(B) in full compliance with the rules of the department as an applicant for an assigned number approved by the department. 11, eff. 1, eff. 5, eff. 821), Sec. 4, eff. If you fail to make payment in full within 10 days after the date of receipt of this notice, the failure to pay creates a presumption for committing an offense, and this matter may be referred for criminal prosecution.". control by virtue of the contractual relationship; (3)the owner of the property appropriated was at the time of the offense: (4)the actor was a Medicare provider in a contractual relationship with the federal September 1, 2009. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. Theft of Service Universal Citation: TX Penal Code 31.04 (2021) Sec. enforcement agency; (6)an actor engaged in the business of obtaining abandoned or wrecked motor vehicles (3) property in the custody of any law enforcement agency was explicitly represented by any law enforcement agent to the actor as being stolen and the actor appropriates the property believing it was stolen by another. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1.01, eff. (2) during the commission of the offense, a person engaged in an activity described by Subsection (b) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly: (e) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. Theft is a Class A misdemeanor if the goods stolen . The consequences of theft vary and are primarily dependent on the value of the property taken. 11, eff. UNAUTHORIZED ACQUISITION OR TRANSFER OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL INFORMATION. a certificate of title showing that the motor vehicle is not subject to a lien or Jan. 1, 1974. (1) "Access device," "connection," and "device" mean an access device, connection, or device wholly or partly designed to make intelligible an encrypted, encoded, scrambled, or other nonstandard signal carried by a multichannel video or information services provider. 134.001). Theft on Westlaw, Law Firm Tests Whether It Can Sue Associate for 'Quiet Quitting', The Onion Joins Free-Speech Case Against Police as Amicus, Bumpy Road Ahead for All in Adoption of AI in the Legal Industry. Under Section 31.03, THEFT is defined as follows: THEFT occurs when a person takes control of another's property and intends to deprive the owner of their property without the owners consent. 31.10. 1, eff. 31.06. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. September 1, 2009. (1)Restricted-use pesticide means a pesticide classified as a restricted-use pesticide by the administrator (B) registered or certified mail with return receipt requested; (2) is addressed to the issuer at the issuer's address shown on: (B) the records of the bank or other drawee; or, (C) the records of the person to whom the check or order has been issued or passed; and, "This is a demand for payment in full for a check or order not paid because of a lack of funds or insufficient funds. 1251 (H.B. $750-$2,500: Class A misdemeanor punishable by one year of jail time and a fine of up to $4,000. 1, 2, eff. of Agriculture under Section 76.003, Agriculture Code, as that section existed on January 1, 1995, and containing an active ingredient (4)Automated teller machine means an unstaffed electronic information processing device that, at the request (a) A person commits an offense if he unlawfully appropriates property with intent to deprive the owner of property. State Jail Felony Theft Theft is a state jail felony if: 323, Sec. (d) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the appropriated mail contained an item of identifying information and the actor committed the offense with the intent to facilitate an offense under Section 32.51, an offense under this section is: (1) a state jail felony if the mail is appropriated from fewer than 10 addressees; (2) a felony of the third degree if the mail is appropriated from at least 10 but fewer than 20 addressees; (3) a felony of the second degree if the mail is appropriated from at least 20 but fewer than 50 addressees; or. 32.53. 318, Sec. 694), Sec. 3J.01, eff. (C)the property stolen is a driver's license, commercial driver's license, or personal Sept. 1, 1983; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. THEFT OF SERVICE. INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS CHAPTER 1. In order for the taking of property to be unlawful, Texas Penal Code 31.03 specifies that one of the following must be the case: The property was taken without consent from the owner Sec. (2) "State-limited-use pesticide" means a pesticide classified as a state-limited-use pesticide by the Department of Agriculture under Section 76.003, Agriculture Code, as that section existed on January 1, 1995, and containing an active ingredient listed in the rules adopted under that section (4 TAC Section 7.24) as that section existed on that date. from sounding; or. Next . (C)a controlled substance, having a value of less than $150,000, if stolen from: (i)a commercial building in which a controlled substance is generally stored, including CARGO THEFT. Sec. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. Added by Acts 2021, Texas Acts of the 87th Leg. 724, Sec. September 1, 2011. (B) telecommunication, public utility, or transportation service; (C) lodging, restaurant service, and entertainment; and. (g) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that: (1) the defendant secured the performance of the service by giving a post-dated check or similar sight order to the person performing the service; and. 260 (H.B. This misdemeanor charge is the lowest misdemeanor classification level. that all recorded liens on the motor vehicle have been released; or. (c) This section does not prohibit the sale or lease of satellite receiving antennas that are otherwise permitted by state or federal law without providing notice to the comptroller. to deprive the owner of property. 1 TAMPERING WITH IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS. Section 228b), that obtains livestock from a commission merchant by representing that the actor $50 or more but less than $500, or $20 to less than $500 by check: A Class B misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail. 1251 (H.B. (2) is employed as a driver lawfully contracted to transport a specific cargo by vehicle from a known point of origin to a known point of destination and, with the intent to conduct, promote, or facilitate an activity described by Subdivision (1), knowingly or intentionally: (A) fails to deliver the entire cargo to the known point of destination as contracted; or. In Texas, prosecutors typically charge auto theft under Penal Code Section 31.07, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, which is a State Jail Felony. Absent these criteria, the offense is charged as a misdemeanor. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, eff. Amended by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 914, ch. Under the Texas Penal Code Section 32.51, this offense can be either a state jail felony or a felony of the first, second or third degree. An offense under Subsection (b)(2) is a Class A misdemeanor. 