§ 20-109. Altering or changing engine or other numbers. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 20‑109.  Altering orchanging engine or other numbers.

(a)        It shall beunlawful and constitute a felony for:

(1)        Any person towillfully deface, destroy, remove, cover, or alter the manufacturer's serialnumber, transmission number, or engine number; or

(2)        Any vehicle owner toknowingly permit the defacing, removal, destroying, covering, or alteration ofthe serial number, transmission number, or engine number; or

(3)        Any person except alicensed vehicle manufacturer as authorized by law to place or stamp any serialnumber, transmission number, or engine number upon a vehicle, other than oneassigned thereto by the Division; or

(4)        Any vehicle owner toknowingly permit the placing or stamping of any serial number or motor numberupon a motor vehicle, except such numbers as assigned thereto by the Division.

A violation of this subsectionshall be punishable as a Class I felony.

(b)        It shall beunlawful and constitute a felony for:

(1)        Any person, withintent to conceal or misrepresent the true identity of the vehicle, to deface,destroy, remove, cover, alter, or use any serial or motor number assigned to avehicle by the Division; or

(2)        Any vehicle owner,with intent to conceal or misrepresent the true identity of the vehicle, topermit the defacing, destruction, removal, covering, alteration, or use of aserial or motor number assigned to a vehicle by the Division; or

(3)        Any vehicle owner,with the intent to conceal or misrepresent the true identity of a vehicle, topermit the defacing, destruction, removal, covering, alteration, use, gift, orsale of any manufacturer's serial number, serial number plate, or any part orparts of a vehicle containing the serial number or portions of the serialnumber.

A violation of this subsectionshall be punishable as a Class I felony. (1937, c. 407, s. 73; 1943,c. 726; 1953, c. 216; 1965, c. 621, s. 3; 1967, c. 449; 1973, c. 1089; 1975, c.716, s. 5; 1979, c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 47; 1981, c. 179,s. 14; 1987, c. 512; 1993, c. 539, s. 1255; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)