Montana Code Annotated
Part 3. Theft and Related Offenses
45-6-309. Failure to return rented or leased personal property

45-6-309. Failure to return rented or leased personal property. (1) A person commits the offense of failure to return rented or leased personal property if, without notice to and permission of the lessor, the person purposely and knowingly fails to return the property within 48 hours after the time provided for return in the rental agreement, provided that clear written notice, in bold print, of the date and time when return of the property is required and of the penalty prescribed in this section is stated in the rental or lease agreement.
(2) Presentation to the lessor by the lessee of identification that is false for the purpose of obtaining a rental or lease agreement constitutes prima facie evidence of commission of the offense.
(3) After the rental or lease period specified in the rental or lease agreement has expired, failure to return rented or leased personal property within 72 hours of written demand by the lessor, sent by certified mail to the renter or lessee at the address given at the time of entering the rental or lease agreement, constitutes prima facie evidence of commission of the offense.
(4) (a) A person convicted of failure to return rented or leased personal property not exceeding $1,500 in value shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both.
(b) A person convicted of failure to return rented or leased personal property that exceeds $1,500 in value and does not exceed $5,000 in value shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,500 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 3 years, or both. A person convicted of a second offense shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,500 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 5 years, or both. A person convicted of a third or subsequent offense shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 2 years or more than 5 years and may be fined an amount not to exceed $5,000.
(c) A person convicted of failure to return rental or leased personal property exceeding $5,000 in value or part of a common scheme shall be fined an amount not to exceed $10,000 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years, or both.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 239, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 581, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 616, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 397, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 473, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 321, L. 2017.

Structure Montana Code Annotated