Cook Co. Sheriff pushes for national carjacking hotline

CHICAGO (CBS)-- Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart wants Congress to implement a carjacking hotline.

The Illinois General Assembly recently passed legislation to help police and victims find the location of carjacked vehicles.

Dart said making the hotline available across the country would keep automakers from limiting the times they answer requests. He also wants to make sure they don't charge victims to help find their vehicles.

He held a news conference near 71st and Vincennes,  an area he said police have recovered over 200 carjacked vehicles within a half mile radius.

The sheriff thanked the Illinois General assembly for recently passing legislation to help victims and officers in carjacking cases. It requires any manufacturer selling a car in Illinois to have a 24-hour tracking line that can be accessed by law enforcement. 

"So in the event of a carjacking our agency, any agency can call one number and can access that manufacturer to get the tracking going right away," Dart said.

Dart added that he wants legislators to keep pressing the federal government to get on board as well, saying the issue goes beyond Chicago.