Vehicle theft often constitutes grand theft. Instead of being a simple misdemeanor, the theft of a vehicle could lead to felony charges. Most of the time, the value of a vehicle is above the cutoff for grand theft, which is $750. Even if the value of the vehicle is low enough that the matter could constitute petty theft, state statutes specifically identify the theft of a vehicle as a form of grand theft that necessitates felony prosecution.
Teenagers going on joyrides don’t actually intend to steal a vehicle permanently. Most of the time, they take a vehicle temporarily and then return it to the owner. Does that lack of intent allow for misdemeanor charges?
Joyriding is not separate from vehicle theft
Some states have statutes that specifically separate joyriding incidents from traditional auto theft scenarios. When it is clear the intention is to use the vehicle temporarily and return it to the owner, the state may treat the matter more leniently than it might when the goal was to permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle.
Florida state statutes do not make that distinction. Even if the parties accused of stealing a vehicle are teenagers who got caught while in the act of returning the vehicle, the state may still pursue felony grand theft charges. Not only are the penalties more severe than in petty theft cases, but the record that results can have more of an impact on the youthful offender’s life.
Reviewing a joy riding incident and the history of the teen accused with a skilled legal team can help with the development of a viable criminal defense strategy. A proper response can make a major difference when trying to minimize the lasting implications of a foolish decision made by a teenager or a genuine misunderstanding.
