Courts, Legal Basics

questions & answers

Question: If I authorized someone to use my car, and it was never returned can it be reported stolen?

Answer:

Arizona Revised Statutes, § 13-1814, Theft of means of transportation, states, in pertinent, part:

A. A person commits theft of means of transportation if, without lawful authority, the person knowingly does one of the following:

1. Controls another person's means of transportation with the intent to permanently deprive the person of the means of transportation.

2. Converts for an unauthorized term or use another person's means of transportation that is entrusted to or placed in the defendant's possession for a limited, authorized term or use. [Emphasis added].

3. Obtains another person's means of transportation by means of any material misrepresentation with intent to permanently deprive the person of the means of transportation.

4. Comes into control of another person's means of transportation that is lost or misdelivered under circumstances providing means of inquiry as to the true owner and appropriates the means of transportation to the person's own or another's use without reasonable efforts to notify the true owner.

5. Controls another person's means of transportation knowing or having reason to know that the property is stolen.