Possession of a stolen motor vehicle, or 625 ILCS 5/4-103, is a section of the Illinois Vehicle Code that covers felonies related to vehicles. It is very specific in that it targets offenses involving:
- Stolen or converted vehicles
- Essential vehicle parts
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) tampering
- Related acts
Typical cases are those where stolen cars are being driven or sold, where there is parts trafficking, and where there are “chop shops.”
If you have been arrested for motor vehicle theft in Illinois, you will be facing a felony charge. This is very serious and can mean that you may be sentenced to three to seven years in prison, have to pay hefty fines, pay restitution, and more.
In the most severe circumstances where the offense is elevated to aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle, the criminal repercussions become much more stringent. Prison time will increase, and you may have to serve four to 15 years behind bars.
A motor vehicle theft conviction comes with major consequences. Having an experienced attorney helping you with your case can improve the chances of avoiding a conviction and experiencing the harshest punishments.
The Chicago motor vehicle theft defense attorneys at Glasgow & Olsson have the background, resources, and skill to help you achieve the optimal outcome. You do not have to, and should not, face motor vehicle theft charges alone.
Motor Vehicle Theft: A Major Offense
Any person not entitled to possession of a vehicle or its essential part who knowingly does any of the following will be in violation of Illinois criminal law:
- Receive, possess, conceal, sell, dispose of, or transfer the vehicle or essential part, knowing it has been stolen or converted.
- Knowingly remove, alter, deface, destroy, falsify, or forge a manufacturer’s identification number (VIN) on a vehicle, an engine number, or the ID number on any essential part.
- Knowingly conceal or misrepresent the identity of a vehicle or essential part.
- Buy, receive, possess, sell, or dispose of a vehicle or essential part knowing that its identification number has been removed, altered, or falsified.
- Knowingly possess, buy, sell, exchange, give away, or offer to do so any manufacturer’s ID number plate, mylar sticker, federal certificate label, State Police reassignment plate, Secretary of State assigned plate, rosette rivet, or facsimile that has not been properly attached or has been removed from its original vehicle.
- Knowingly make a false report of the theft or conversion of a vehicle to law enforcement.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
Illinois is known for aggressively enforcing motor vehicle theft laws. Specifically, in urban areas with high auto theft rates. To ensure that you are protected and do not have to endure the grave outcome that will come with a conviction, you need the very finest legal defense on your side.
At Glasgow & Olsson, we are widely recognized as a leading authority in Illinois criminal law. For this reason, Attorney Thomas T. Glasgow is a trusted legal voice who is regularly invited to appear on major networks, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.
When you need an attorney, experience matters.
Speak with our Chicago criminal defense lawyers today and learn how decades of trusted experience can protect what matters most to you.