Pennsylvania Statutes Title 18 Pa.C.S.A. Crimes and Offenses § 7701. Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Chop shop.” A building, lot or other premises where one or more persons engage in altering, destroying, disassembling, dismantling, reassembling, storing or possessing a vehicle or vehicle part known to be illegally obtained by theft, fraud or conspiracy to defraud in order to either:

(1) alter, counterfeit, deface, destroy, disguise, falsify, forge, obliterate or remove the identification, including, but not limited to, the vehicle identification number of the vehicle or vehicle part, in order to misrepresent the identity of the vehicle or vehicle part or to prevent the identification of the vehicle or vehicle part; or

(2) sell or dispose of the vehicle or vehicle part.

“Person.” A natural person, firm, copartnership, association or cooperation.

“Semitrailer.” A trailer so constructed that some part of its weight rests upon or is carried by the towing vehicle.

“Trailer.” A vehicle designed to be towed by a motor vehicle.

“Vehicle.” Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices used exclusively upon rails or tracks. The term does not include a self-propelled wheelchair or an electrical mobility device operated by and designed for the exclusive use of a person with a mobility-related disability.

“Vehicle identification number.” A combination of numerals or letters, or both, which a manufacturer of a vehicle assigns to a vehicle for identification purposes or, in the absence of a manufacturer assigned number, which the Department of Transportation assigns to a vehicle for identification purposes.