Criminal Defense for
Two Decades
It is a violation of the law for a person not entitled to the possession of a vehicle having a value of $25,000 or greater to receive, possess, conceal, sell, dispose or transfer the vehicle, knowing that the vehicle has been stolen or converted.
It is also a violation of the law for a person not entitled to the possession of 3 or more vehicles, 3 or more essential parts of different vehicles, or a combination thereof, to receive, possess, conceal, sell, dispose of or transfer, those vehicles or parts of vehicles at the same time or within a one year period knowing that these vehicles or parts of vehicles are stolen or converted, or if the person knows that the identification numbers of the vehicles or the essential parts with an identification number have been removed or falsified.
Nor shall a person knowingly possess, buy, sell, exchange or give away, at the same time or within a one year period, 3 or more manufacturer’s identification number plates, mylar stickers, federal certificate labels, State Police reassignment plates, Secretary of State assigned plates or a facsimile of those items, or a combination thereof, which have not yet been attached to or have been removed from an original or assigned vehicle or essential part of a vehicle. However, it is an affirmative defense that the person possessing, buying, selling or exchanging a plate, mylar sticker or label is a police officer doing so as part of his official duties, or is a manufacturer’s authorized representative who is replacing any manufacturer’s identification number plate, mylar sticker or federal certificate label originally placed on a vehicle by the manufacturer of a vehicle or any essential part of a vehicle.
Further, it is a violation for a person who is the driver or operator of a vehicle being used to transport or haul a vehicle or essential part of a vehicle and is not entitled to the possession of that vehicle or essential part being transported or hauled and who knows the transported or hauled vehicle or essential part is stolen or converted, who has been given a signal by a peace officer directing him to bring the vehicle to a stop, to willfully fail or refuse to obey such direction, increase his speed, extinguish his lights or otherwise flee or attempt to elude the officer. the signal given by the peace officer may be by hand, voice, siren, or red or blue light. the officer giving the signal, if driving a vehicle, shall display the vehicle’s illuminated, oscillating, rotating or flashing red or blue lights, which when used in conjunction with an audible horn or siren would indicate that the vehicle is an official police vehicle. Such requirement shall not preclude the use of amber or white oscillating, rotating or flashing lights in conjunction with red or blue oscillating, rotating or flashing lights.
A person, at the same time or within a one year period, who makes a false report of the theft or conversion of 3 or more vehicles to any police officer or police officers of this State is also in violation of this law.
A person convicted of a violation under any of the theories of liability under this law is guilty of a Class 1 Felony punishable by 4 to 15 years in the state penitentiary.