It is a misdemeanor for any person to obtain possession of all or any part of any aircraft subject to a lien under this chapter through surreptitious removal or by trick, fraud, or device perpetrated upon the lienholder.
§ 1208.69.Obtaining Possession of Aircraft Through Trick, Fraud Or Device Perpetrated Upon Lienholder
Title 4. Of the Enforcement of Liens · Chapter 5. Liens on Aircraft · Enacted 1953 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1208.69 makes it a misdemeanor to obtain possession of an aircraft subject to a lien under this chapter through surreptitious removal or by trick, fraud, or other device perpetrated on the lienholder.
Full Text of § 1208.69
Plain-English Summary
Because this chapter's lien depends on possession, the law backs up the lienholder's right to keep that possession with a criminal penalty. Anyone who obtains possession of all or part of an aircraft subject to a lien under this chapter — whether by sneaking it away or by trick, fraud, or some other device aimed at the lienholder — commits a misdemeanor.
This criminal backstop works alongside the civil remedy in § 1208.64, which revives a lien lost this way once the lienholder repossesses the aircraft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a crime to take an aircraft away from someone holding a lien on it?
Yes, if it's done through surreptitious removal or by trick, fraud, or device -- § 1208.69 makes that a misdemeanor.
Does this criminal provision affect the lienholder's civil lien rights?
The civil side is addressed separately in § 1208.64, which revives a lien lost through this kind of wrongdoing once the lienholder repossesses the aircraft.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 52.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: aircraft lien theft misdemeanor california