2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 17-A: MAINE CRIMINAL CODE › Part 2: SUBSTANTIVE OFFENSES › Chapter 15: THEFT › 17-A §360. Unauthorized use of property

§360. Unauthorized use of property
1.
A person is guilty of theft if:
A. Knowing that the person does not have the consent of the owner, the person takes, operates or exercises control over a vehicle, or, knowing that a vehicle has been so wrongfully obtained, the person rides in the vehicle. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime;   [PL 2003, c. 510, Pt. C, §4 (AMD).]
A-1. The person violates paragraph A and the person has 2 or more prior convictions for any combination of the Maine offenses listed in this paragraph or for engaging in substantially similar conduct to that of the Maine offenses listed in this paragraph in another jurisdiction. The Maine offenses are: theft; any violation of section 401 in which the crime intended to be committed inside the structure is theft; any violation of section 405 in which the crime intended to be committed inside the motor vehicle is theft; any violation of section 651; any violation of section 702, 703 or 708; or attempts to commit any of these crimes. Section 9‑A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence. Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime;   [PL 2007, c. 476, §18 (AMD).]
B. Having custody of a vehicle pursuant to an agreement between the person and the owner of the vehicle whereby the person or another is to perform for compensation a specific service for the owner involving the maintenance, repair or use of the vehicle, the person intentionally uses or operates the vehicle, without the consent of the owner, for the person's own purposes in a manner constituting a gross deviation from the agreed purpose. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime;   [PL 2003, c. 510, Pt. C, §4 (AMD).]
B-1. The person violates paragraph B and the person has 2 or more prior convictions for any combination of the Maine offenses listed in this paragraph or for engaging in substantially similar conduct to that of the Maine offenses listed in this paragraph in another jurisdiction. The Maine offenses are: theft; any violation of section 401 in which the crime intended to be committed inside the structure is theft; any violation of section 405 in which the crime intended to be committed inside the motor vehicle is theft; any violation of section 651; any violation of section 702, 703 or 708; or attempts to commit any of these crimes. Section 9‑A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence. Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime;   [PL 2007, c. 476, §19 (AMD).]
C. Having custody of property pursuant to a rental or lease agreement with the owner of the property or a borrower's agreement with a library or museum whereby the property is to be returned to the owner at a specified time and place, the person knowingly fails to comply with the agreed terms concerning return of such property without the consent of the owner, for so lengthy a period beyond the specified time for return as to render the retention or possession or other failure to return a gross deviation from the agreement. For purposes of this paragraph, proof that the person fails to return the property within 5 days of receiving a written demand from the owner, mailed by certified or registered mail or delivered by hand after the expiration of the rental period to the most current address known to the owner, gives rise to a permissible inference under the Maine Rules of Evidence, Rule 303 of a gross deviation from the agreement. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; or   [PL 2003, c. 510, Pt. C, §4 (AMD).]
D. The person violates paragraph C and the person has 2 or more prior convictions for any combination of the Maine offenses listed in this paragraph or for engaging in substantially similar conduct to that of the Maine offenses listed in this paragraph in another jurisdiction. The Maine offenses are: theft; any violation of section 401 in which the crime intended to be committed inside the structure is theft; any violation of section 405 in which the crime intended to be committed inside the motor vehicle is theft; any violation of section 651; any violation of section 702, 703 or 708; or attempts to commit any of these crimes. Section 9‑A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence. Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime.   [PL 2007, c. 476, §20 (AMD).]
[PL 2007, c. 476, §§18-20 (AMD).]
2.
As used in this section, "vehicle" means any automobile, airplane, motorcycle, motorboat, snowmobile, any other motor-propelled means of transportation, or any boat or vessel propelled by sail, oar or paddle.
[PL 1975, c. 740, §57 (AMD).]
3.
It is a defense to a prosecution under this section that the person reasonably believed that the owner would have consented to the person's conduct had the owner known of it.
[PL 2001, c. 383, §48 (AMD); PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF).]
4.
[PL 2003, c. 510, Pt. C, §5 (RP).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW). PL 1975, c. 740, §§56,57 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 319, §1 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 262, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 383, §§47-49 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 667, §D11 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 667, §D36 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 510, §§C4,5 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 476, §§18-20 (AMD).