(a) A person commits the offense of theft of motor fuel if the person knowingly operates an automobile or other related vehicle after placing motor fuel in the automobile or other related vehicle at a:
(1) Service station, filling station, garage, or other business where motor fuel is offered for sale at retail, so as to cause the automobile or other related vehicle to leave the premises of the service station, filling station, gasoline station, garage, or any other business where motor fuel is offered for sale at retail, with the intent of depriving the owner of the motor fuel and not making payment for the motor fuel; or
(2) Location owned by a political subdivision or nonprofit entity whether or not the motor fuel is offered for sale at retail, so as to cause the automobile or other related vehicle to leave the premises of the political subdivision or nonprofit entity, with the intent of depriving the owner of the motor fuel and not making payment for the motor fuel.
(b) Theft of motor fuel is a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) (1) (A) In addition to a penalty in subsection (b) of this section, a person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of theft of motor fuel shall have his or her driver's license suspended by the court for a period of not more than six (6) months.
(B) However, if the person's driver's license has previously been suspended for theft of motor fuel, the court shall suspend the person's driver's license for not less than one (1) year.
(2)
(A) The court shall immediately take possession of any suspended driver's license and forward it to the Office of Driver Services.
(B) The office shall notify the licensee of the suspension and of an opportunity to request a hearing to determine if a restricted permit should be issued during the time of suspension.
(d) Any service station, filling station, garage, or other location where motor fuel is offered for sale at retail shall prominently display on each face of a retail product dispenser a sign that contains the following: "THEFT OF MOTOR FUEL IS A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR AND CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF ONE (1) YEAR IN JAIL, $1000 FINE, AND A ONE (1) YEAR SUSPENSION OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE."
(e) As used in this section:
(1) "Nonprofit entity" means an organization that is exempt from income tax under 26 U.S.C. § 501(a); and
(2) "Political subdivision" means an agency, department, or other governing body of the state.
Copyright ©2024 LegalFix. All rights reserved. LegalFix is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and does not provide legal advice, services, or representation. The information on this website is an overview of the legal plans you can purchase—or that may be provided by your employer as an employee benefit or by your credit union or other membership group as a membership benefit.
LegalFix provides its members with easy access to affordable legal services through a network of independent law firms. LegalFix, its corporate entity, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors do not provide legal advice, services, or representation—directly or indirectly.
The articles and information on the site are not legal advice and should not be relied upon—they are for information purposes only. You should become a LegalFix member to get legal services from one of our network law firms.
You should not disclose confidential or potentially incriminating information to LegalFix—you should only communicate such information to your network law firm.
The benefits and legal services described in the LegalFix legal plans are not always available in all states or with all plans. See the legal plan Benefit Overview and the more comprehensive legal plan contract during checkout for coverage details in your state.
Use of this website, the purchase of legal plans, and access to the LegalFix networks of law firms are subject to the LegalFix Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.