S. 3798 would create new criminal penalties and fines related to automated teller machines (ATMs). Specifically, the bill would make it a federal offense to rob a person who is using or servicing an ATM or to tamper with, damage, or steal an ATM. Those prohibitions would apply regardless of whether the ATM is located on the premises of a financial institution. S. 3798 also would criminalize the receipt and possession of any property obtained through those violations, and would create new criminal penalties for assaulting, kidnapping, or killing any person in connection with committing the crimes created by the bill.
Under current law, robbing a bank or financial institution is a federal offense, as is committing robbery that affects interstate commerce. Therefore, CBO expects the number of people affected by the bill would be small. Criminal fines are recorded as revenues, deposited into the Crime Victims Fund, and later spent without further appropriation. CBO estimates that enacting S. 3798 would increase revenues and subsequent direct spending by less than $500,000 over the 2026-2036 period.
Based on the costs of similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing S. 3798 would cost the Department of Justice less than $500,000 over the 2026-2031 period to update its policies and procedures. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeremy Crimm. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
