FOCL Practice Test

When Holly jumps out of the taxi without paying the fare, what crime is she guilty of?

1. Robbery

2. Theft of service

3. Misdemeanor theft

4. Fraud

The correct answer is: Theft of service

In the scenario where Holly jumps out of the taxi without paying the fare, the crime she is guilty of is theft of service. This offense occurs when someone obtains services without paying for them, with the intention to deprive the service provider of their payment. In this case, taking a taxi ride and then refusing to pay for it constitutes an effort to benefit from the service without compensating the driver for their time and resources. Other crimes listed, such as robbery, involve taking property from a person by force or threat, which is not applicable here since there was no confrontation or threat involved. Misdemeanor theft typically involves the unlawful taking of someone else's property, which may require specific circumstances that do not pertain to the act of jumping out of a taxi. Fraud entails deceit to secure an unfair or unlawful gain, which also does not clearly fit Holly's action, as her intent was not articulated in a deceptive manner during the taxi ride.