18 U.S.C. § 511 — Altering or removing motor vehicle identi-

Page 133 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 511 § 509. Possessing and making plates or stones for Government transportation requests Whoever, except by lawful authority, controls, holds or possesses any plate, stone, or other thing, or any part thereof, from which has been printed or may be printed any form or request for Government transportation, or uses such plate, stone, or other thing, or knowingly per- mits or suffers the same to be used in making any such form or request or any part of such a form or request; or Whoever makes or engraves any plate, stone, or thing, in the likeness of any plate, stone, or thing designated for the printing of the genuine issues of the form or request for Government transportation; or Whoever prints, photographs, or in any other manner makes, executes, or sells any engraving, photograph, print, or impression in the likeness of any genuine form or request for Government transportation, or any part thereof; or Whoever brings into the United States or any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof, any plate, stone, or other thing, or engraving, photo- graph, print, or other impression of the form or request for Government transportation— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 715; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 147 (Dec. 11, 1926, ch. 2, § 2, 44 Stat. 918). References to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting were omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title. Words ‘‘upon conviction’’ in last paragraph were omitted as surplusage since punishment cannot be im- posed until a conviction is secured. Minor changes in phraseology were also made. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $5,000’’ in last par. § 510. Forging endorsements on Treasury checks or bonds or securities of the United States (a) Whoever, with intent to defraud— (1) falsely makes or forges any endorsement or signature on a Treasury check or bond or security of the United States; or (2) passes, utters, or publishes, or attempts to pass, utter, or publish, any Treasury check or bond or security of the United States bear- ing a falsely made or forged endorsement or signature; shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. (b) Whoever, with knowledge that such Treas- ury check or bond or security of the United States is stolen or bears a falsely made or forged endorsement or signature buys, sells, exchanges, receives, delivers, retains, or conceals any such Treasury check or bond or security of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. (c) If the face value of the Treasury check or bond or security of the United States or the ag- gregate face value, if more than one Treasury check or bond or security of the United States, does not exceed $1,000, in any of the above-men- tioned offenses, the penalty shall be a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. (Added Pub. L. 98–151, § 115(a), Nov. 14, 1983, 97 Stat. 976; amended Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, § 3514, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4923; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §§ 602(e), 606(b), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3503, 3511; Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4002(a)(1), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1806.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2002—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–273 substituted ‘‘fine under this title’’ for ‘‘fine of under this title’’. 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–294, § 602(e), struck out ‘‘that in fact is stolen or bears a forged or falsely made endorsement or signature’’ after ‘‘bond or security of the United States’’. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–294, § 606(b), substituted ‘‘$1,000’’ for ‘‘$500’’. 1994—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(L), substituted ‘‘fined under this title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $10,000’’. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted ‘‘fined under this title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $1,000’’. 1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–647 inserted semicolon after ‘‘or signature’’ in par. (2) and moved provisions beginning with ‘‘shall be fined’’ flush with left margin. § 511. Altering or removing motor vehicle identi- fication numbers (a) A person who— (1) knowingly removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters an identification number for a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part; or (2) with intent to further the theft of a motor vehicle, knowingly removes, obliter- ates, tampers with, or alters a decal or device affixed to a motor vehicle pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. (b)(1) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration by a person specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection (unless such person knows that the vehicle or part involved is stolen). (2) The persons referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection are— (A) a motor vehicle scrap processor or a motor vehicle demolisher who complies with applicable State law with respect to such vehi- cle or part; (B) a person who repairs such vehicle or part, if the removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration is reasonably necessary for the repair; (C) a person who restores or replaces an identification number for such vehicle or part in accordance with applicable State law; and (D) a person who removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters a decal or device af- fixed to a motor vehicle pursuant to the Motor Page 134 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE [§ 511A Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, if that person is the owner of the motor vehicle, or is author- ized to remove, obliterate, tamper with or alter the decal or device by— (i) the owner or his authorized agent; (ii) applicable State or local law; or (iii) regulations promulgated by the Attor- ney General to implement the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act. (c) As used in this section, the term— (1) ‘‘identification number’’ means a number or symbol that is inscribed or affixed for pur- poses of identification under chapter 301 and part C of subtitle VI of title 49; (2) ‘‘motor vehicle’’ has the meaning given that term in section 32101 of title 49; (3) ‘‘motor vehicle demolisher’’ means a per- son, including any motor vehicle dismantler or motor vehicle recycler, who is engaged in the business of reducing motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts to metallic scrap that is unsuitable for use as either a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle part; (4) ‘‘motor vehicle scrap processor’’ means a person— (A) who is engaged in the business of pur- chasing motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts for reduction to metallic scrap for re- cycling; (B) who, from a fixed location, uses ma- chinery to process metallic scrap into pre- pared grades; and (C) whose principal product is metallic scrap for recycling; but such term does not include any activity of any such person relating to the recycling of a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle part as a used motor vehicle or a used motor vehicle part. (d) For purposes of subsection (a) of this sec- tion, the term ‘‘tampers with’’ includes covering a program decal or device affixed to a motor ve- hicle pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Theft Pre- vention Act for the purpose of obstructing its visibility. (Added Pub. L. 98–547, title II, § 201(a), Oct. 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 2768; amended Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(3), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1373; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXII, § 220003(a)–(c), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2076, 2077; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(8), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3507.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2), (b)(2)(D), and (d), is title XXII of Pub. L. 103–322, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2074, which enacted section 511A of this title and section 12611 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement, amended this sec- tion, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 10101 of Title 34. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1994 Act note set out under section 10101 of Title 34 and Tables. CODIFICATION Another section 511 was renumbered section 513 of this title. AMENDMENTS 1996—Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 104–294 realigned mar- gins. 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 220003(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: ‘‘Whoever knowingly removes, obliter- ates, tampers with, or alters an identification number for a motor vehicle, or motor vehicle part, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.’’ Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 103–322, § 220003(b), added subpar. (D). Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(3)(A), substituted ‘‘chapter 301 and part C of subtitle VI of title 49’’ for ‘‘the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, or the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Sav- ings Act’’. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(3)(B), substituted ‘‘section 32101 of title 49’’ for ‘‘section 2 of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act’’. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–322, § 220003(c), added subsec. (d). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1996 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 104–294 effective Sept. 13, 1994, see section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294, set out as a note under section 13 of this title. [§ 511A. Repealed. Pub. L. 116–260, div. O, title X, § 1002(2), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2155] Section, added Pub. L. 103–322, title XXII, § 220003(d)(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2077, related to un- authorized application of theft prevention decal or de- vice. § 512. Forfeiture of certain motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts (a) If an identification number for a motor ve- hicle or motor vehicle part is removed, obliter- ated, tampered with, or altered, such vehicle or part shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture to the United States unless— (1) in the case of a motor vehicle part, such part is attached to a motor vehicle and the owner of such motor vehicle does not know that the identification number has been re- moved, obliterated, tampered with, or altered; (2) such motor vehicle or part has a replace- ment identification number that— (A) is authorized by the Secretary of Transportation under chapter 301 of title 49; or (B) conforms to applicable State law; (3) such removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration is caused by collision or fire or is carried out as described in section 511(b) of this title; or (4) such motor vehicle or part is in the pos- session or control of a motor vehicle scrap processor who does not know that such identi- fication number was removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered in any manner other than by collision or fire or as described in sec- tion 511(b) of this title. (b) All provisions of law relating to— (1) the seizure and condemnation of vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage for viola- tion of customs laws, and procedures for sum- mary and judicial forfeiture applicable to such violations; (2) the disposition of such vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage or the proceeds from such disposition;