The No Vigilante Checkpoints and Civil Rights Protection Act of 2026 makes it a federal crime for private individuals or organizations to conduct unauthorized vehicle stops, demand identification, search people or property, or collect license plate data without lawful authority. Violations carry up to 5 years in prison and fines, with sentences increased to 10 years if weapons are used, injuries result, or federal officers are targeted. The bill also creates a civil right of action allowing anyone harmed by such conduct to sue the perpetrators, supporting organizations, or government entities that fail to prevent it—with potential awards of at least $10,000 per violation plus actual damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees, and notably eliminates qualified immunity defenses. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment and applies nationwide to protect individuals against Fourth Amendment violations from private vigilante activity, though it preserves lawful protest and speech rights.
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