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New jersey criminal charge

Motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty in New jersey

Current through 2026 New Jersey legislative session

Motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty is a criminal offense under New jersey law, defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6. Its classification is not fixed: New jersey assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.

Defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6.

What is the penalty for motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty in New jersey?

Penalties for Motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prison3 years to 5 years (Removal, alteration, or defacement of identification number for unlawful purpose — A person who removes, defaces, alters, changes, destroys, covers or obliterates any trademark, distinguishing or identification number, serial number or mark on or from any motor vehicle for an unlawful purpose.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))presumptiveN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 15000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Removal, alteration, or defacement of identification number for unlawful purpose — A person who removes, defaces, alters, changes, destroys, covers or obliterates any trademark, distinguishing or identification number, serial number or mark on or from any motor vehicle for an unlawful purpose.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prison3 years to 5 years (Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued over $500 — Unlawful possession of a motor vehicle or parts with removed/altered identification numbers where the value exceeds $500.00 and no timely statement was filed.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))presumptiveN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 15000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued over $500 — Unlawful possession of a motor vehicle or parts with removed/altered identification numbers where the value exceeds $500.00 and no timely statement was filed.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3); offense-specific ceilings may exceed)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 18 months (no statutory minimum) (Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued $200-$500 — Unlawful possession of a motor vehicle or parts with removed/altered identification numbers where the value is between $200.00 and $500.00 and no timely statement was filed.; first-offender presumption of non-incarceration may apply (2C:44-1(e), carve-outs))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Fineup to 10000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued $200-$500 — Unlawful possession of a motor vehicle or parts with removed/altered identification numbers where the value is between $200.00 and $500.00 and no timely statement was filed.; or up to double gain/loss (2C:43-3))discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-6
Jail / prisonup to 6 months (no statutory minimum) (Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued under $200 — Unlawful possession of a motor vehicle or parts with removed/altered identification numbers where the value is less than $200.00 and no timely statement was filed.; not a crime under the NJ Constitution (2C:1-4); municipal court)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8
Fineup to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued under $200 — Unlawful possession of a motor vehicle or parts with removed/altered identification numbers where the value is less than $200.00 and no timely statement was filed.)discretionaryN.J.S.A. 2C:43-8

Applies to current.

How is motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty classified in New jersey?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Removal, alteration, or defacement of identification number for unlawful purposecrime of the third degreeA person who removes, defaces, alters, changes, destroys, covers or obliterates any trademark, distinguishing or identification number, serial number or mark on or from any motor vehicle for an unlawful purpose.N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6undefined
Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued over $500crime of the third degreeUnlawful possession of a motor vehicle or parts with removed/altered identification numbers where the value exceeds $500.00 and no timely statement was filed.N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6undefined
Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued $200-$500crime of the fourth degreeUnlawful possession of a motor vehicle or parts with removed/altered identification numbers where the value is between $200.00 and $500.00 and no timely statement was filed.N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6undefined
Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued under $200disorderly persons offenseUnlawful possession of a motor vehicle or parts with removed/altered identification numbers where the value is less than $200.00 and no timely statement was filed.N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6undefined

Common questions about motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty in New jersey

What degree of offense is motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty in New Jersey?

It depends on the circumstances: motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty ranges from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the third degree in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6.

Removal, alteration, or defacement of identification number for unlawful purpose: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6) · Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued over $500: crime of the third degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6) · Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued $200-$500: crime of the fourth degree (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6) · Possession of altered-ID motor vehicle/parts valued under $200: disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6)

What are the penalties for motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty in New Jersey?

Penalties for motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty in New Jersey depend on how it is classified — from a disorderly persons offense up to a crime of the third degree — with the ranges set by N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6 and N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which New Jersey statute covers motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty?

Motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:17-6 (Motor vehicles; removal or alteration of identification number or mark; possession; penalty).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.