New Jersey law takes all theft offenses seriously. Depending on the value of the items stolen, an offender can face years of imprisonment and heavy fines as part of their sentence – a court might even ask them to pay restitution.
So, what happens if someone’s charged with stealing a motor vehicle?
Motor vehicles – whether they’re cars, trucks, motorcycles or even motorboats – usually cost a lot of money. How serious of a criminal offense would it be to steal a motor vehicle?
Motor vehicle theft according to New Jersey law
According to state law, a person commits the offense of theft of a motor vehicle if they unlawfully take or exercise unlawful control over another person’s motor vehicle, with the aim to deprive the other of said vehicle.
Motor vehicle theft is typically a crime of the third degree. However, if the value of the vehicle involved in the offense is $75,000 or more, or if the theft involved more than one vehicle, the offense becomes a crime of the second degree.
Penalties for conviction
If a court convicts a person of motor vehicle theft as a crime of the third degree, the person faces up to five years of imprisonment and $15,000 in fines. If the offense is a crime of the second degree instead, it’s punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment and $150,000 in fines.
In addition to the above punishment, those convicted of motor vehicle theft face additional penalties based on the number of offenses they’ve committed:
- First offense: A $500 additional penalty and the court can suspend, revoke or postpone the person’s driving privileges for up to a year.
- Second offense: A $750 additional penalty and the court can suspend, revoke or postpone the person’s driving privileges for up to two years.
- Third and subsequent offense: A $1,000 additional penalty and the court can suspend, revoke or postpone the person’s driving privileges for up to 10 years.
The court will consider the circumstances of the offense and whether the loss of driving privileges would result in the person’s hardship in deciding whether it would suspend, revoke or postpone the person’s driving privileges.
Yes, motor vehicle theft is a serious offense that carries heavy penalties. If you face charges, know that a legal professional may be able to represent you in court and fight for your case. You don’t have to face allegations of theft alone.