§ 14-160.1. Alteration, destruction or removal of permanent identification marks from personal property. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 14‑160.1.  Alteration,destruction or removal of permanent identification marks from personalproperty.

(a)        It shall beunlawful for any person to alter, deface, destroy or remove the permanentserial number, manufacturer's identification plate or other permanent,distinguishing number or identification mark from any item of personal propertywith the intent thereby to conceal or misrepresent the identity of said item.

(b)        It shall beunlawful for any person knowingly to sell, buy or be in possession of any itemof personal property, not his own, on which the permanent serial number,manufacturer's identification plate or other permanent, distinguishing numberor identification mark has been altered, defaced, destroyed or removed for thepurpose of concealing or misrepresenting the identity of said item.

(c)        Unless the conductis covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, aviolation of any of the provisions of this section shall be a Class 1misdemeanor.

(d)        This section shall notin any way affect the provisions of G.S. 20‑108, 20‑109(a) or 20‑109(b). (1977, c. 767,s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 106; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2009‑204,s. 1.)