The Best Phoenix Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Law Team in Arizona
How do you know who has the best Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Legal Defense Firm in Arizona? You begin by looking at the team’s experience. David Michael Cantor is a former Prosecutor, and a highly experienced Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation in Arizona Attorney who became a member of the Arizona State Bar in 1989. David then began his Arizona legal practice as an Assistant City Prosecutor for the City of Phoenix. Considered as one of the Top Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Crime Defense Lawyers in Arizona, he then founded his own Criminal Defense firm and Arizona Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Crime Defense Team, DM Cantor.
David is a highly-skilled Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Defense Lawyer who knows the Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation laws backward and forward, and he will vigorously fight the Arizona State Attorney General or County Prosecutor on your behalf. Phoenix Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Lawyer, and Criminal Defense Attorney David Cantor, wrote this webpage in order to give you an Arizona Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation overview as to how the DM Cantor Phoenix Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Attorney Defense Team can prove your Innocence if you have been Falsely Accused of Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation. So whether you have a single Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation charge, or multiple charges, contact DM Cantor today!
In addition to Phoenix area experience, you next look to the Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Defense Lawyer’s Results and Certifications. In addition to David Cantor being a Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialist, his partner (Christine Whalin) is also a Certified Criminal Law Specialists as well. No other Arizona Criminal Defense Firm has as many Complete Jury Trial Acquittals as DM Cantor. Click on the link below to see Questions to Ask when Interviewing a Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Attorney to represent you in your Court case.
Beware: Be very cautious of visiting with a Criminal Law Firm who has you meet with a Non-Attorney Salesperson, rather than a Licensed Attorney. They will then try to sell their “legal services,” even though they are not allowed by the State Bar of Arizona to give legal advice. DM Cantor always has you meet with one of the Partners and Certified Criminal Law Specialists in our office when consulting us regarding a Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation charge.
What is Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation in Arizona?
Whether in the Phoenix area, or anywhere in Arizona, per ARS §13-1803 “Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation” or “Joyriding/ Borrowing Without Permission”, occurs when a person without the intent to “permanently” deprive, knowingly takes unauthorized control of another person’s vehicle. This can also occur if the person is a passenger in a car and they know or have reason to know that the driver is in unlawful possession of that vehicle.
Possible Punishment for Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation
If the person is actually driving the vehicle, then they can be charged with a class (five) 5 felony. For a first offense class five (5) felony, carries the range of punishment from probation with zero (0) days in jail up to one (1) year in jail; or a range of prison of six (6) months to two and one half (2.5) years of incarceration. If a person has one (1) allegeable historical prior conviction, then the “prison only” range can be one (1) year to three and three quarter (3.75) years of incarceration. If the person has two (2) allegeable historical prior convictions, then the “prison only” range is three (3) years to seven and one half (7.5) years of incarceration.
If the person is merely a passenger in a car that is being unlawfully used, then they can be charged with a class six (6) felony. The range of punishment for a first offense is probation with zero (0) days in jail up to one (1) year in jail; or prison of four (4) months to two (2) years of incarceration. If the person has one (1) allegeable historical prior conviction, then the “prison only” range is nine (9) months to two and three quarter (2.75) years of incarceration. If the person has two (2) allegeable historical prior convictions, then the “prison only” range is two and one quarter (2.25) years to five and three quarter (5.75) years of incarceration.
Possible Defenses for Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation
One of the most often seen defenses to Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation / Joyriding is “Lack of Knowledge”. For example, a group may pull up in a vehicle to pick-up a person, and that person may have no knowledge that the vehicle is actually stolen. In other words, if they assume the person driving it has permission to drive the vehicle, then they would not be guilty of being a passenger in a “known” illegally borrowed vehicle. This same scenario can occur when the person who has “borrowed” the car then asks another person to drive and states “this is my uncle’s car, you drive”. Again, if the Defendant did not have knowledge, then the Defendant is not illegally Joyriding. Remember, the Prosecutor can charge this crime even if this car is a relative’s vehicle (such as an uncle) if that person did not give permission for the driver to take the car. It is important to interview all parties present in order to show that the Defendant did not actual have knowledge that the person who presented him with the car was doing so unlawfully.
The “Common Defenses” for Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation / Joyriding, which a defense attorney may apply in any criminal case, are numerous and diverse. One of most common defenses we encounter is a “Miranda Rights Violation”. In Arizona, the standard of whether any inculpatory statement (i.e., a statement which tends to admit guilt) is admissible into evidence is based upon a “Voluntariness” standard. If we can demonstrate that the police coerced you (i.e., intimidated or tricked you) into making a confession or inculpatory statement, or that they did not properly read you your Miranda Rights, then we can suppress those statements and any evidence gathered as a direct result of those statements.
