AG Carr, Georgia head up efforts to strengthen penalties for ATM robberies

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is leading a 15-state coalition urging Congress to pass the Safe Access to Cash Act that he says is critical legislation that would help to prosecute the organized crime rings that are robbing ATMs nationwide.

According to Carr, current federal law provides strong penalties for robberies involving banks and financial institutions. However, it does not provide the same protection for ATMs -- particularly those located away from bank branches.

The new legislation would modernize the Federal Bank Robbery Act of 1934 to ensure crimes involving off-site and standalone ATMs can be prosecuted as federal offenses, including those located at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, malls, and other community locations.