(A) No person shall knowingly use or operate an aircraft, motor vehicle, motorcycle, motorboat, or other motor-propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent.
(B) No person shall knowingly use or operate an aircraft, motor vehicle, motorboat, or other motor-propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent, and either remove it from this state, or keep possession of it for more than 48 hours.
(C) The following are affirmative defenses to a charge under this section:
(1) At the time of the alleged offense, the actor, though mistaken, reasonably believed that he or she was authorized to use or operate the property.
(2) At the time of the alleged offense, the actor reasonably believed that the owner or person empowered to give consent would authorize the actor to use or operate the property.
(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unauthorized use of a vehicle.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division (D)(1), a violation of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the victim of the offense is an elderly person or disabled adult and if the victim incurs a loss as a result of the violation, a violation of division (A) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(2) A violation of division (B) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(R.C. § 2913.03) (Rev. 2000)
Statutory reference:
Theft offense involving a motor vehicle, offender to pay towing and storage fees, see R.C. § 2913.82