Montana Code 61-3-604. Penalty for altering identification number
61-3-604. Penalty for altering identification number. (1) A person who willfully removes or falsifies an identification number of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or motor vehicle engine is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment in the state prison for a period of not more than 10 years, or both.
Terms Used In Montana Code 61-3-604
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Motor vehicle: means :
(i)a vehicle propelled by its own power and designed or used to transport persons or property on the highways of the state;
(ii)a quadricycle if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9; or
(iii)a golf cart only if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9 and is operated pursuant to 61-8-391 or by a person with a low-speed restricted driver's license. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- person: means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, state agency, local government unit, another state government, the United States, a political subdivision of this or another state, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Pole trailer: means a vehicle without power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes, or structural members capable generally of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Semitrailer: means a vehicle, with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that some part of its weight and that of its load rests on or is carried by another vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Trailer: means a vehicle, with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that no part of its weight rests on the towing vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Vehicle: means a device in, on, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn on a public highway, except devices moved by animal power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Vehicle identification number: means the number, letters, or combination of numbers and letters assigned by the manufacturer, by the department, or in accordance with the laws of another state or country for the purpose of identifying the motor vehicle or a component part of the motor vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Willfully: when applied to the intent with which an act is done or omitted, means a purpose or willingness to commit the act or make the omission referred to. See Montana Code 1-1-204
(2)Any person or persons, firm, or corporation that sells or offers for sale in this state a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer the original vehicle identification number of which has been destroyed, removed, altered, covered, or defaced, with the exception of motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers bearing a state-assigned identification number in accordance with 61-3-107, is punishable by a fine of not less than $200 or more than $500 and by imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not less than 30 days or more than 180 days. Upon a second or subsequent conviction under this subsection, the punishment shall be imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not less than 1 year or more than 5 years or a fine in an amount not to exceed $50,000, or both.