NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 767

HOUSE BILL 432

 

 

AN ACT TO MAKE UNLAWFUL THE ALTERATION, DESTRUCTION, OR REMOVAL OF SERIAL NUMBERS OR OTHER PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION MARKS FROM PERSONAL PROPERTY AND TO MAKE UNLAWFUL THE SALE, PURCHASE OR POSSESSION OF PROPERTY ON WHICH THE SERIAL NUMBER OR PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION MARK HAS BEEN SO ALTERED, DESTROYED, OR REMOVED; AND SET THE PUNISHMENT THEREFOR.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  Article 23 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by inserting a new section to be designated "G.S. 14-160.1" and to read as follows:

"§ 14-160.1.  Alteration, destruction or removal of permanent identification marks from personal property. — (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to alter, deface, destroy or remove the permanent serial number, manufacturer's identification plate or other permanent, distinguishing number or identification mark from any item of personal property with the intent thereby to conceal or misrepresent the identity of said item.

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

(c)        A violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor, punishable on conviction thereof by imprisonment not to exceed two years or by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or both, in the discretion of the court.

(d)        This section shall not in any way affect the provisions of G.S. 20-108, G.S. 20‑109(a) or G.S. 20-109(b)."

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective on October 1, 1977.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 28th day of June, 1977.