Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Hello,
My friend was stopped in San Bernardino California because he had expired tags. He was driving with an expired license and had no registration. He was let go later that day. Looking on the San Bernardino case info site, the arrest charge shows PC 487 (a) (Grand theft), but the filed charge is PC M485 (appropriation of lost property). For the life of him, he can not think of anything that was in the car that would make them think he had taken anyones property. The car was in his name, but did have unpaid parking tickets that exceeded over $400.00. Can unpaid parking tickets lead to a PC M485 charge? If convicted, what sort of penalty or jail time is usually associated with this charge?

Asked on 5/11/11, 6:06 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Joe Dane Law Office of Joe Dane

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No, unpaid tickets cannot be a 485. They must have found something in the car that was stolen and/or he has another case they're adding on because there was a warrant out for him.

His attorney can sort this all out, but based on what you wrote, I can't decipher it except to tell you that unpaid tickets is NOT theft under either 487 or 485.

Answered on 5/11/11, 6:10 pm

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