Joyriding in New Jersey can be a serious charge. It can range from a misdemeanor all the way up to a felony depending on the facts of the case. Regardless of nature of the offense, a conviction for joyriding can have a lasting impact on your life. Future employers will see that a theft related charge is on your record. In addition to that, you can face a fine, as well as potential jail/prison time. It could even affect applying to college or graduate schools. In addition to facing a joyriding charge, you can also be charged with carjacking depending on the facts of the case. This is why it is important that  if your facing a joyriding charge, you do a through research before hiring a criminal defense attorney. At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we have the credentials, knowledge, experience, and the man-power to back you or your loved one facing a joyriding charge. At our Bergen County Criminal Defense Firm, we have:

  • Eleven (11) criminal defense attorneys on staff
    • Combined together, over 200 years of experience
  • Eight (8) former prosecutors on staff
    • Four (4) were former county prosecutors who’ve tried high-profiled murders trials before a jury during their tenure as prosecutors
    • Many held directorial positions during their tenures as former assistant county prosecutors
      • One (1) was the head of the Drug, Gang, and Gun Task force
      • One (1) was the head of the Major Crimes Division
      • One (1) was the head of the Trial team
  • Multiple attorneys selected to either the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 or Top 40 Under 40
  • Two (2) attorneys selected to Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for criminal defense
    • Only 2.5% of attorneys in New Jersey are selected to said list
  • One (1) attorney certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney
    • Less than 1% of attorneys hold this distinction in New Jersey

Please give our office a call if you or a loved one has been charged with a joyriding crime at 201-201-0086. We are available 24/7.

Hackensack Joyriding Lawyer

Joyriding is codified under New Jersey law as 2C:20-10. Joyriding can be charged either as a misdemeanor (disorderly persons offense), fourth degree or third degree felony (indictable). A joyriding is a misdemeanor if:

  • with purpose to withhold from the owner temporarily by operating or exercising control over any means by conveyance, other than a motor vehicle, without consent of the owner or other person authorized to give consent.

Means of conveyance is described as, but not limited to, motor vehicles, bicycles, motorized bicycles, boats, horses, vessels, surfboards, rafts, skimobiles, airplanes, trains, trams and trailers.

It is a crime of the fourth degree if:

  • with purpose to withhold from the owner, he takes, operates, or exercises control over a motor vehicle without consent of the owner or other person authorized to give consent.
  • If he/she enters and rides in a motor vehicle knowing that the motor vehicle has been taken or is being operated without the consent of the owner or other person authorized to consent.

It is a crime of the third degree if:

  • with purpose to withhold temporarily from the owner, he takes, operates, or exercises control over a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner or other person authorized to give consent and operates the motor vehicle in a manner that creates a risk of injury to any person or a risk of damage to property.

Affirmative Defense

There is a affirmative defense when it comes to joyriding. The affirmative defense is applicable if the defendant reasonably believed that the owner or any other person authorized to give consent would have consented to the operation had he known it. This does not apply when the person is a passenger and knows the vehicle is not authorized to be used.

Fort Lee 2C:20-10 Attorneys

As you can tell, joyriding in New Jersey is a very serious offense. It is imperative that you speak to an experienced Bergen County, New Jersey joyriding defense attorney immediately about your options as your liberty is at stake. If you need any further assistance please contact any one of our Bergen County offices for a free consultation with regards to your pending charges.