Understanding ARS Theft of Means of Transportation: ARS 13-1814
Facing theft of means charges under ARS 13-1814 can feel overwhelming. The legal system is complicated, and the criminal process can be confusing. Lawyer Listed provides clear information about the charge and the possible penalties, helping you understand each step of the process.
This guide breaks down ARS theft of means of transportation in clear, straightforward language. It explains the key legal terms, walks you through the sentencing guidelines under Arizona theft laws, and answers the most common questions asked by people charged with this crime.
Remember, this information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice from an experienced Arizona criminal defense attorney. If you are charged with Arizona theft of means of transportation, let Lawyer Listed match you with your ideal criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
What Is ARS Theft Means of Transportation?
ARS theft of means of transportation is Arizona’s car theft law. This crime happens when someone steals a “means of transportation,” which usually involves a car, truck, motorcycle, or similar vehicle.
Arizona law ARS 13-1814 describes several different ways to commit this crime. What all these scenarios have in common is acting knowingly and without legal permission.
Below are the most common ways theft of means of transportation is committed:
- Taking control with intent to permanently deprive: This is when you take someone else’s vehicle because you want to keep it and not return it to the rightful owner. For example, you take your neighbor’s car from their driveway and drive away intending to keep it as your own.
- Use beyond the owner’s permission: This happens when someone loans you their vehicle for a specific reason or time period, but you use it for something else or keep it longer than agreed. For example, a friend lets you borrow their truck for an hour to move a couch, but you keep it for a month and use it as a delivery truck in your side hustle.
- Obtaining through material misrepresentation: This involves getting control of a vehicle by lying to the owner or making false promises, all while planning to keep the vehicle permanently. For example, you tell a seller you will pay for a used car the next day, take the keys for a “test drive,” and never return.
- Keeping a lost or wrongly delivered vehicle: This involves keeping a vehicle that was lost or accidentally delivered to you without making reasonable attempts to find the real owner. For example, a rental car company mistakenly drops off a vehicle at your house, and instead of notifying anyone, you keep and use it.
- Knowingly possessing a stolen vehicle: This involves being in possession of a car that you knew or should have known was stolen based on the circumstances. For example, you buy a car for an unusually low price with no title from a stranger in a parking lot and keep driving it despite obvious red flags.
ARS Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation: ARS 13-1803
ARS unlawful use of means of transportation, under ARS 13-1803, is related to theft of means of transportation. Unlawful use of means of transportation involves either knowingly taking control of someone’s vehicle without their permission or being inside a vehicle that you knew or should have known was stolen. The critical difference between unlawful use and theft of means is your intent. Unlawful use of means of transportation does not require an intent to permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle.
Key Concepts of Theft
- Intentionally / With intent to: Acting with the objective of causing a specific result or engaging in particular conduct. In plain terms, you meant to do it.
- Knowingly: You are aware of your actions or the circumstances that make up the offense. Knowingly does not require that you know your conduct is illegal; you just need to be conscious of what you are doing or the situation you are in.
- Control or exercise control: Acting in a way that prevents others from using their property unless they do so under the terms set by the person exercising control.
- Material misrepresentation: A false promise, statement, or act about something in the past, present, or future that is made fraudulently and plays a key role in causing someone to give up control of their property.
- Deprive:
- Keep someone from their property either permanently or for so long that they lose a significant part of its value, usefulness, or enjoyment;
- Hold someone’s property with the plan to return it only if they pay a reward or other compensation; or
- Get rid of someone’s property in a way that makes it unlikely the owner will ever get it back.
- Means of transportation: Any vehicle.
Arizona Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the deadline for filing criminal charges after an alleged offense. For both unlawful use and theft of means of transportation, prosecutors generally have up to seven years from the date of the alleged offense to bring charges.
Sentencing for ARS Unlawful Use and ARS Theft Means of Transportation
The consequences for Arizona car theft charges are serious and can have lasting impacts on your life. The penalties you face depend on several factors, including the specific charge against you, whether you have any prior criminal convictions, and the circumstances surrounding your case.
The table below breaks down the potential consequences for each type of offense:
| Crime | Felony | Prison | Probation (max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlawful Use: Passenger in stolen vehicle | Class 6 | 4 months – 2 years | 3 years |
| Unlawful Use: Unauthorized control | Class 5 | 6 months – 2.5 years | 3 years |
| Theft of Means of Transportation | Class 3 | 2 – 8.75 years | 5 years |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Don’t worry if this seems overwhelming; Lawyer Listed has already done the work for you and is ready to match you with an elite lawyer tailored to your needs and your case.
Key Takeaways:
- Definition: ARS 13‑1814 makes it a crime to steal or unlawfully take control of a vehicle. The statute outlines several different ways this can happen, but the core idea is the same: knowingly taking or using someone else’s vehicle without lawful authority.
- Categories of theft of means of transportation:
- Unauthorized control with intent to deprive: This is when you take control of someone’s vehicle because you intend to keep it permanently and never return it to the rightful owner.
- Unauthorized use: This occurs when you use a vehicle beyond what the owner agreed to, either for longer than permitted or for a different purpose than what was discussed.
- Misrepresentation: This involves getting possession of a vehicle by lying to the owner, making false promises, or otherwise deceiving them, all while planning to keep the vehicle.
- Lost or misdelivered vehicle: If you come into possession of a vehicle that was lost by its owner or accidentally delivered to you, keeping it without making reasonable efforts to find and notify the rightful owner is a crime.
- Knowing possession: Simply possessing a stolen vehicle when you know, or should know from the circumstances, that it is stolen is illegal, even if you did not steal it yourself.
- Related offense: ARS 13‑1803 covers unlawful use of means of transportation. It is a separate but related crime that involves taking or using a vehicle without the owner’s permission. Unlike theft of means, unlawful use does not require proof that you intended to permanently keep the vehicle.
- Sentencing: Arizona’s car theft laws carry different penalties depending on the circumstances of the crime.
- Unlawful use of means of transportation (passenger): Classified as a Class 6 felony with a potential prison sentence ranging from 4 months to 2 years and/or up to 3 years of probation.
- Unlawful use of means of transportation (unauthorized control): Classified as a Class 5 felony with a potential prison sentence ranging from 6 months to 2.5 years and/or up to 3 years of probation.
- Theft of means of transportation: Classified as a Class 3 felony with a potential prison sentence ranging from 2 to 8.75 years and/or up to 5 years of probation.
- Statute of limitations: The statute of limitations for both unlawful use and theft of means of transportation is seven years from the date of the offense.
Next Steps:
Theft of means of transportation is a serious criminal allegation with consequences that can affect the rest of your life. Outcomes depend on many factors. Lawyer Listed meets you where you are and helps you understand the law and your rights.
If you are facing charges under Arizona car theft laws, engaging a skilled criminal defense attorney is important to protect your rights and manage the process. Don’t try navigating the legal system alone; match with your ideal lawyer at LawyerListed.com and get an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side right away.