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SF5039

Motor vehicle tampering penalty enhancement provision and crime for riding in a vehicle when a person reasonably should have known that a vehicle was taken without permission establishment provision
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

Related bill: HF1261

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • Strengthen public safety by increasing penalties related to motor vehicle crimes and by creating a specific offense for riding in a vehicle when the rider reasonably should know the vehicle was taken without permission.

Main provisions

  • Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.546 (Motor Vehicle Tampering).
  • New/updated offenses:
    • Motor vehicle tampering: A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if they intentionally tamper with, enter into, or onto a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission.
    • Riding in a motor vehicle: A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if they intentionally ride in or on a motor vehicle knowing, or reasonably should know, that the vehicle was taken and is being driven by another without the owner’s permission.
  • The standard for the riding offense includes both actual knowledge and a reasonable belief that the vehicle was taken.

Significant changes to existing law

  • Elevates penalties to gross misdemeanor for the specified motor vehicle tampering and riding offenses.
  • Clarifies the mens rea (mental state) for the riding-in-a-vehicle offense to include knowledge or a reasonable-to-know belief that the vehicle was taken.
  • Explicitly ties the offenses to taking without the owner’s permission and to using or manipulating a vehicle without permission.

Potential impact and considerations

  • May increase penalties for individuals who ride in or interact with a stolen vehicle or who tamper with a vehicle, potentially affecting arrests, charging decisions, and sentencing for related cases.
  • Gives law enforcement a clearly defined offense for riding in a stolen vehicle, in addition to tampering with or entering a vehicle.

Relevant terms

  • motor vehicle tampering
  • riding in or on a motor vehicle
  • taken without permission
  • owner’s permission
  • knowingly / reasonably should know
  • gross misdemeanor
  • Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.546
  • tampering with / enters into or on a motor vehicle
  • stolen vehicle / vehicle theft

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
April 09, 2026SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
April 09, 2026SenateActionReferred toJudiciary and Public Safety

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new provision making it a gross misdemeanor to ride in or on a motor vehicle when the rider knows or reasonably should know that the vehicle was taken without the owner's permission."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.546 to increase penalties for motor vehicle tampering and to establish a crime for riding in or on a motor vehicle when the rider reasonably should know that the vehicle was taken without permission.",
      "modified": [
        "Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 609.546 is amended to reflect the enhanced penalties and revised wording for motor vehicle tampering."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.546",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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