The department shall assign a distinguishing vehicle identification number to comply with the standardized replacement vehicle identification number system to any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer or any component part if the vehicle identification number is illegible, destroyed, or obliterated. If the department assigns a number to a motor vehicle or a trailer that weighs three thousand pounds or more, the owner shall have the number appropriately attached by an employee of the department or the highway patrol. If the department assigns a number to a trailer that weighs less than three thousand pounds, the owner of the trailer shall permanently affix the assigned number to the neck of the trailer and have an employee of the department or any South Dakota law enforcement officer certify, on a form designated by the department, that the number was properly affixed to the trailer. Any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to which the vehicle identification number is assigned shall be registered under the number if registration is required under this chapter. The removal or the alteration of the vehicle identification number or the failure to have the number attached is a Class 6 felony. The owner of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer shall pay an amount to the department to reimburse the state for the cost of the issuance and attachment of the assigned number. The money collected shall be deposited in the motor vehicle fund.

Source: SDC 1939, § 44.0202 (7) as added by SL 1951, ch 229, § 2; SL 1965, ch 186, § 2; SL 1967, ch 186; SL 1985, ch 238, § 3; SL 1986, ch 242, § 35; SL 1988, ch 236, § 6; SL 1989, ch 257, § 24; SL 2017, ch 127, § 1.