Motor Vehicle and Aircraft Theft—18 U.S.C. § § 2311-2313

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DOJ Justice Manual › Title 9: Criminal › 9-61.000 - Crimes Involving Property › Justice Manual § 9-61.100

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

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Title 18 U.S.C. § 2312 makes it an offense to transport in interstate or foreign commerce a motor vehicle or aircraft, knowing it to have been stolen. The receipt, possession, sale, or disposition of a motor vehicle or aircraft which crossed a state or United States boundary after being stolen, with knowledge of its stolen character is an offense punishable in 18 U.S.C. § 2313.

Federal criminal jurisdiction also extends to a variety of other motor vehicle theft related activities. These include altering, removing or obliterating motor vehicle identification numbers, (18 U.S.C. §  511), trafficking in motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts with altered, removed or obliterated identification numbers (18 U.S.C. §  2321); and the exportation or importation of stolen motor vehicles, off-highway equipment, vessels and aircraft (18 U.S.C. § 553). See

JM 9-61.700

.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has investigatory responsibility for auto theft and aircraft theft-related offenses, including violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 511, 553, 2312, 2313, and 2321.

[updated January 2020]

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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Motor Vehicle and Aircraft Theft—18 U.S.C. § § 2311-2313 · Justice Manual § 9-61.100 | Frix