Legal Definitions - National Motor Vehicle Theft Act

The National Motor Vehicle Theft Act, also commonly known as the Dyer Act, is a United States federal law that makes it a crime to transport a stolen motor vehicle across state or international borders. This law addresses situations where the act of vehicle theft, which is typically a state crime, gains a federal dimension due to the involvement of interstate commerce. Its purpose is to enable federal authorities to prosecute individuals who move stolen vehicles from one state to another, thereby preventing thieves from escaping justice by crossing jurisdictional lines.

• Example 1: Driving a stolen car across state lines
  A person steals a car from a parking lot in Miami, Florida. To evade local police and sell the vehicle, they drive the stolen car across the state line into Georgia.

  Explanation: By driving the stolen vehicle from Florida to Georgia, the individual has transported a stolen motor vehicle across state lines. This act triggers federal jurisdiction under the National Motor Vehicle Theft Act, in addition to any state-level theft charges they might face in Florida.

• Example 2: Shipping a stolen vehicle interstate for resale
  A criminal syndicate steals several high-end trucks from a dealership in Texas. They then arrange for these stolen trucks to be loaded onto a commercial transport carrier and shipped to a chop shop in Oklahoma, where they will be disassembled and sold for parts.

  Explanation: The act of arranging for the interstate shipment of stolen vehicles, even if the criminals themselves do not drive them, constitutes a violation of the National Motor Vehicle Theft Act. The law covers any form of interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles, including through third-party carriers, when done with criminal intent.

• Example 3: Moving a stolen motorcycle to another state to avoid detection
  After stealing a vintage motorcycle from a private garage in New Jersey, an individual hides it in a rented storage unit across the border in Pennsylvania, intending to keep it for personal use or sell it later when the "heat dies down."

  Explanation: The act of moving the stolen motorcycle from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, even if it's just for storage and not immediate sale, involves transporting a stolen motor vehicle across state lines. This action falls under the National Motor Vehicle Theft Act, allowing federal authorities to intervene due to the interstate nature of the crime.