ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 703

DEFACED IDENTIFICATION MARKS.

157-A. (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, dis-
tinguishing or identification number, serial number, or mark
on or from any motor vehicle as defined in Section 134 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 mis-
demeanor 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 otherwise) at the time of the enactment of this sec-
tion 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 mutilation,
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 num-
ber 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 sec-
tion, 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 not 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