Theft of Services, Subways & Cabs

Easily the most common of all types of Theft of Service arrests and Desk Appearance Tickets in New York City from Manhattan and Brooklyn to Queens and the Bronx, NY PL 165.15(3) often revolves around a failure to pay either a subway or cab fare. Although the crime requires that you intentionally refuse or avoid payment of a transportation service regardless of the amount of that service, New York City police officers routinely take the side of a cab driver even if you have a legitimate and reasonable explanation. For example, you may not have cash, but offer to go to an ATM or use a credit car and the cab driver still makes his claim. Alternatively, a cab driver takes you on a route to intentionally increase his fee and you dispute the amount and refuse to pay. Again, the police may still arrest you or issue a New York Desk Appearance Ticket . In those cases involving entrance to the subway system by “jumping” a turnstile, “doubling up,” or using a specialty MetroCard (student or elderly), not only will you need a criminal lawyer for a New York Penal Law 165.15(3) arrest, but you might also be charged with and additional crime of Trespassing.

Just as discussed in each of the various sections and main Theft of Services page, the concern for a first time offender charged with this crime is not incarceration on Rikers Island, but the collateral damage to your career and future. That is, what might your employer find out on a background check? How will a theft crime impact you licensing or certifications? How might this arrest, Desk Appearance Ticket or conviction for Theft of Services influence your current or future immigration status? While each case is unique, these are the questions you and your New York criminal defense attorney should be investigating and discussing.

To examine or just peruse material on the crimes of Theft of Services, Desk Appearance Tickets and other offenses in New York, please follow the highlighted links here and above. Additionally the New York Criminal Lawyer Blog is a searchable resource where analysis of statutes and cases can be found. A secondary source with valuable content, NYDeskAppearanceTicket.Com , is also available.

• New York CriminalLawyer Blog – Dine & Dash: The Restaurant Rule
• New York Criminal Lawyer Blog – Collateral Consequences of a NY PL 165.15 Arrest

Call the New York criminal defense attorneys and former Manhattan prosecutors at (212) 312-7129 or contact us online today.