CHAPTER 543

AN ACT to amend the Code of Virginia by adding new sections numbered
18.1-175, 18.1-176, 18.1-177, 18.1-178 and 18.1-179, relating respectively
to unauthorized use of certain vehicles, acquisition, transfer or posses-
ston of stolen vehicles, tampering with certain vehicles, and entering
certain vehicles or setting or attempting to set same in motion, and
providing penalties for violation.

[S 14]

Approved March 29, 1958

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding new sections num-
bered 18.1-175, 18.1-176, 18.1-177, 18.1-178 and 18.1-179 as follows:

§ 18.1-175. Any person who shall take, drive or use a motor vehicle,
trailer or semi-trailer not his own, without the consent of the owner thereof
and in the absence of the owner, and with intent temporarily to deprive
the owner thereof of his possession thereof, without intent to steal the
same, shall be confined in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than
five years or, in the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case with-
out a jury, confined in jail not exceeding twelve months and fined not ex-
ceeding five hundred dollars. The consent of the owner of a motor vehicle,
trailer or semi-trailer to its taking, driving, or using shall not in any case
be presumed or implied because of such owner’s consent on a previous
occasion to the taking, driving, or using of such motor vehicle, trailer or
semitrailer by the same or a different person. Any person who assists in,
or is a party or accessory to, or an accomplice in, any such unauthorized
taking, driving, or using shall be subject to the same punishment as if he
were the principal offender.

§ 18.1-176. Any person who with intent to procure or pass title to a
motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer which he knows or has reason to
believe has been stolen shall receive or transfer possession of the same
from one to another or who shall with like intent have in his possession
any motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer which he knows or has reason
to believe has been stolen and who is not an officer of the law engaged at
the time in the performance of his duty as an officer shall be guilty of a
felony and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in the
penitentiary for a term not less than one nor more than five years, or by
a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand dollars, or
by both such fine and imprisonment.

§ 18.1-177. Any person who shall individually or in association with
one or more others wilfully break, injure, tamper with or remove any part
or parts of any motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer for the purpose of
injuring, defacing or destroying such motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer,
or temporarily or permanently preventing its useful operation, or for any
purpose against the will or without the consent of the owner of such motor
vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer, or who shall in any other manner wilfully
or maliciously interfere with or prevent the running or operation of such
motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

§ 18.1-178. Any person who shall, without the consent of the owner
or person in charge of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer, climb into or
upon such motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer with intent to commit any
crime, malicious mischief or injury thereto or who, while a motor vehicle,
trailer or semi-trailer is at rest and unattended, shall attempt to manipulate
any of the levers and starting crank or other device, brakes or mechanism
thereof or to set such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer in motion, with
the intent to commit any crime, malicious mischief or injury thereto, shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor, except that the foregoing provision shall not
apply when any such act is done in an emergency or in furtherance of
public safety or by or under the direction of an officer in the regulation
of traffic or performance of any other official duty.

§ 18.1-179. The provisions of §§ 18.1-175, 18.1-177 and 18.1-178 shall
not apply to a bona fide repossession of a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-
trailer, by the holder of a lien on such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer,
or by the agents or employees of such lien holder.