Joyriding is not a technical legal term, but it's one that is often used when charges are being pressed. Essentially, it just means taking a vehicle--usually a car, but it could also be a truck, boat, bus or any other motor vehicle--and using it without permission.
One thing that's important to note is that the ride itself is usually the goal. This is something that people do for the thrill of it. They usually do not ever plan on stealing the vehicle in question. In many cases, they will just abandon the vehicle somewhere when they are done with it, rather than selling it or stripping it for parts.
In some situations, those who go joyriding actually come back to the home or business where they obtained the vehicle and leave it there. The owner may only know what happened if it's clearly been moved, if evidence has been left in it, or if the dash indicators show that distance has been covered.
Experts do say that this is an offense that is often perpetrated by those who are underage. In a lot of cases, children will take their parents' cars, and the parents will then have to decide if they are going to press charges or not. However, experts also note that anyone can face joyriding charges, regardless of age. In some cases, the decision will be between charging the person with joyriding or outright theft of a motor vehicle.
Minors who are being charged with joyriding need to know their legal options. Though perhaps not as serious as theft, these charges can still carry strict penalties.
Source: Centre for Public Legal Education, "Joyriding," accessed April 15, 2016
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