§ 11-18-20 Obtaining vehicles with intentto defraud. – (a) By trick or false representation. Whoever with intent to defraud theowner or any person lawfully possessing any motor vehicle obtains the custodyof the motor vehicle by trick, deceit, fraudulent or willful falserepresentation, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as provided inthis section.
(b) Hiring with intent to defraud. Whoever with intentto defraud the owner or any person lawfully possessing any motor vehicle, orthe rental of a motor vehicle, hires a vehicle from the owner, or the owner'sagents or any person in lawful possession of it, shall, upon conviction, bedeemed guilty of a misdemeanor. The absconding without paying or offering topay the hire shall be prima facie evidence of fraudulent intent.
(c) Failure to redeliver hired vehicle. Whoever, afterhiring a motor vehicle under an agreement to redeliver the vehicle to theperson letting the motor vehicle or that person's agent, at the termination ofthe period for which it was let, shall, without the consent of that person orthose persons and with intent to defraud, abandon, or willfully refuse orneglect to redeliver the vehicle as agreed shall, upon conviction, be guilty ofa misdemeanor. The failure to return the motor vehicle within seventy-two (72)hours of the time agreed shall be prima facie evidence of fraudulent intent andthe vehicle shall be considered "stolen" for purposes of reporting the offenseto the local police.
(d) Tampering with mileage device. Whoever, afterhiring a motor vehicle from any person or persons under an agreement to pay forthe use of the motor vehicle a sum of money determinable either in whole or inpart upon the distance the motor vehicle travels during the period for whichhired, removes, attempts to remove, tampers with, or attempts to tamper with orotherwise interfere with any odometer or other mechanical device attached tothe hired motor vehicle for the purpose of registering the distance the vehicletravels, with the intent to deceive the person or persons letting the vehicleor their lawful agent as to the actual distance traveled, shall, uponconviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who shall knowinglyaid, abet or assist another in violating the provisions of this subsectionshall be proceeded against as a principal or as an accessory before the fact,and, upon conviction, shall suffer the same punishment as that to the principaloffender is subject. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection maybe charged with a violation in the city or town or county, as the case may be,where the odometer or other mechanical device:
(1) Is removed, or attempted to be removed, or tampered with;or attempted to be tampered with, or is otherwise interfered with;
(2) Where the persons knowingly aid, abet, or assist anotherto so remove, tamper with or otherwise interfere with the odometer or othermechanical device; or
(3) Where any part of the motor vehicle upon which isattached the odometer or other mechanical device is removed or attempted to beremoved.
(e) Penalty. Any person convicted of violation of anyprovision of subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this section shall beimprisoned for a term of not more than one year, or by a fine not to exceedfive hundred dollars ($500), or both.
§ 11-18-20 Obtaining vehicles with intentto defraud. – (a) By trick or false representation. Whoever with intent to defraud theowner or any person lawfully possessing any motor vehicle obtains the custodyof the motor vehicle by trick, deceit, fraudulent or willful falserepresentation, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as provided inthis section.
(b) Hiring with intent to defraud. Whoever with intentto defraud the owner or any person lawfully possessing any motor vehicle, orthe rental of a motor vehicle, hires a vehicle from the owner, or the owner'sagents or any person in lawful possession of it, shall, upon conviction, bedeemed guilty of a misdemeanor. The absconding without paying or offering topay the hire shall be prima facie evidence of fraudulent intent.
(c) Failure to redeliver hired vehicle. Whoever, afterhiring a motor vehicle under an agreement to redeliver the vehicle to theperson letting the motor vehicle or that person's agent, at the termination ofthe period for which it was let, shall, without the consent of that person orthose persons and with intent to defraud, abandon, or willfully refuse orneglect to redeliver the vehicle as agreed shall, upon conviction, be guilty ofa misdemeanor. The failure to return the motor vehicle within seventy-two (72)hours of the time agreed shall be prima facie evidence of fraudulent intent andthe vehicle shall be considered "stolen" for purposes of reporting the offenseto the local police.
