Unlawful Taking Of Means Of Conveyance

Unlawful Taking of Means of Conveyance (N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10) is a New Jersey law that criminalizes car theft, but also the theft of other vehicles.

At its lowest grade, Unlawful Taking of Means of Conveyance will be charged as a disorderly persons offense when the vehicle so taken is not a motor vehicle.

This can mean nearly anything else – a boat, a horse, a bicycle, an airplane, and even a skateboard could count.

If you’re convicted of taking a vehicle that isn’t a motor vehicle, you can be sentenced to up to six months in jail.

More seriously, when the vehicle is a motor vehicle, or if you enter or ride in a car that has been unlawfully taken, you will face charges at the fourth degree level, which can put you in prison for up to 18 months.

You’ll also face fines of up to $10,000.

When you operate the motor vehicle in a way that creates a risk of injury to another, the charge is elevated to a third degree crime, with the danger of a three to five year sentence and a fine of up to $15,000.

Don’t gamble on your future when facing charges of Unlawful Taking of Means of Conveyance.

Call attorney Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9661 and talk to an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney for free.

Charges of stealing a vehicle can be extremely serious, and in New Jersey they will often be prosecuted under the Unlawful Taking of Means of Conveyance (N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10) statute.

Under the law, it is a crime to take or operate another person’s vehicle without their consent and with intent to temporarily withhold it from them, or to enter or ride in a vehicle you know has been taken unlawfully.

When the vehicle is not a motor vehicle, the charge is a disorderly persons offense with a maximum sentence of six months.

When the vehicle is a motor vehicle, the charge becomes a crime of the fourth degree, with a maximum sentence of eighteen months.

It is also a crime of the fourth degree to enter or ride in a vehicle that you know has been unlawfully taken.

If an unlawfully taken vehicle is operated in a manner that creates a risk to another person, you will be charged at the third degree level, with a maximum sentence of three to five years.

The dangers of conviction are significant when you’ve been charged with a crime, and your best chance of a successful resolution is by working with an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney.

Matthew Reisig has been in practice protecting clients in New Jersey for nearly two decades.

Call 732-625-9661 today for a free consultation.