"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
...
"George Patterson" wrote in message

Well, let's look.
...

Cool, thanks for the useful info!

However, in the TN code, I find:
"39-14-106. Unauthorized use of automobiles and other vehicles--Joyriding.
A
person commits a Class A misdemeanor who takes another's automobile,
airplane, motorcycle, bicycle, boat or other vehicle without the consent
of
the owner and the person does not have the intent to deprive the owner
thereof."

He didn't _intend_ to take the car, the car just swept him up and drove off
down the road with him...


Note that a crash that destroys the vehicle would not keep the joyriding
statute from being applicable, unless the perpetrator had the *intent* to
cause such a crash.

I haven't checked the other states' statutes, but suffice it to say that
even among the states you've lived in, it is not unheard of for the law to
consider unauthorized joyriding in a car or plane to be less serious than
grand theft.

Well, many states finding figured out that downplaying car theft to
"joyriding" had averse effect and now charge a felony.

IOW, coddling criminals begets further criminal activity. Such is why Rudy
Guliiani had the success he did as NYC mayor.