1, eff. (3)Nonprofit organization means an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being described as an exempt organization by Section 501(c)(3) of that code. of the Environmental Protection Agency under 7 U.S.C. (2) the person performing the service or any other person presented the check or sight order for payment before the date on the check or sight order. 31.03. in the federal regulations adopted under that law (40 C.F.R. 323 (H.B. 1.01, eff. (1)evidence that the actor has previously participated in recent transactions other Not 101(a)(43)(F) crime of violence - as defined by 18 USC 16 as no substantial risk force would be used (16(b)). Sept. 1, 1975; Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 937, ch. 1, eff. 31.18. (e)Except as provided by Subsection (f), an offense under this section is: (1)a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the property stolen is less than $100; (A)the value of the property stolen is $100 or more but less than $750; (B)the value of the property stolen is less than $100 and the defendant has previously (2) committed the offense for remuneration, in which event the offense is a Class A misdemeanor, unless it is also shown on the trial of the offense that the actor has been previously convicted two or more times of an offense under this section, in which event the offense is a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $2,000 and a minimum term of confinement of 180 days. (2) "Vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 541.201, Transportation Code. (A) to bring about a transfer or purported transfer of title to or other nonpossessory interest in property, whether to the actor or another; or. (c) Property involved in a violation of this section may be treated as stolen for purposes of custody and disposition of the property. (4) tampers with, modifies, or maintains a modification to an access device or uses that access device or any unauthorized access device to obtain services from a multichannel video or information services provider. Sec. 1, eff. 520, Transportation Code, 1 at the time the motor vehicle was delivered; (8)an actor who purchases or receives from any source other than a licensed retailer It is no defense to prosecution under this chapter that the actor has an interest in the property or service stolen if another person has the right of exclusive possession of the property. 1.04. SHORT TITLE Sec. September 1, 2009. 976 (S.B. 753, Sec. mixture, or preparation that the pesticide or compound, mixture, or preparation has September 1, 2015. Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/penal-code/penal-sect-31-03/, Read this complete Texas Penal Code - PENAL 31.03. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. On September 1, 2015, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill which amended several laws, including the section of the Texas Penal Code that covers theft offenses. 900, Sec. In this chapter: (A) creating or confirming by words or conduct a false impression of law or fact that is likely to affect the judgment of another in the transaction, and that the actor does not believe to be true; (B) failing to correct a false impression of law or fact that is likely to affect the judgment of another in the transaction, that the actor previously created or confirmed by words or conduct, and that the actor does not now believe to be true; (C) preventing another from acquiring information likely to affect his judgment in the transaction; (D) selling or otherwise transferring or encumbering property without disclosing a lien, security interest, adverse claim, or other legal impediment to the enjoyment of the property, whether the lien, security interest, claim, or impediment is or is not valid, or is or is not a matter of official record; or. (2) transfers to a third party information obtained as described by Subdivision (1). Texas Theft Liability Act: Victims of a theft can sue for damages in a case separate from the criminal case. 167, Sec. (E) given by a person who by reason of advanced age is known by the actor to have a diminished capacity to make informed and rational decisions about the reasonable disposition of property. While legislators continue to fight for felony charges for dog thefts, as of 2020, dogs were not a special class of property in Texas. (a) A person commits an offense if, without the authorization of the multichannel video or information services provider, the person intentionally or knowingly: (1) makes or maintains a connection, whether physically, electrically, electronically, or inductively, to: (A) a cable, wire, or other component of or media attached to a multichannel video or information services system; or. September 1, 2013. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1766), Sec. 1, eff. 1, eff. 165, Sec. Jan. 1, 1974. is: (5)a felony of the third degree if the value of the property stolen is $30,000 or Sept. 1, 1997. pledgor has the right to possess the property; and. Aug. 28, 1995; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. September 1, 2011. 284(80), eff. or evidence of title delivered to the actor in accordance with Subchapter D, Chapter (8) "Certificate of title" has the meaning assigned by Section 501.002, Transportation Code. (B) a reasonable person in the position of the actor would have known that the serial number or other permanent identification marking has been removed, altered, or obliterated. September 1, 2007. (2) the greatest amount of economic loss that the owner might reasonably suffer by virtue of loss of the document, if the document is other than evidence of a debt. (9) an actor who is subject to Section 409, Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C. a pharmacy, clinic, hospital, nursing facility, or warehouse; or. Sept. 1, 1994. Pen. 21, eff. 349, Sec. government at the time of the offense and the property appropriated came into the Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes, a free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. that: (1)the actor was a public servant at the time of the offense and the property appropriated (a) If the actor obtained property or secured performance of service by issuing or passing a check or similar sight order for the payment of money, when the issuer did not have sufficient funds in or on deposit with the bank or other drawee for the payment in full of the check or order as well as all other checks or orders then outstanding, it is prima facie evidence of the issuer's intent to deprive the owner of property under Section 31.03 (Theft) including a drawee or third-party holder in due course who negotiated the check or order or to avoid payment for service under Section 31.04 (Theft of Service) (except in the case of a postdated check or order) if: (1) the issuer had no account with the bank or other drawee at the time the issuer issued the check or sight order; or. of the motor vehicle from which the part was removed, or in lieu of maintaining an Section 228b). 419, Sec. 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