The Vermont Statutes
Title 23: Motor Vehicles
Chapter 17: GENERAL OFFENSES AND JURISDICTION
TITLE 23
Motor Vehicles
CHAPTER 17. GENERAL OFFENSES AND JURISDICTION
§ 1701. Possession of motor vehicles with serial
or motor numbers defaced
A person shall not knowingly keep in his or her possession
or ownership for more than ten days a motor vehicle or
vessel, the manufacturer's serial or motor numbers or
identifying numbers assigned by the commissioner of which
have been changed, tampered with, obliterated or defaced,
unless the person has applied to the commissioner for
the assignment of a new number to be placed on the vehicle
or vessel or motor and the application has been granted.
(Amended 1971, No. 228 (Adj. Sess.), § 26; 1991,
No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.)
§ 1703. Defacing identifying numbers
A person who willfully changes or attempts to change,
or who tampers with, obliterates, defaces, or in any manner
interferes with the original or assigned motor number
or manufacturer's serial number of any motor vehicle or
vessel, or with any of the secret or identifying numbers
placed by the manufacturer of a motor vehicle or vessel
by the commissioner or any of the parts thereof upon the
vehicle or vessel or parts, shall be fined not more than
$1,000.00, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both
for the first offense and fined not more than $5,000.00
or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, for each
subsequent offense. (Amended 1991, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.),
§ 6.)
1704. Possession prima facie evidence of violation
The possession by a person of a motor vehicle or vessel,
the motor or manufacturer's serial or commissioner assigned
identifying number of which has been changed, tampered
with, obliterated or defaced, shall be prima facie evidence
of a violation of the provisions of section 1703 of this
title, unless the person applies to the commissioner for
the assignment of a new number as provided in section
1701 of this title. (Amended 1991, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.),
§ 7.)
