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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
vehicle serial numbers; removal; restoration
Purpose
Exempts, from specified criminal classifications, a person who removes and reinstalls a manufacturer's serial or identification number from a motor vehicle manufactured before 1981 when reasonably necessary for repair and restoration.
Background
A person is guilty of a class 5 felony if the person: 1)
intentionally removes, defaces, alters or destroys a manufacturer's serial or
identification number on or knowingly possesses any removed, defaced, altered
or destroyed manufacturer's serial or identification number from a motor
vehicle; 2) is in possession of a motor vehicle knowing or having reason to
know that a manufacturer's serial or vehicle identification number has been
removed, defaced, altered or destroyed without the permission of the Arizona
Department of Transportation (ADOT); or
3) 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. A person is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor if the
person 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 ADOT (A.R.S. §§ 28-2531 and 28-4593).
Statute deems, as contraband: 1) a motor vehicle or major component part of the vehicle that has had the manufacturer's or ADOT's serial or identification number removed, defaced, altered or destroyed; and 2) a serial or identification number so removed (A.R.S. § 28-4593).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Exempts a person who removes and reinstalls a manufacturer's serial or identification number from a motor vehicle manufactured before 1981 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 from the applicable criminal classification of:
a) intentionally removing a manufacturer's serial or identification number from, defacing, altering or destroying a manufacturer's serial or identification on, or knowingly possessing any removed, defaced, altered or destroyed manufacturer's serial or vehicle identification number from a motor vehicle;
b) possessing a motor vehicle knowing or having reason to know the manufacturer's serial or vehicle identification number has been removed, defaced, altered or destroyed without the permission of ADOT;
c) intentionally removing, defacing, altering or destroying 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; or
d) knowingly removing, defacing, altering or destroying a manufacturer's serial or identification number of a motor vehicle or major component part of a vehicle without the permission of ADOT.
2. Exempts from the classification of contraband:
a) a motor vehicle manufactured before 1981 from which a manufacturer's serial or identification number is removed and reinstalled, if reasonably necessary for repair or restoration, unless the person knows or has reason to know that the motor vehicle is stolen; and
b) the removed manufacturer's serial or identification number.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
TRANS 2/2/22 DP 11-0-0-1
3rd Read 2/17/22 58-0-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 3, 2022
RA/sr