District of Columbia § 22-3233 Altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers.

District of Columbia Statutes

§ 22-3233 — Altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers.

District of Columbia § 22-3233

Title 22Criminal Offenses and Penalties.

Ch. 32Theft; Fraud; Stolen Property; Forgery; and Extortion.

Subch. IVStolen Property.

This text of District of Columbia § 22-3233 (Altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

D.C. Code § 22-3233 (2026).

Text

(a)It is unlawful for a person to knowingly remove, obliterate, tamper with, or alter any identification number on a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle part.

(1)Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for not more than 180 days, or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 , or both.

(2)Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a felony if the value of the motor vehicle or motor vehicle part is $1,000 or more and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 , or both.

(c)For the purposes of this section, the term:

(1)“Identification number” means a number or symbo

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(a) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly remove, obliterate, tamper with, or alter any identification number on a motor vehicle or a motor vehicle part.

(1) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for not more than 180 days, or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 , or both.

(2) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a felony if the value of the motor vehicle or motor vehicle part is $1,000 or more and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 , or both.

(c) For the purposes of this section, the term:

(1) “Identification number” means a number or symbol that is originally inscribed or affixed by the manufacturer to a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part for purposes of identification.

(2) “Motor vehicle” means any automobile, self-propelled mobile home, motorcycle, motor scooter, truck, truck tractor, truck semi trailer, truck trailer, bus, or other vehicle propelled by an internal-combustion engine, electricity, or steam, including any non-operational vehicle that is being restored or repaired.

Legislative History

Dec. 1, 1982, D.C. Law 4-164, § 133; as added Apr. 24, 2007, D.C. Law 16-306, § 217, 53 DCR 8610; June 3, 2011, D.C. Law 18-377, § 12(f), 58 DCR 1174; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 205(q), 60 DCR 2064