Can you be arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle?

Question

If you reported your vehicle as stolen and then you find it, but fail to notify the police, can you be arrested for driving a stolen vehicle?

Answer 1

That would only happen to a moron!!!!!

Answer 2

Although, as usual, mickeysco's answer is correct, I would just add that in these days where identity theft is very common, it may be quite difficult for an officer in the field to verify your identity. It is possible that you could be take to the police station in order for some positive identification to be made, which could take some time (and possible that the car could be impounded in the meantime). But once your ID was established, you would not be charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, nor would you be charged with making a false report (the car was stolen when you reported it). But, again as mickeysco says, anybody who does not inform the police when the car is recovered, and risks all of this, is felony stupid.

Answer 3

Depends on other questions. What country are you from? Did you know it was stolen when you bought it? If you know now are you going to fess up to the cops?

I'm from Canada. I have a friend who bought a stolen car when he was a kid. He didn't know it was stolen but the cops tracked it down. My friend was charged and was given a permanent record but didn't go to jail. However, now 20 years later that little mark on his record bars him from entering the states since the whole 9-11 thing. Only a red flag comes up by his name with no details of the 20 year old minor offence.

Always best to just own up to something and then you'll probably avoid any record that way. Just say "Hey I have this car, I didn't know it was stolen, now I do, what should I do?" I'm sure the cop's will be very accomodating.

Answer 4

It depends on what you mean by arrest. If I pull you over because you are driving a reported stolen vehicle, then you are going to be given very specific orders, at gunpoint. I will place handcuffs on you and put you in back of my car. Once all that is done, I will read you your rights and ask you questions. If what you are telling me pans out to be true, then you will probably be "unarrested" at that point. However, if your story does not pan out, then chances are you are going to jail for a false report of a crime, not for possession of a stolen auto.

Answer 5

If the car is registered to you, then no because it's your car. But if you fail to notify them that it is no longer stolen and someone else has your car, they will be arrested until it is cleared up with the owner of the vehicle. You really should notify the police so they can take it of their list and look for cars that are really stolen.

Answer 6

yes you can because the police have it as stolen therefore whoever they find possessing the car will be thought of as the thief. Best thing to do is if you locate the car is to call the police and give them the details and tell them your location and have an officer meet you at the scene.

Answer 7

im not sure if it changes from state to state or if its a US law but you can be caught in a stolen vehicle 7 times before you are acctually charged with vehicle theft. the other times you are just taken in for questioning and a report

Answer 8

You will be treated like a thief at first. Detained a gunpoint Handcuffed. Then chastized after they find out you are the owner and didn't bother to notify the police the car was found.

Answer 9

I would think not if it's your vehicle because obviously you didn't steal your own car, but you should report that it was found because if you are out driving and they pull you over they are going to assume you are a thief. It could take a while for them to get it all straightened out. Also if you let a friend borrow your car and they get pulled over it will take even longer for them to get it straightened out. And your friend would probably be very pissed at you.

Answer 10

u r driving a stolen car which is supposed ur car,but since u've reported to the police that u lost ur car,so this car is no longer urs.u've to make report that u've found the car otherwise u w'd be arrested cos u made a false report.

best wishes n happy new year.

Answer 11

Yes you can till you notify the police that you recovered your own vehicle that you reported stolen.Other wise how can the police know that you are not the thief??????