A. A person who knowingly removes, defaces, alters or destroys a manufacturer‘s serial or identification number of a motor vehicle or major component part of a vehicle without the permission of the department is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.

Attorney's Note

Under the Arizona Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class 5 felonyup to 2 yearsup to $150,000
Class 3 misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $500
For details, see § 13-702 and § 13-707

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 28-4593

  • Department: means the department of transportation acting directly or through its duly authorized officers and agents. See Arizona Laws 28-101
  • Major component part: includes a motor vehicle or vehicle part that the manufacturer has assigned any factory, motor, serial or other identification number or mark. See Arizona Laws 28-4301
  • Manufacturer: means any person who either:

    (a) Manufactures or assembles new motor vehicles. See Arizona Laws 28-4301

  • Motor vehicle: means an automobile, motor bus, motorcycle, truck or truck tractor or any other self-propelled vehicle, trailer or semitrailer. See Arizona Laws 28-4301
  • Person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 1-215

B. A person who intentionally removes, defaces, alters or destroys a manufacturer’s serial or identification number of a motor vehicle or major component part of a vehicle with the intent to alter the identity of that or another motor vehicle or major component part is guilty of a class 5 felony.

C. This section does not apply to a person who, for motor vehicles manufactured before 1981, removes and reinstalls a manufacturer’s serial or identification number from a motor vehicle if the removal and reinstallation are reasonably necessary for repair or restoration, unless the person knows or has reason to know that the motor vehicle is stolen.