This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.52, subdivision 3, to increase the penalties for theft of motor vehicles. The new language specifies that individuals convicted of theft involving a motor vehicle will face harsher penalties, including a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison or a fine of up to $100,000 if the value of the stolen property exceeds $35,000. Additionally, the bill introduces new circumstances under which lesser penalties apply, such as thefts involving property valued at $5,000 or less, and clarifies the conditions under which these penalties are applicable.

The bill also includes several deletions and insertions to refine the legal language regarding theft penalties. Notably, it removes previous conditions related to the value of stolen property and replaces them with more specific criteria, including the explicit mention of motor vehicles as a category of property that incurs increased penalties. Furthermore, the bill establishes an effective date of August 1, 2025, for crimes committed on or after that date, and instructs the revisor of statutes to make necessary cross-reference changes in the law.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 609.52