(a) A person commits the crime of obscuring identity of a vehicle if:

Attorney's Note

Under the Alabama Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class C felony1 to 10 yearsup to $15,000
For details, see Ala. Code § 13A-5-6
criminal case

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Terms Used In Alabama Code 13A-8-22

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • property: includes both real and personal property. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(1) He obscures the manufacturer’s serial number or any other distinguishing identification number or mark upon any vehicle or component part thereof, except tires, with intent to render it unidentifiable; or
(2) He possesses a vehicle or component part thereof knowing that the manufacturer’s serial number or other identification number or mark has been obscured unless he legally acquired ownership of the vehicle or part before the manufacturer’s serial number was obscured or before he knew it was obscured.
(b) “Obscure” means to remove, deface, cover, alter, destroy or otherwise render unidentifiable.
(c) “Vehicle” means any propelled device in, upon or by which any person or property is transported on land, water or in the air, including stationary rails or tracks, and includes motor vehicles, motorboats, vessels and aircraft.
(d) Proof that a person has obscured the manufacturer’s serial number or other distinguishing identification number or mark on a vehicle is prima facie evidence that he did so with the intent to render it unidentifiable within the meaning of subdivision (a)(1) of this section.
(e) Possession of a vehicle held for sale in the course of business on which the serial number or other identification number or mark has been obscured is prima facie evidence of knowledge of that fact.
(f) A report by the defendant to the police or other appropriate government agency before arrest is a defense to a charge of violating subdivision (a)(2) of this section. The burden of injecting this issue is on the defendant, but this does not shift the burden of proof.
(g) Obscuring identity of a vehicle is a Class C felony.
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