JOYRIDING
Joyriding is an offence where you take, drive or use someone else’s motor vehicle without consent, but you don’t intend permanently to steal the vehicle.
Joyriding is different from theft of motor vehicle. People have been taking others’ vehicles for one reason or another for hundreds of years. While these actions may not have been charged as a violation of the law previously, regulations have been put in place for those that steal another person’s property even if only for a short time.
When any person, no matter how young, takes someone’s vehicle for a temporary amount of time without the intention of keeping it, he or she has committed the offence of joyriding. The other piece of this offense is usually the act of using the vehicle for a thrill at high speeds or because it is flashy. The difference in this crime is the intent behind the actions of taking the car. If the car is stolen with the intent to keep it, theft of motor vehicle is usually the crime charged. In that instance, the person may have the intention of selling it or other actions. However, joyriding is often committed by the young to enjoy the ride, drive at high speeds for the thrill of the experience or the pleasure of possible danger. These desires may influence the person to temporarily steal another’s vehicle.
The main difference between the the offence of joyriding and theft of motor vehicle relates to how long an offender intends to keep a vehicle away from its owner.
You are typically only guilty of theft of motor vehicle if you intend to permanently deprive a vehicle owner of the person’s vehicle.
Sec 390 (10a) of the Nigerian Criminal Code states that if a person steals a motor vehicle or motor cycle the offender shall upon conviction be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than five years but not more than seven years without the option of a fine.
FROM THE DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH
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