Transportation (GTR) — Title 14. Vehicle Laws -- Antitheft Laws

This title does not apply to the following:

This title does not apply to the following unless a certificate of title has been issued for them under Title 13 of this article:

A person may not drive any vehicle without the consent of its owner and with intent to deprive the owner temporarily of his possession of the vehicle, even if without intent to steal it.

A person may not take a vehicle without the consent of the owner of the vehicle and with the intent to deprive the owner temporarily of the owner’s possession of the vehicle, even if without the intent to steal the vehicle.

The consent of the owner of a vehicle to the driving or taking of the vehicle may not in any case be presumed or implied because of the owner’s consent on a previous occasion to the driving or taking of the vehicle by the same or a different person.

A person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 months or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.

No person, except a person while making lawful use of it in pursuit of a legitimate business interest or a law enforcement officer while in pursuit of his duties, shall at any time have or possess a motor vehicle master key adapted for or capable of being used to open any motor vehicle in this State.

No person, except a person while making lawful use of a motor vehicle master key in pursuit of a legitimate business interest or a law enforcement officer while in pursuit of the law enforcement officer’s duties, shall at any time have or possess a motor vehicle master key adapted for or capable of being used to operate any motor vehicle in this State.

A person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.

A person may not willfully damage or tamper with any vehicle without the consent of its owner.

A person may not drop or throw stones or other objects at any vehicle or at occupants of a vehicle.

A person may not, with intent to commit any malicious mischief, damage, injury, or crime, climb into or on any vehicle, whether it is in motion or at rest.

A person may not, with intent to commit any malicious mischief, damage, injury, or crime, manipulate or attempt to manipulate any of the levers, starting mechanism, brakes, or other mechanism or device of any vehicle while the vehicle is at rest and unattended.

A person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 months or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.

If a police officer receives reliable information that a vehicle has been stolen, the police officer shall immediately report the theft to the Administration and the Department of State Police, unless the police officer has received reliable information of the recovery of the vehicle.

An alleged violation under § 7-205 of the Criminal Law Article shall be a reportable theft of a vehicle for purposes of subsection (a) of this section.

If a police officer receives reliable information that a vehicle which he previously reported stolen has been recovered, he shall immediately report the recovery to the Administration and the Department of State Police.

If a vehicle titled or registered in this State has been stolen, the owner or secured party may notify the Administration of the theft.

Every person who has given notice under subsection (d) of this section shall notify the Administration of a recovery of the vehicle.

The Administration shall maintain and appropriately index cumulative public records of stolen vehicles reported to it under this section.

The Administration may suspend the registration of a vehicle whose theft is reported to it under this section.

Until the Administration learns of the recovery of the vehicle or that the report of its theft was erroneous, it may not issue a certificate of title for the vehicle.

Every secured party who takes possession of a vehicle in which he has a security interest shall immediately inform the police that he has done so.

Every secured party who takes possession of a vehicle in which the secured party has a security interest shall give any identifying information about the vehicle that the police reasonably request.

A person may not knowingly make a false report of the theft of a vehicle to a police officer.

A person may not knowingly make a false report of the theft of a vehicle to the Administration.

A person may not willfully remove any identification number of a vehicle.

A person may not willfully falsify any identification number of a vehicle.

A person may not willfully remove any identification number of an engine for a vehicle.

A person may not willfully falsify any identification number of an engine for a vehicle.

Except as provided in subsection (m) of this section, a person may not buy, receive, possess, sell, or dispose of a vehicle, knowing that an identification number of the vehicle has been removed.

A person may not buy, receive, possess, sell, or dispose of a vehicle, knowing that an identification number of the vehicle has been falsified.

Except as provided in subsection (m) of this section, a person may not buy, receive, possess, sell, or dispose of an engine for a vehicle, knowing that an identification number of the engine has been removed.

A person may not buy, receive, possess, sell, or dispose of an engine for a vehicle, knowing that an identification number of the engine has been falsified.

A person may not, with intent to conceal or misrepresent the identity of a vehicle or its owner, remove a registration card or registration plate from the vehicle.

A person may not, with intent to conceal or misrepresent the identity of a vehicle or the owner of the vehicle, attach to the vehicle a registration plate not authorized by law for use on it.

An identification number may be:

A person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 months or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.

A person may not, with fraudulent intent, possess any certificate of title or other ownership document, registration card, registration plate, or vehicle identification number plate.

A person may not, with fraudulent intent, give away, sell, or attempt to sell any certificate of title or other ownership document, registration card, registration plate, or vehicle identification number plate.

A person may not, with fraudulent intent, falsify or attempt to falsify any certificate of title, registration card, registration plate, validation tab, permit, or any other official document issued by the Administration.

A person may not, with fraudulent intent, manufacture, construct, or possess any paraphernalia for use in any falsification prohibited by this section.

A person may not, with fraudulent intent, possess, give away, sell, or attempt to sell any item falsified in violation of this section.

A person may not, with fraudulent intent, falsify any assignment on a certificate of title.

A person may not hold any document or registration plate described in this section, knowing that it has been falsified in violation of this section.

A person may not use any document or registration plate described in this section, knowing that it has been falsified in violation of this section.

A person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 months or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.