In addition, “Denial of right to Counsel” is another common defense which is often raised. This occurs when a suspect is in custody and requests to speak to their Attorney, but is denied and questioning continues. Other defenses may include challenging the validity of any search warrant, or whether there were any “forensic flaws” during the investigation of your case. Depending on what you have been charged with, this could include exposing flawed procedures regarding blood, breath, and urine testing; fingerprints analysis; DNA testing; ballistics; gunshot residue testing; computer analysis/”cloning hard drive” procedures; forensic financial accounting reviews; etc.
Lastly, one of the most common defenses is exposing sloppy or misleading police reports which include everything from misstatements, false statements, flawed photo line-ups and inaccurate crime scene reconstruction. It is important to hire a skilled Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation/Joyriding Lawyer to defend you who has knowledge of both the specific defenses and the common defenses involved in an Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation/Joyriding case.
Click here… if you have not been charged with Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation yet, but the police are in the “pre-charge investigation stage” of your case.
We are an AV® rated law firm (the highest possible rating by Martindale Hubbell®). Also David Michael Cantor is a Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation lawyer in Arizona, and a Certified Criminal Law Specialist, per the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. In addition, the Firm and all of its lawyers are listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers®. At DM Cantor, the majority of our Attorneys are ex-Prosecutors, and all of our Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Lawyers in Arizona know the system well.
The Collateral Consequences Of An Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Conviction
The effects of a Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation conviction can be devastating. Even if a person is to receive Probation with no Jail, or a small Jail or Prison sentence, after they are released there will be lifelong effects on the Defendant. This can involve Lifetime Probation; job restrictions; apartment/dormitory restrictions or prohibitions; Professional Licenses being Revoked; loss or severe restriction of internet privileges; etc. Check the link below for information regarding what Collateral Consequences you or a loved one might be facing.
Click to see Comprehensive List and Explanation of Collateral Consequences regarding a Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Conviction
Mitigation
When it comes to “Mitigation” regarding a charge of Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation, it is important to start that process right away. Not only can this help us with potentially convincing a Prosecutor to not file charges in the first place, but it may reduce the level of charges that they ultimately file. In addition, if there is a conviction later, this can be used to help reduce any type of Sentence if there is a “Range.” The Mitigating Factors which are considered by both the Prosecutor and the Courts includes Statutory and Non-Statutory elements.
Many items that we routinely include in our Mitigation Packages include Psychosexual Risk Evaluations; Polygraphs; Neuro-Psychological Evaluations; Counseling records; substance abuse Treatment and/or Rehabilitation; and a complete history of a person’s background. This can include Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), medical records, Counseling records, etc. Lastly. we often include what’s known as a “Proportionality Review/Sentencing Disparity” analysis in which we can show the Prosecutor and Court that similarly-situated Defendants received low Sentences. Click the link below to see a more detailed list of both Statutory and Non-Statutory Mitigating Factors.
Click here to see Helpful Mitigation Information
Work with a DM Cantor Phoenix Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Defense Lawyer Today For a Free Consultation
For a free consultation and free case evaluation with one of our Phoenix Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Lawyers and Criminal Defense Lawyers, call our 24 hour Phoenix Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Defense Lawyers Hotline at 602-307-0808 , or click here for a free consultation on any criminal cases. Our aggressive Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Lawyers always offer free consultations for an initial visit with our Phoenix Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Defense Attorneys. We are often considered to be the “best Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Defense Lawyer”.
As of the start of 2025, the State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization listed only 62 Criminal Law Specialists in the entire State. Of these 62, only 41 are located in Maricopa County and are allowed to handle private cases. DM Cantor has 2 Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialists, no other law firm in Arizona has more. When defending Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation Allegations, it is critical to have as many Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialists on your Legal Team as is possible.The Specialization process is so rigorous that only 34 current Criminal Law Specialists were Certified since the turn of the Century! In addition, all Specialists must be approved for Re-Certification every 5 years. At DM Cantor, our 2 Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists have conducted Jury Trials on countless Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation cases.Every Major Felony Unlawful Use of Means of Transportation case defended by DM Cantor includes at least 1 Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist on the legal team who is directly handling or supervising the Defense.We wouldn’t have it any other way.
