Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106 (2026)

Unauthorized use of automobiles and other vehicles - Joyriding

✓ current as of May 2026
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A person commits a Class A misdemeanor who takes another's automobile, airplane, motorcycle, bicycle, boat or other vehicle without the consent of the owner and the person does not have the intent to deprive the owner thereof.

Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.


Notes of Decisions
Cited in 32 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: State v. Brooks, 909 S.W.2d 854 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
State v. Brooks, 909 S.W.2d 854 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). · cites it 2× “Pursuant to T.C.A. § 39-14-106, the offense of joyriding occurs if a person “takes another’s automobile, airplane, motorcycle, bicycle, boat or other vehicle without the consent of the owner and the person does not have the intent to deprive the owner thereof.”
State of Tennessee v. Joseph Harris (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016). · cites it 6× “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106 . In State v.”
State of Tennessee v. William Belchia (Tenn. Crim. App. 2005). · cites it 8× “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106 -6- (2003). The State concedes that “joyriding” under Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-106 may be a lesser-included offense of the theft of an automobile in appropriate cases, but argues, among other things, that the defendant offered no…”
State of Tennessee v. Troy Ector (Tenn. Crim. App. 2012). · cites it 4× “See T.C.A. § 39-14-106 (2010). He notes that he filed a motion requesting a jury instruction on this offense, which the trial court denied.”
State of Tennessee v. Demetrie Owens (Tenn. Crim. App. 2004). · cites it 4× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106 . The definition of “deprive” is found in Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-11-106(8)(a), and includes “[w]ithhold[ing] property from the owner permanently or for such as period of time as to substantially diminish the value or enjoyment of the…”
State of Tennessee v. Charles Stillwell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). · cites it 4× “Upon an agreement between the State and the defendant, he accepted a six-year sentence and a $500 fine for his plea of guilty to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-106(4), theft over $10,000, a Class C felony.”
State of Tennessee v. Marvin D. Brown, a/k/a Melvin Taylor (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). · cites it 4× “, that he intended to “deprive” the owner of the property as defined in Tenn.”
Larry Edward Moore, Jr. v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106 . This court has previously held that unauthorized use of a motor vehicle is a lesser-included offense of carjacking.”
State of Tennessee v. Dwayne Edward Harris (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021). · cites it 2× “Joyriding is statutorily defined in Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-106, which provides “[a] person commits a Class A misdemeanor who takes another’s automobile, airplane, motorcycle, bicycle, boat or other vehicle without the consent of the owner and the person does not…”
State of Tennessee v. Anthony Eugene Reed (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021). · cites it 2× “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106 . Thus, intent is the crucial element that differentiates theft from joyriding.”
State of Tennessee v. Miracle A'sha Bailey & Robert Jaylen Holland (Tenn. Crim. App. 2026). · cites it 2× “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106 . In the light most favorable to the State, Detective Kilby testified that the Jeep had been reported as stolen in the NCIC database.”
State of Tennessee v. Scott Bradley Price (Tenn. Crim. App. 2026). · cites it 2× “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106 . Here, the trial court focused on the fact that the truck belonged to TDOT rather than to Mr.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106(4) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Charles Stillwell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). “Upon an agreement between the State and the defendant, he accepted a six-year sentence and a $500 fine for his plea of guilty to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-106(4), theft over $10,000, a Class C felony.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-106(5) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Charles Stillwell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). “Upon an agreement between the State and the defendant, he accepted a six-year sentence and a $500 fine for his plea of guilty to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-14-106(4), theft over $10,000, a Class C felony.”
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