This bill amends RSA 262:7 to create an exception to the prohibition on removing vehicle identification numbers (VIN) from vehicles manufactured prior to 1981. The new legal language allows for the removal and reinstallation of a manufacturer's serial number or VIN if it is reasonably necessary for repair or restoration. Specifically, the bill states that individuals who remove and reinstall these numbers on pre-1981 vehicles will not be subject to penalties, provided they do not know or have reason to believe that the vehicle is stolen.

Additionally, the bill maintains penalties for individuals who knowingly buy, receive, possess, sell, or dispose of a vehicle with a removed or altered VIN, unless they report the discovery to the police. The effective date of the act is set for 60 days after its passage. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it may affect the judicial and correctional systems due to changes in criminal penalties and enforcement.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 262:7