§ 31-9-5. Alteration of identification number.
(a)(1) No person shall with fraudulent intent remove, deface, destroy, or alter the manufacturer’s serial or engine number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark of a motor vehicle or any of its parts nor shall any person place or stamp any serial, engine, or other number or mark upon a motor vehicle or any part, except one assigned to it by the division of motor vehicles. Any violation of this provision is a felony.
(2) The fact that a person removed, defaced, destroyed, or altered the manufacturer’s serial or engine number or any other distinguishing number or identification mark of a motor vehicle or part, or that a person placed or stamped on a motor vehicle part any serial, engine, or other number or mark different from that originally assigned by the manufacturer to it, without first obtaining a permit from the division of motor vehicles, shall be prima facie evidence of that person’s fraudulent intent.
(b) This section shall not prohibit the restoration by an owner of an original serial, engine, or other number or mark when that restoration is made under a permit issued by the division of motor vehicles, nor prevent any manufacturer from placing in the ordinary course of business numbers or marks upon motor vehicles or their parts.
History of Section.P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 12, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 31-9-5; P.L. 1978, ch. 196, § 1; P.L. 1983, ch. 221, § 7; P.L. 1984, ch. 264, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-9 - Theft and Related Offenses
Section 31-9-1. - Driving without consent of owner or lessee.
Section 31-9-2. - Possession of stolen vehicle or parts.
Section 31-9-3. - Injuring or tampering with vehicles.
Section 31-9-4. - Manipulating controls with malicious intent.
Section 31-9-5. - Alteration of identification number.
Section 31-9-7. - Reports by police officers of thefts and recoveries.
Section 31-9-8. - Notice by owner of theft or embezzlement.
Section 31-9-9. - Filing and indexing of theft and embezzlement reports.
Section 31-9-10. - Weekly lists of stolen vehicles.
Section 31-9-11. - Sale, purchase, or possession of keys or manipulative devices for automobiles.