Rhode Island § 31-9-1 § 31-9-1. Driving without consent of owner or lessee.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 31-9-1 — § 31-9-1. Driving without consent of owner or lessee.

Rhode Island § 31-9-1

Title 31Motor and Other vehicles

Ch. 31-9Theft and Related Offenses

This text of Rhode Island § 31-9-1 (§ 31-9-1. Driving without consent of owner or lessee.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-9-1 (2026).

Text

§ 31-9-1. Driving without consent of owner or lessee.
Any person who drives a vehicle, not his or her own, without the consent of its owner
            or lessee, and with intent temporarily to deprive the owner or lessee of his or her
            possession of the vehicle, without intent to steal the vehicle, is guilty of a felony.
            The consent of the owner or lessee of a vehicle to its taking or driving shall not
            in any case be presumed or implied because of the owner's or lessee's consent on a
            prior occasion to the taking or driving of that vehicle by the same or a different
            person. Any person who assists in, or is a party or accessory to or an accomplice
            in 

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

§ 31-9-1. Driving without consent of owner or lessee.

Any person who drives a vehicle, not his or her own, without the consent of its owner or lessee, and with intent temporarily to deprive the owner or lessee of his or her possession of the vehicle, without intent to steal the vehicle, is guilty of a felony. The consent of the owner or lessee of a vehicle to its taking or driving shall not in any case be presumed or implied because of the owner's or lessee's consent on a prior occasion to the taking or driving of that vehicle by the same or a different person. Any person who assists in, or is a party or accessory to or an accomplice in any unauthorized taking or driving, is guilty of a felony. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisoned for a term of not more than five (5) years, or both.

Legislative History

P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 12, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 31-9-1; P.L. 1986, ch. 272, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 356, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 84, § 24; P.L. 1989, ch. 73, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 238, § 1.