18 U.S.C. § 512 — Forfeiture of certain motor vehicles and

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; Page 135 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 514 1 See 1994 Amendment note below. 2 See References in Text note below. (3) the remission or mitigation of such for- feiture; and (4) the compromise of claims and the award of compensation to informers with respect to such forfeiture; shall apply to seizures and forfeitures under this section, to the extent that such provisions are not inconsistent with this section. The duties of the collector of customs or any other person with respect to seizure and forfeiture under such provisions shall be performed under this section by such persons as may be designated by the At- torney General. (c) As used in this section, the terms ‘‘identi- fication number’’, ‘‘motor vehicle’’, and ‘‘motor vehicle scrap processor’’ have the meanings given those terms in section 511 of this title. (Added Pub. L. 98–547, title II, § 201(a), Oct. 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 2769; amended Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(4), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1373.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1994—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103–272 substituted ‘‘chapter 301 title 49’’ for ‘‘the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966’’. § 513. Securities of the States and private entities (a) Whoever makes, utters or possesses a coun- terfeited security of a State or a political sub- division thereof or of an organization, or who- ever makes, utters or possesses a forged security of a State or political subdivision thereof or of an organization, with intent to deceive another person, organization, or government shall be fined under this title 1 or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both. (b) Whoever makes, receives, possesses, sells or otherwise transfers an implement designed for or particularly suited for making a counter- feit or forged security with the intent that it be so used shall be punished by a fine under this title or by imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both. (c) For purposes of this section— (1) the term ‘‘counterfeited’’ means a docu- ment that purports to be genuine but is not, because it has been falsely made or manufac- tured in its entirety; (2) the term ‘‘forged’’ means a document that purports to be genuine but is not because it has been falsely altered, completed, signed, or endorsed, or contains a false addition there- to or insertion therein, or is a combination of parts of two or more genuine documents; (3) the term ‘‘security’’ means— (A) a note, stock certificate, treasury stock certificate, bond, treasury bond, de- benture, certificate of deposit, interest cou- pon, bill, check, draft, warrant, debit instru- ment as defined in section 916(c) 2 of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, money order, traveler’s check, letter of credit, warehouse receipt, negotiable bill of lading, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest in or participation in any profit-sharing agree- ment, collateral-trust certificate, pre-reor- ganization certificate of subscription, trans- ferable share, investment contract, voting trust certificate, or certificate of interest in tangible or intangible property; (B) an instrument evidencing ownership of goods, wares, or merchandise; (C) any other written instrument com- monly known as a security; (D) a certificate of interest in, certificate of participation in, certificate for, receipt for, or warrant or option or other right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the fore- going; or (E) a blank form of any of the foregoing; (4) the term ‘‘organization’’ means a legal entity, other than a government, established or organized for any purpose, and includes a corporation, company, association, firm, part- nership, joint stock company, foundation, in- stitution, society, union, or any other associa- tion of persons which operates in or the activi- ties of which affect interstate or foreign com- merce; and (5) the term ‘‘State’’ includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puer- to Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States. (Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1105(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2144, § 511; renumbered § 513, Pub. L. 99–646, § 31(a), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3598; amend- ed Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, § 3515, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4923; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §§ 330008(1), 330016(2)(C), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2142, 2148.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 916 of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, re- ferred to in subsec. (c)(3)(A), was renumbered section 917 by Pub. L. 111–24, title IV, § 401(1), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1751, and is classified to section 1693n of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. AMENDMENTS 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(C), which directed the amendment of this section by substituting ‘‘under this title’’ for ‘‘of not more than $250,000’’, was executed by making the substitution for ‘‘not more than $250,000’’, to reflect the probable intent of Con- gress. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(C), substituted ‘‘fine under this title’’ for ‘‘fine of not more than $250,000’’. Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330008(1), substituted ‘‘association of persons’’ for ‘‘association or persons’’. 1990—Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 101–647 struck out ‘‘(15 U.S.C. 1693(c))’’ after ‘‘Electronic Fund Transfer Act’’ and inserted comma after ‘‘profit-sharing agreement’’. § 514. Fictitious obligations (a) Whoever, with the intent to defraud— (1) draws, prints, processes, produces, pub- lishes, or otherwise makes, or attempts or causes the same, within the United States; (2) passes, utters, presents, offers, brokers, issues, sells, or attempts or causes the same, or with like intent possesses, within the United States; or (3) utilizes interstate or foreign commerce, including the use of the mails or wire, radio,