
What Are Some Examples?ĮXAMPLE 1: As a prank, Daphne climbs into her neighbor's vehicle, parked on a sloped street. It should also be noted that VC 10853 applies to any items attached to the vehicle, such as license plates, rear-view mirrors, etc., so you may be charged with this crime if you maliciously deface or damage items such as these. However, prosecutors must show that you intended to do the damage. In other words, you don't have to damage or deface the vehicle (i.e., commit malicious mischief) to be convicted.

Note that this law is a crime of intention.

VC 10853 says, “No person shall with intent to commit any malicious mischief, injury, or other crime, climb into or upon a vehicle whether it is in motion or at rest, nor shall any person attempt to manipulate any of the levers, starting mechanism, brakes, or other mechanism or device of a vehicle while the same is at rest and unattended, nor shall any person set in motion any vehicle while the same is at rest and unattended.” This crime is known as malicious mischief to a vehicle, defined under Vehicle Code 10853 VC, and if you're convicted, you could face up to 6 months in jail. It's a crime under Vehicle Code 10853 VC to commit malicious mischief to a vehicle.įor this reason, it's a crime in California to get in or on someone's vehicle without their consent or to manipulate the controls to damage or deface it.
