Gary Drescher wrote:
"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:YjCte.3$Z.1@trndny05...

John Larson wrote:

If he stole the plane, and then went joyriding in it, that's not a theft
in most States either.

....

That's grand theft in every State in which I've lived. That would be
Tennessee, Georgia, both Carolinas, and New Jersey.

Are you sure? How do you know?

Well, let's look.

In Georgia, section 16-8 of the criminal code defines theft as permanently or
temporarily depriving the owner of his property. It is considered a felony if
the value of the item is greater than $500 or if the item is a motor vehicle.

In Tennessee, section 55-5-104 defines taking a vehicle for the purposes of
joyriding as a class-E felony. The aircraft is not defined as a motor vehicle
and falls under the grand larceny section. Warning - this is the slowest web
site it has been my misfortune to encounter in over 10 years.

North Carolina does not post the criminal code (except for an excerpt dealing
with student offenses).

In South Carolina, section 16-21-60 defines taking a vehicle for the purposes of
joyriding as a misdemeanor. Theft of any other item worth over $1,000 is defined
as a felony in section 16-13-30. The plane is not defined as a motor vehicle.

In New Jersey, section 2C:20-10 states that temporary use of a motor vehicle
without permission is a "3rd-degree offense." Temporary use of a conveyance such
as an aircraft would be a "4th-degree offense." In this case, of course, it's
grand theft (a 3rd degree offense) because he totalled it out and can't return
it. You can find that in sections 2C:18-6, 2C:20-1, and 2C:20-2.

New Jersey does not break down crimes in the same way that other States do; all
offenses from 1st degree to 4th degree are considered "crimes" or "high
misdemeanors" and carry the penalties defined for felonies in other States.
Non-felonies are termed "disorderly person offenses" or "misdemeanors" and are
not considered crimes by the State. Disorderly person offenses carry sentences
of 6 months or less. Crimes carry sentences of 1 year or more. Most of that is
in section 2C:1-4.

George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.