Carjacking is a type of robbery in which the criminal uses force or the threat of force to take possession and control of an automobile—usually when the victim is inside or near the automobile. Carjacking laws vary from state to state, and are usually located in a state’s penal code. Carjacking is also a federal crime when the stolen vehicle is transported, shipped, or received in interstate or foreign commerce (generally, transported across state lines).
In Ohio, carjacking is not defined as a separate offense but is covered under the state's robbery and theft statutes. According to Ohio Revised Code Section 2911.02, robbery is a felony offense that occurs when a person, in attempting or committing a theft offense or fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense, uses or threatens the immediate use of force against another. If a carjacker uses a deadly weapon or inflicts, attempts to inflict, or threatens to inflict physical harm on another, it is aggravated robbery under Section 2911.01, which is a more serious felony. Additionally, if the carjacking involves the use of a firearm, the offender may face additional penalties under Ohio's firearms laws. On the federal level, carjacking is a crime under 18 U.S.C. Section 2119 when the vehicle is taken by force, violence, or intimidation and has been transported, shipped, or received across state or international borders. The federal law imposes severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment if serious bodily injury or death results from the offense.
