City Council Approves Ordinance Targeting Resale of Stolen Airbags

The law raises fines for sellers, requires dated removal invoices, requires shops to keep records, seeks to disrupt the black market for airbags.

Overview

The City Council passed the ordinance unanimously on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, and it will take effect later this month.
Under the measure businesses that buy or sell used airbags face fines up to $4,000 for a first violation and must keep a dated invoice showing when an airbag was removed.
Police data analyzed by the Sun-Times show about 1,200 airbag thefts were reported from January through April 2026 compared with roughly 70 in 2023–2025, with most crimes concentrated on Honda models and northwest side neighborhoods.
Chicago police say investigations are ongoing but many cases lack video or forensic evidence and have been suspended, and the ordinance does not itself add new police tools for finding resale networks.
Residents face smashed windows, insurance deductibles and long repair waits, and city officials say the ordinance is a first step that will require active shop inspections and police follow-up to reduce thefts and choke off demand.