Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

What additional factor makes vehicular hijacking become aggravated?

1. The victim is 60 years or older

2. There is a person under 16 inside the car

3. The offender uses a dangerous weapon

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

Vehicular hijacking can be deemed aggravated for several reasons that heighten the severity of the crime and increase the potential for harm to the victims involved. When considering the factors that lead to aggravated vehicular hijacking, each specific circumstance contributes to a more serious evaluation of the offense. The presence of a victim who is 60 years or older enhances the severity of the offense due to the perceived vulnerability of elderly individuals, potentially resulting in greater psychological harm and physical danger. Children under 16 also raise the stakes significantly, as their presence can create a more perilous environment during the hijacking and can invoke a stronger emotional response from law enforcement and the community. Furthermore, if the offender uses a dangerous weapon during the hijacking, it dramatically escalates the threat level, instilling fear and inflicting potential physical harm on the victims, as well as complicating the response from law enforcement. Each of these factors - the age of the victim, the presence of a minor, and the use of a weapon - serve to individually aggravate the crime, but when combined, they present an even more disturbing scenario that demands a robust legal response. Thus, all these components are recognized as contributing factors to classify an act of vehicular hijacking as aggravated, unders