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1996 SESSION


CHAPTER 591
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-605, 46.2-1073, 46.2-1074, and 46.2-1075 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal § 46.2-626 of the Code of Virginia, relating to vehicle certificates of title, registration cards, salvage/nonrepairable certificates, identification numbers, decals, and devices; penalty.
[H 128]
Approved April 5, 1996

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 46.2-605, 46.2-1073, 46.2-1074, and 46.2-1075 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-605. Altering or forging certificate of title, salvage/nonrepairable certificate, or registration card; penalty.

Any person who (i) with fraudulent intent alters any certificate of title, salvage/nonrepairable certificate, or registration card issued by the Department or by any other state, (ii) with fraudulent intent, makes a false statement on any application for a certificate of title, salvage/nonrepairable certificate, or registration card issued by the Department or any other state, (iii) forges or counterfeits any certificate of title, salvage/nonrepairable certificate, or registration card purporting to have been issued by the Department under the provisions of this title or by any other state under a similar law or laws or, with fraudulent intent, alters or falsifies, or forges any assignment of title, salvage/nonrepairable certificate, (iv) holds or uses any certificate, registration card, or assignment, knowing the same to have been altered, forged, or falsified, shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

It shall be unlawful for any person to conspire with any other person to violate the provisions of this section.

§ 46.2-1073. Engine or serial number illegible, removed, or obliterated.

The owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer on which the engine or, serial number, or other identification number has become illegible or has been removed or obliterated shall immediately apply to the Department for a new engine or serial number or other identification number for such motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer. The Department, when satisfied that the applicant is the lawful owner or possessor of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer may assign a new engine or serial number or other identification number and shall require that such number, together with the name of the Commonwealth or a symbol indicating the Commonwealth and the date of such assignment, be stamped on the engine or, in the event such number is a serial number or other identification number, then, inscribed, or affixed upon such portion of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer as shall be designated by the Department. Whenever a new engine or serial number or other identification number has been assigned to and stamped, inscribed, or affixed on a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer as provided in this section, the Department shall insert the number on the registration card and certificate of title or salvage/nonrepairable certificate issued the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer.

§ 46.2-1074. Removing or altering serial or identification numbers, decals, and devices without consent of Department.

Any person who, individually or in association with one or more others, knowingly removes, changes, alters, or conceals any motor number, serial, or other identification number, decal, or device affixed to a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or motor vehicle part as required by federal law without the consent of the Department, shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

§ 46.2-1075. Possession of vehicles with serial numbers removed or altered.

Any person who shall knowingly have in his possession a motor vehicle, motor vehicle part, trailer, or semitrailer, the whose motor number, serial number, or identification number, decal, or device as required by federal law of which has been removed, changed, or altered without the consent of the Department shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

2. That § 46.2-626 of the Code of Virginia is repealed.

3. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment in state correctional facilities. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation is $0.