Trafficking in certain motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
(a) Whoever buys, receives, possesses, or obtains control of, with intent to sell or otherwise dispose of, a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part, knowing that an identification number for such motor vehicle or part has been removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered, shall be or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply if the removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration—
(1) is caused by collision or fire; or
(2) is not a violation of section 511 of this title.
(c)
As used in this section, the terms "identification number" and "motor vehicle" have the meaning given those terms in section 511 of this title.
History: (Added Pub. L. 98–547, title II, §204(a), Oct. 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 2770 (PDF, 3.2 MB), §2320; renumbered §2321, Pub. L. 99–646, §42(a), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3601 (PDF, 5.1 MB); amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to buy, receive, or keep a car or car part with plans to sell it, knowing its identification number (such as a VIN) has been removed or altered.