Taking A Seventeen-Year-Old Across State Lines

LostnConfused · #1 10-14-2006, 03:06 AM

I have a friend who has decided to do the almost impossible. His gf is currently 16 and she will be soon turning 17. He was wanting to take her accross state lines for her birthday for a present at a cabin. He was thinking about Maryland but I am afraid that if her parents find out they may try to get him for kidnapping and taking a minor accross state lines.

He is planning on picking her up after school ( her parents don't like him lol ) and go straight from there to Maryland for the weekend. We have all lied to our parents about where we will be and she is planning on doing just that. I was looking around on the WV Code ( oh we all live in WV btw. ) but I was looking around and I can't find anything that says anything about taking a 17 year old accross state lines. I mean it's legal for 16/17 yr olds to drive accross state lines as long as the state your entering has the same licence age requirement. So would it be illegal for him to do so?

About the Kidnapping unless he took her against her will her parents couldn't get him for kidnapping could they? Thanks for your help on these questions.

#2 10-14-2006, 07:20 AM

I take it your friend doesnt object to comitting felonies and spending time in prison as someones love toy!

LostnConfused · #3 10-14-2006, 01:39 PM

All he wants to do is do something special for her birthday I actually need to see a Code on this one. He is within legal limitations of the law in age and honestly I don't see how this could be remotely considered illegal. I mean any 16 or 17 yr old can drive accross statelines to a cabin no problem so how the hell can this be illegal??

Kidnapping is when you take someone against thier will and he won't be doing so, also if I am not mistaken the law only points to those 16 years old and under in crossing state lines. I'd like to see a code on this one.

#4 10-14-2006, 01:43 PM

First off he states he taking her there for weekend! Alone with no parents or parental consent! That right there breaks law and could qualify for kidnapping but we also have statutory rape as possible charge as well. All in all this is NOT a good idea!

LostnConfused · #5 10-14-2006, 02:21 PM

No he isn't breaking the Statutory Rape laws not even in the state he wishes to take her. I done checked that up and how could someone get busted for kidnapping when it's not against someone's will?? They are together and she is willing to go. Can you show any actual code from WV or VA, MD, TN, KY, NC any of those states showing the possible charges of Kidnapping or Transporting a Minor Accross state lines?

Lets say your 17... and you drive where-ever you want. Your parents know you drive but if you go anywhere and hang out with friends or something and your parents don't know where you are they could get you for run away? Your basically saying that.

Ok let's post another case scenario, let's say they got permission to be together, does WV, MD, or TN have any Codes that he could get in trouble for taking a 17 yr old accross state lines? Like say if he went to MD and he got pulled for a speeding ticket or something. I would need to see a code because well I can't find one, and kidnapping usually states if they are taken against thier will. But let me know.

P.S. He is 18 btw which he will still be 18 once she turns 17 and in WV age of consent is 16 also if a minor is 15 only way statutory rape can be applied is if the offender is over 4 years of the minor. I already checked that one out, but the minor accross statelines is confusing because if I am hanging out with a group of friends and we wanna go to a movie in VA I think it's stupid the driver can be severly busted. But let me know.

nomorecrime · #6 10-15-2006, 11:08 PM

You're playing with fire. I would suggest your freind not do it. I know this sounds crazy. but it sounds like someone's thinking with the wrong head. I would have her to sign a written statement saying that she is voluntairly going on her own free will or better yet if i had a tape recorder or video tape i would have her to admit on it that she is not going against her will but voluntarily, also i would go as far as getting a written statement or recorded statement from her saying that any sex is voluntary on her part. I don't know if that would hold up at any court but i would try to protect myself.
also lot's can happen when traveling car breaks down,accident,or something bad happens at that cabin . think with your head on top instead of the one below

LostnConfused · #7 10-15-2006, 11:14 PM

Not me, my friend and yes I told him pretty much the same thing but still I am wondering if there is a law against a 17 going accross state lines. This isn't just some run of the mill relationship they've been together for a long period of time.

I will advise him on the Tape and such which she probably wouldn't mind doing anyway but any laws about the 17 yr old female crossing state lines? It's voluntary but I'm just making sure my friend can't get busted with some stupid law that even if it's voluntary they could still get him for.

nomorecrime · #8 10-15-2006, 11:46 PM

I am going to leave this one up too the experience ones in this forum. I know you will get your answer soon. i will be watching this post because i am anxious to hear the answer myself

LostnConfused · #9 10-16-2006, 02:50 AM

Yeah this is a very tricky one, I still havn't been able to find a Code on this.

I believe that taking someone under 16 accross state lines is a Felony, since you are taking the child out of custody, but with them being 16 and over with the ability to drive on thier own. There isn't a law against the minor driving themselves accross state lines. I believe though that if you don't have some type of proof saying the 16 or 17 year old voluntarily went that the parents could or the law could in fact prosecute for kidnapping charges.

It is practically impossible to convict if they voluntarily do so but it has been known that police and the parents will threaten and lie just to get the young adult to lie in court saying they were taken against thier will.

I have a few female friends who live in Virginia and they bring thier 16 and 17 year old friends over here to WV and talk to the police officers they know. They havn't gotten in any trouble and as long as the parents don't push for something I don't believe it's possible to stick anything.

I'd like to know from an experiance person which is why I came here, soon I will be getting in contact with a Police Officer who I am good friends with to actually get concrete fact on wether this is possible.

Honestly I believe 16 should be the age which you can make your own decisions.. lol you can work, drive, drop out, do whatever you want unless your parents say no. At 17 I joined the military, I was old enough to die for my country but not old enough to move out. I mean I could of if I wanted to my parents were awesome... but a legal point of veiw I wasn't.

So let me know thanks once again.