(d) Tampering with mileage device. Whoever, afterhiring a motor vehicle from any person or persons under an agreement to pay forthe use of the motor vehicle a sum of money determinable either in whole or inpart upon the distance the motor vehicle travels during the period for whichhired, removes, attempts to remove, tampers with, or attempts to tamper with orotherwise interfere with any odometer or other mechanical device attached tothe hired motor vehicle for the purpose of registering the distance the vehicletravels, with the intent to deceive the person or persons letting the vehicleor their lawful agent as to the actual distance traveled, shall, uponconviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who shall knowinglyaid, abet or assist another in violating the provisions of this subsectionshall be proceeded against as a principal or as an accessory before the fact,and, upon conviction, shall suffer the same punishment as that to the principaloffender is subject. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection maybe charged with a violation in the city or town or county, as the case may be,where the odometer or other mechanical device:
(1) Is removed, or attempted to be removed, or tampered with;or attempted to be tampered with, or is otherwise interfered with;
(2) Where the persons knowingly aid, abet, or assist anotherto so remove, tamper with or otherwise interfere with the odometer or othermechanical device; or
(3) Where any part of the motor vehicle upon which isattached the odometer or other mechanical device is removed or attempted to beremoved.
(e) Penalty. Any person convicted of violation of anyprovision of subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this section shall beimprisoned for a term of not more than one year, or by a fine not to exceedfive hundred dollars ($500), or both.
§ 11-18-20 Obtaining vehicles with intentto defraud. – (a) By trick or false representation. Whoever with intent to defraud theowner or any person lawfully possessing any motor vehicle obtains the custodyof the motor vehicle by trick, deceit, fraudulent or willful falserepresentation, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished as provided inthis section.
(b) Hiring with intent to defraud. Whoever with intentto defraud the owner or any person lawfully possessing any motor vehicle, orthe rental of a motor vehicle, hires a vehicle from the owner, or the owner'sagents or any person in lawful possession of it, shall, upon conviction, bedeemed guilty of a misdemeanor. The absconding without paying or offering topay the hire shall be prima facie evidence of fraudulent intent.
(c) Failure to redeliver hired vehicle. Whoever, afterhiring a motor vehicle under an agreement to redeliver the vehicle to theperson letting the motor vehicle or that person's agent, at the termination ofthe period for which it was let, shall, without the consent of that person orthose persons and with intent to defraud, abandon, or willfully refuse orneglect to redeliver the vehicle as agreed shall, upon conviction, be guilty ofa misdemeanor. The failure to return the motor vehicle within seventy-two (72)hours of the time agreed shall be prima facie evidence of fraudulent intent andthe vehicle shall be considered "stolen" for purposes of reporting the offenseto the local police.
(d) Tampering with mileage device. Whoever, afterhiring a motor vehicle from any person or persons under an agreement to pay forthe use of the motor vehicle a sum of money determinable either in whole or inpart upon the distance the motor vehicle travels during the period for whichhired, removes, attempts to remove, tampers with, or attempts to tamper with orotherwise interfere with any odometer or other mechanical device attached tothe hired motor vehicle for the purpose of registering the distance the vehicletravels, with the intent to deceive the person or persons letting the vehicleor their lawful agent as to the actual distance traveled, shall, uponconviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who shall knowinglyaid, abet or assist another in violating the provisions of this subsectionshall be proceeded against as a principal or as an accessory before the fact,and, upon conviction, shall suffer the same punishment as that to the principaloffender is subject. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection maybe charged with a violation in the city or town or county, as the case may be,where the odometer or other mechanical device:
(1) Is removed, or attempted to be removed, or tampered with;or attempted to be tampered with, or is otherwise interfered with;
(2) Where the persons knowingly aid, abet, or assist anotherto so remove, tamper with or otherwise interfere with the odometer or othermechanical device; or
(3) Where any part of the motor vehicle upon which isattached the odometer or other mechanical device is removed or attempted to beremoved.
(e) Penalty. Any person convicted of violation of anyprovision of subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this section shall beimprisoned for a term of not more than one year, or by a fine not to exceedfive hundred dollars ($500), or both.
