Car Hopping in Utah

Utah teens have several slang phrases that parents are not privy to and these seemingly innocent terms could really be illegal activity such as car hopping.

Teen slang for illegal activities

Teens often create slang terms to sound cool amongst their peers and other times the reason for their code talk it is to keep adults in the dark as to what they are talking about. Just as parents should know “Molly” and “dabbing” aren’t reference to a friend or a famous dance move, the phrase “car hopping” does not mean their son or daughter is switching around which friend they are driving with. Ask any teen what car hopping is and they will likely know what it refers to even if they haven’t been involved in the activity themselves.

Car hopping

In the adult world car hopping translates to breaking into cars and stealing anything valuable. Car hopping can be done in broad daylight in the parking lot of a school or the mall, but typically it occurs in residential areas during the early morning hours when the owners of the cars and all of their neighbors are asleep. Car hopping usually doesn’t involve picking locks or breaking windows; all that is needed is a car owner feeling too comfortable with their surroundings and failing to lock their vehicle. The thief then opens the door, rummages for anything of value such as cash (and change), electronics, stereo equipment, purses, wallets, meds, and even personal documents that can be sold or used for identity theft.

Criminal charges

Breaking into cars is not only done by people with “zero chill”, but it can also result in serious criminal charges such as vehicle burglary and theft as well as curfew violations if done between the hours of midnight and 5am (curfew limits vary by city). Parents should encourage teens to respect their curfew and the property of those around them. If a teen finds themselves with others who plan on car hopping, teens are encouraged to say “bye Felecia” and bail.