2020 ARTICLE 56.

(1) year nor more than ten (10) years, or be both fined and imprisoned,
in the discretion of the Court.

Defaced Identification Marks.

1920, ch. 407, sec. 157A.

203. (a) Any person who removes, defaces, alters, changes, destroys,
or obliterates, in any manner or way, or who causes to be removed, defaced,
altered, changed, destroyed, or obliterated, in any manner or way, any
trade mark, distinguishing or identification number, serial number, or mark
on or from any motor vehicle as defined in Section 173 of this Article,
or who shall sell any such motor vehicle, knowing the same to be in such
condition, shall be. deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not exceeding one thousand dollars
($1,000.00), or by imprisonment for any term not exceeding seven (7)
years, or both, in the discretion of the Court.

(b) Any person having in his possession or custody (as owner or other-
wise) at the time of the enactment of this section a motor vehicle on which
or from which any trade mark, distinguishing or identification number,
serial number, or mark has been, or is, covered, removed, defaced, destroyed,
or obliterated, or altered or changed in any way, shall within sixty (60)
days from the passage of this Act, file with the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles a verified statement showing the source of his title, the proper
trade marks, identification or distinguishing number, serial number, or
mark, if known, and if known, the manner of and reason for such mutila-
tion, change, alteration, concealment, or defacement, the length of time
such vehicle has been held and the price paid therefor; and no prosecution
shall be had under this section when such statement has been properly
filed and the new mark or number provided for in sub-section (d) of this
section properly substituted; otherwise the penalty prescribed in sub-section
(c) of this section to be imposed.

(c) Any person who shall, after the enactment of this section, come into
possession or custody (as owner or otherwise) of any motor vehicle from
which or on which any trade mark, distinguishing or identification number,
serial number, or mark, has been or is covered, removed, defaced, destroyed,
or obliterated, or altered or changed in any manner or way, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to
a fine of Hot less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than one thousand
dollars' ($1,000.00) or imprisonment for not more than seven (7) years,
or both, in the discretion of the Court, unless such person shall, within
ten (10) days from the time such motor vehicle shall have come into his
possession, file with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles the verified
statement required by sub-section (b) of this section, and substitute a new
distinguishing mark or number as next hereinafter provided.

(d) In the case of an obliterated or defaced mark or number being
reported as aforesaid, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall assign
a new distinguishing mark or number to be used in lieu of the one so