Messing with a VIN tag can get you an orange jump suit!

I have attached an article here from Hemmings Motor news that pretty much says it all! If you alter or make a new VIN tag you are breaking the Federal Law and can be prosecuted for a crime. Taking a title from another vehicle and applying it to your vehicle is no different and can result in loosing you vehicle!! Hey argue all you want about no guts but its like Russian roulette.

From the current weekly Hemmings motor news letter!!


Don’t Touch that Tag
No matter how much you want your dash to be absolutely perfect, there’s one part you may not touch: the VIN.

There are indeed states that have liberal laws regarding VIN plates, but once you drill out those rivets, your vehicle will never again be free from suspicion, because other states take the matter a lot more seriously.

Broadly, mere possession of not only a vehicle, but a part from a car on which the VIN has in any way been touched — removed, tampered with, obliterated or altered — even if reattached or restored, constitutes a felony. Further, while you may (possibly) buy a car with an altered VIN and not be on the hook for the crime, selling one, whether you’re aware of the alteration or not, can most definitely send you to jail. Naturally, intent will be considered during sentencing, but when you consider that in many states you’re looking at 10 years in the pen, it would not be worth the risk.

The same standard can be applied to engine block stampings and any other numbered part, and although the standard of evidence is generally much higher, the penalties are the same.

There is an enormous body of case law, going back about a century, in support. For the Federal standards, see 18 U.S.C.A. § 2321, § 2[a]; and 18 U.S.C.A. § 511, § 2[a] and § 5
.
- By David Traver Adolphus

 

here we go again...

read the federal standards, the owner is exempt...so everything from the word "Broadly" up is true, underneath...not so much FEDERALLY SPEAKING

 

'merika! Over kill law's to make yu safer. So, do ya feel lucky? Don't mess wit da man. Thank-you for the head's up.

 

That is until the owner sells! Hey guys don't kill the messenger just relaying information from a very reputable source, not intending to rehash an old topic but there is a lot of he said she said on this topic most of which has been opinions! and you know an opinion is just like ass%&% everyone has one and they all stink!

 

not killing the messenger, just trying to kill the message. It's wrong, and I can prove it, just give me about 10 minutes to do that...

 

Don't take that tag off your pillows

 

10 years for messing with a Vin? i'm looking at about 100 years

 

You need factory rivets they look different,,not that i would know about such things

and yes you can get in a world of sh*t for it,,in alot of states 'ANY" alterations to vin tag ,,and the car is considered "stolen"

 

Joy

I really think they got bigger fish to fry..or at least they should think that too.

and if it doesnt generate revinue..they will not persue it much..maybe a few just to make an example, and probably pushed more on recent models of cars..not so much on 55 to 80+ old relics..jmo

 

just think how many felonies are committed every year at Barrett Jackson.

 

Damn it son, ya beat me to it.

 

Nitro-methane fingers

 

Stinky fingers?

 

"Originally Posted by Von Rigg Fink
Joy

I really think they got bigger fish to fry..or at least they should think that too.

and if it doesnt generate revinue..they will not persue it much..maybe a few juts to make an example "




So, do you feel lucky punk? Well, do ya? (Trying for the Dirty Harry voice)LOL

Call up your local DPS office and ask them for the theft division. I'll bet you get transfered and those guys gotta do something to justify their job.
Larry T

 

technically my model A doesnt have a Vin#..and doesnt and never did..the current Vin# thingy didnt even come into play until what the 60's?

so burdon of proof is on them..good luck with that.

 

Shhhh!

 

HaHaHa... I went to modify a VW once and found it's S/N already been messed with...
So much for being a one owner car (unless you didn't count some chop shop in the 70's)

With good behavior I'll be out in 2217, see you then!

 

What about the old Chevy's, that had a serial # plate screwed to the wooden floorboard? I've never seen an old Chevy with an original serial # plate.

 

another good point..

our feds cant even prosecute known terrorists..i aint going to fret this

besides we know more about our cars than they ever would,, I think this mostly applies to post 60's cars and trucks

 

and teh 50's ones always falling off the posts,,lol

 

Serial #
Vin#

2 different things..as far as im concerned if they let the Vin# word fly they are screwed, I'll slam the door in their face..show me the search warrent with that word on it too, while I reload

that system of numbers dont apply to most of our cars.
symantics be dammed..im sure they arent spending tax dollars on pre 60's witch hunts

 

no doubt..those were aluminum tags..up here in rusy michigan the corrosion on those 2 rivets , hell i bet after 10 years most of those were un-readable or gone with the wind

 

Actually the current VIN began in the 80s. There is a nice explanation on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIN.

Our constitution does say you are innocent until proven guilty. The law around these titling issues and the tags that carry the numbers allow seizing your car and parts while ownership is determined. That can take a while and you are without your stuff while it happens.

 

important stuff is in bold, again FEDERAL, not YOUR STATE:

U.S.C.A. § 2321, § 2[a];

U.S.C.A. § 511, § 2[a] and § 5

http://uscode.house.gov/download/title_18.shtml
http://law.onecle.com/uscode/18/2321.html
http://law.onecle.com/uscode/18/511.html

the links are reputable as far as I can tell.

 

ahh ok the 80's..even better

and from what impalabuilder posted..look like they would have alot of proving with out doubt to do..good luck on that.
and alot of money spent that they dont have..
these kinda things on small scale guys dont generate enough revinue for them to go after

you do still have the 5th..and other rights, you could say..
"I didnt knowingly do anything wrong"..than shut the F up, and let them prove it..

burdon of proof

ps this thread will generate alot of drama..trust me..its a dead thread, and has been debated on here before...to the point of mental masterbation

 

The girl at my D.M.V. was looking at my A pillar for the vin on my 40 plymouth when i got my plates. Just depends were you go and what state. Oh ya I forgot about Barney Fife.

 

A well armed militia and a well informed public. Thanks you kind sir.

 

if it's on the road, and the state has a law that says they can, they will confiscate...but what good is your car sitting in the driveway?

 

and the Internet is the well informed public's number 1 enemy and ally all at the same time