Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the “Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act of 2026”.

(a) In general.— Chapter 805 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“80505. Staging of motor vehicle collisions with commercial motor vehicles.—

(a) Penalty for staging collision.— A person operating a motor vehicle who intentionally causes a collision with a commercial motor vehicle (as defined in section 31101) shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both.

(b) Penalty for staging collision causing serious bodily injury.— A person operating a motor vehicle who intentionally causes a collision with a commercial motor vehicle (as defined in section 31101) that results in serious bodily injury or death to another person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not less than 20 years, or both.

(c) Penalty for arranging staged collisions.— A person who arranges for another person to cause a collision described in subsection (a) or (b) shall be fined or imprisoned, or both, under—

(1) subsection (a), in the case of a collision described in that subsection; or

(2) subsection (b), in the case of a collision described in that subsection.

(d) Limitation on prosecution.— A person may not be prosecuted for an act under this section if the person has been convicted or acquitted on the merits for the same act under the laws of a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States.”.

(b) Clerical amendment.— The analysis for chapter 805 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: