Charged with Burglary of a Motor Vehicle
A typical Burglary of a Motor Vehicle or BMV is a Misdemeanor offense in Texas. BMVs can be as simple as reaching in through an open window and taking items inside of a vehicle or popping a lock or breaking a window and taking valuables in another person’s vehicle. There are certain circumstances in which the penalties can be increased under the law that could make a BMV a felony offense. Under Texas Penal Code Sec. 30.04 a person commits this offense it, without the effective consent of the owner, breaks into or enters a vehicle or any part of a vehicle with the intent to commit any felony or theft.
“Enter” for purposes of a Burglary of a Motor Vehicle is broadly defined in Texas. If any part of the body or any physical object connected with the body intrudes upon that vehicle. This even applies to a bed of a pickup truck or a tool box on a truck. Texas law has determined that if an individual takes an item from the bed of a pickup truck, this constitutes “enter” under this section, despite never making entry into the cab of a pickup truck
Attorney for Burglary of a Motor Vehicle or BMV Arrests in Fort Worth, TX
Do you think that you might be under investigation or were you already arrested in North Central Texas for alleged Burglary of a Motor Vehicle or BMV? No matter how confident you are in you innocence, you should not say anything to authorities without legal representation. Contact Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC today.
Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC are criminal defense lawyers in Fort Worth who represent clients accused of all kinds of theft offenses all over Tarrant County, Johnson County, and Parker County, including Arlington, Cleburne, Fort Worth, Weatherford, and several other nearby communities. Call (817) 502-3600 to have our attorneys review your case and help you understand all of your legal options during a free, confidential consultation.
Overview of Burglary of a Motor Vehicle Crimes in Tarrant County
- What are the degrees of offenses and penalty ranges for Burglary of a Motor Vehicle?
- Where can I learn more about burglary of a motor vehicle in Fort Worth?
Common Types of Burglary of a Motor Vehicle offenses in Fort Worth
Breaking into or entering a vehicle with the intent to commit theft is a Class A Misdemeanor. The range of punishment for a first-time conviction for Burglary of a Motor Vehicle is up to one (1) year in jail and up to a $4000 fine. If an individual has previously been convicted of Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and is alleged to have committed the offense for a second time, the classification is still a Class A Misdemeanor, but the minimum range of punishment is 180 days in jail.
A Burglary of a Motor Vehicle can rise to the level of a State Jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that an individual has been previously convicted two or more times of Burglary of a Motor Vehicle. A Burglary of a Motor Vehicle can also be a State Jail felony if the “vehicle” or part of the “vehicle” broken into or entered is a rail car. The range of punishment for this offense is no less than 180 days to 2 years in a State Jail facility and up to a $10,000 fine.
A Burglary of a Motor Vehicle will be charged as a 3rd degree felony if the vehicle broken into or entered is owned or operated by a wholesale distributor of prescription drugs; or the individual breaks into or enters that vehicle with the intent to commit theft of a controlled substance. The range of punishment is increased to no less than 2 years and up to 10 years in the Texas Department of Corrections and up to a $10,000 fine.
Texas Resources for Burglary of a Motor Vehicle
Crime Information | Fort Worth, Texas Police Department (FWPD) — On this section of the FWPD website, you can find a link to CrimeMapping.com, a website that provides the public with valuable information about recent crime activity in their neighborhood. You can view recent Burglary of a Motor Vehicle offenses as well as other crimes committed in a specific area. You can also find quarterly and annual crime reports on this section of the FWPD website, many of which include BMV statistics.
Fort Worth Police Department
505 W. Felix St.
Fort Worth, TX 76115
(817) 392-4200
Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC | Fort Worth Burglary of a Motor Vehicle or BMV Defense Lawyer
If you were arrested or believe that you could be under investigation for allegedly committing Burglary of a Motor Vehicle in North Central Texas, it would be in your best interest to retain legal counsel as soon as possible. Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC can fight to possibly get these criminal charges reduced or dismissed.
Fort Worth criminal defense attorneys Gebhardt and Eppes, PLLC aggressively defend individuals in Weatherford, Arlington, Cleburne, Fort Worth, and many surrounding areas of Tarrant County, Parker County, and Johnson County. You can have our lawyers provide a complete evaluation of your case as soon as you call (817) 502-3600 or fill out an online form to schedule a free initial consultation.