Pa. Cons. Stat. » 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) / Chapter 39
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3928 (2026)

  Unauthorized use of automobiles and other vehicles.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 3928.  Unauthorized use of automobiles and other vehicles.

(a)  Offense defined.--A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree if he operates the automobile, airplane, motorcycle, motorboat, or other motor-propelled vehicle of another without consent of the owner.

(b)  Defense.--It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor reasonably believed that the owner would have consented to the operation had he known of it.

 

Cross References.  Section 3928 is referred to in section 3903 of this title; section 5552 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 85 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Clemons, J., Aplt., 200 A.3d 441 (Pa. 2019).
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Commonwealth v. Clemons, J., Aplt., 200 A.3d 441 (Pa. 2019). · cites it 2× “§ 5510, unauthorized use of automobiles, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928, tampering with physical evidence, 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Campbell, 505 A.2d 262 (Pa. 1986). · cites it 4× “[3] 18 Pa.Cons.Stat. § 3928. [4] Appellant was charged at bill No.”
Commonwealth v. Fuentes, 991 A.2d 935 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010). · cites it 2× “[4] Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928, is defined as "operat[ing] the automobile, airplane, motorcycle, motorboat, or other motor-propelled vehicle of another without consent of the owner.”
Commonwealth v. Knoble, 188 A.3d 1199 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). “§ 3304(a)(1) ; and 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928(a), respectively. 7 Thus, the court deemed the photograph found on Appellant's cell phone admissible.”
Commonwealth v. Wallace, 97 A.3d 310 (Pa. 2014). · cites it 2× “§ 3922. . 18 Pa.C.S. § 903; 18 Pa.C.S. § 2706; 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Henry, 875 A.2d 302 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2005). · cites it 3× “18 Pa.C.S. § 3928 (emphasis added). ¶ 7 Appellant's argument centers on the word "operates.”
Commonwealth v. O'Donnell, 740 A.2d 198 (Pa. 1999). · cites it 2× “§ 903; possessing an instrument of crime, 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Raglin, 178 A.3d 868 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). “§ 780-113(a)(30); unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928; tampering with physical evidence, 18 Pa.”
Commonwealth v. Johnson, 489 A.2d 821 (Pa. 1985). · cites it 4× “" The statute defining unauthorized use of an automobile, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928, makes it an offense if the actor "operates" a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner.”
Commonwealth v. Lantzy, 712 A.2d 288 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1998). · cites it 2× “§ 3925, and unauthorized use of an automobile, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928(a). The court then sentenced Lantzy to an aggregate term of 5 years 1½ months' to 11 years 11 months' imprisonment for these crimes.”
Commonwealth v. Gribble, 703 A.2d 426 (Pa. 1997). “18 Pa.C.S. § 3928. 7 . 18 Pa.C.S. § 3301.”
Commonwealth v. Whitner, 420 A.2d 486 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1980). · cites it 2× “[2] 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928. [3] 18 Pa.C.S. § 903. [4] 18 Pa.”
Show all 85 citing cases →
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3928(a) — 35 cases
Commonwealth v. Knoble, 188 A.3d 1199 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). “§ 3304(a)(1) ; and 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928(a), respectively. 7 Thus, the court deemed the photograph found on Appellant's cell phone admissible.”
Commonwealth v. Campbell, 505 A.2d 262 (Pa. 1986). “[3] 18 Pa.Cons.Stat. § 3928. [4] Appellant was charged at bill No.”
Commonwealth v. Lantzy, 712 A.2d 288 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1998). “§ 3925, and unauthorized use of an automobile, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3928(a). The court then sentenced Lantzy to an aggregate term of 5 years 1½ months' to 11 years 11 months' imprisonment for these crimes.”
Commonwealth v. Henry, 875 A.2d 302 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2005). “18 Pa.C.S. § 3928 (emphasis added). ¶ 7 Appellant's argument centers on the word "operates.”
Commonwealth v. Bullers, 637 A.2d 1326 (Pa. 1994).
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3928(b) — 2 cases
Com. v. Manners, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016).
Com. v. Evans, T. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022).
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