal to knowingly manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, or possess a vehicle security circumvention device.
Makes it illegal to help or allow someone else to use these types of devices.
Requires people who are allowed to have these devices to tell police within 48 hours if one is lost or stolen.
Sets fines and jail time for breaking the law using existing rules for misdemeanors.

Who It Names or Affects

People who make, sell, transfer, or possess vehicle security circumvention devices without permission
Law enforcement officers
Employees of licensed car dealerships, mechanics, locksmiths, and repossession agencies
Manufacturers of cars or car locks

Terms To Know

Vehicle security circumvention device: A tool like a key programmer, emulating device, relay attack device, or software that can intercept signals from a car key fob to unlock or start the vehicle.
Misdemeanor: A type of crime punishable by fines ranging from $28.75 to $115 and jail time between 30 days and 90 days for a first offense, with higher penalties for repeat offenses.

Limits and Unknowns

The effective date is not listed in the provided text.
The final action by the Governor has not been recorded yet.

Bill History

2026-06-25 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
2026-06-17 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 4 Favorable
2026-06-17 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 4 Favorable
2026-05-14 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT
2026-05-14 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Corrections & Public Safety Committee in Senate
2026-05-05 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 7 On Its Merits
2026-04-09 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VEHICLE SECURITY CIRCUMVENTION DEVICES.
This Act makes it a crime to knowingly manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, or possess a vehicle security circumvention device, or to aid or permit another to use a vehicle security circumvention device. This Act also requires individuals to report a lost or stolen vehicle security circumvention device to a law enforcement agency within 48 hours of becoming aware of the loss or theft.
This Act does not include a special penalty as the Chapter already provides a penalty for misdemeanors, which includes a fine not less than $28.75 nor more than $115, or imprisonment not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days, or both. Additionally, for each subsequent offense the person shall be fined not less than $115 nor more than $230, or imprisoned not less than 90 days nor more than 6 months, or both.
This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 28 of Article IV of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to create a new crime within the jurisdiction of the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, or Justice of the Peace Court.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Cooke & Sen. Brown

Reps. Hilovsky, Ortega, Osienski, Harris; Sens. Hoffner, Seigfried

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 351

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VEHICLE SECURITY CIRCUMVENTION DEVICES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend Chapter 67, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 6711.

Use of vehicle security circumvention devices.

(a) For purposes of this section “vehicle security circumvention device” means a motor vehicle key programing device, an emulating device, a relay attack device, or any other device, computer program, application, or software designed or used to intercept the signal from the key fob of a motor vehicle or electronically communicate with a motor vehicle for the purpose of programming or emulating a motor vehicle key fob that is capable of being used to unlock or start the motor vehicle.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a person may not knowingly manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, or possess a vehicle security circumvention device, or aid or permit another to use a vehicle security circumvention device.

(c) This section does not apply to the manufacture, sale, offering to sell, transfer, possession, or use of a vehicle security circumvention device for a lawful and reasonable purpose by any of the following:

(1) A law enforcement officer.

(2) An employee of the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

(3) An employee of a licensed motor vehicle dealer.

(4) A motor vehicle distributor.

(5) A manufacturer of motor vehicles or motor vehicle locks.

(6) A motor vehicle mechanic shop.

(7) A locksmith company.

(8) A repossession agency.

(d) An individual authorized to possess a vehicle security circumvention device must report a lost or stolen vehicle security circumvention device to a law enforcement agency within 48 hours of becoming aware the device was lost or stolen.

SYNOPSIS

This Act makes it a crime to knowingly manufacture, sell, offer to sell, transfer, or possess a vehicle security circumvention device, or to aid or permit another to use a vehicle security circumvention device. This Act also requires individuals to report a lost or stolen vehicle security circumvention device to a law enforcement agency within 48 hours of becoming aware of the loss or theft.

This Act does not include a special penalty as the Chapter already provides a penalty for misdemeanors, which includes a fine not less than $28.75 nor more than $115, or imprisonment not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days, or both. Additionally, for each subsequent offense the person shall be fined not less than $115 nor more than $230, or imprisoned not less than 90 days nor more than 6 months, or both.

This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 28 of Article IV of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to create a new crime within the jurisdiction of the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, or Justice of the Peace Court.