The Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle crime in the state of Texas gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you operated another person’s boat, airplane, or motor-propelled vehicle without the owner’s consent. This offense is commonly abbreviated “UUMV.” Learn more detailed information about the Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle offense below.
UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A VEHICLE ATTORNEY FAQs
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The difference between UUMV and Theft is that the state does not have to prove that you intended to keep the vehicle in order to convict you for UUMV.
Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle is classified in the Texas Penal Code under Title 7 “Offenses Against Property,” Chapter 31 “Theft.”
What is the current Texas law about Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle?
The current Texas law defines the offense of Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in Penal Code Section §31.07 as follows:[1]
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly operates another’s boat, airplane, or motor-propelled vehicle without the effective consent of the owner.
How can I be charged with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle?
You can be charged with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 31.07(a) as described in the section above have been met.
What is the punishment for Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle?
A conviction for Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle is punished as a State Jail Felony,[2] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $10,000 and jail time of up to two years. Learn about the differences between grades of felonies and misdemeanors
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