§ 31-48-2 - Definitions. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 31-48-2

   § 31-48-2  Definitions. – For the purposes of this chapter the following terms mean:

   (1) "Chop shop" means any building, lot, or other premisewhere one or more persons are or have been knowingly engaged in altering,destroying, disassembling, dismantling, reassembling, or knowingly storing anymotor vehicle, or motor vehicle part known to be illegally obtained by theft,fraud, or conspiracy to defraud, in order to either:

   (i) Alter, counterfeit, deface, destroy, disguise, falsify,forge, obliterate, or remove the identity, including the vehicle identificationnumber of the motor vehicle or motor vehicle part, in order to misrepresent theidentity of the motor vehicle or motor vehicle part, or to prevent theidentification of the motor vehicle or motor vehicle part; or

   (ii) Sell or dispose of the motor vehicle or motor vehiclepart.

   (2) "Motor vehicle" includes every device in, upon, or bywhich any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway,which is self propelled or which may be connected to and towed by a selfpropelled device, and also includes any and all other land based devices whichare self propelled but which are not designed for use upon a highway,including, but not limited to, farm machinery and construction equipment.

   (3) "Person" includes a natural person, company, corporation,unincorporated association, partnership, professional corporation, and anyother legal entity.