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Texas Penal Code - PENAL § 31.11. Tampering with Identification Numbers

Current as of April 14, 2021 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

(a) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) knowingly or intentionally removes, alters, or obliterates the serial number or other permanent identification marking on tangible personal property;  or

(2) possesses, sells, or offers for sale tangible personal property and:

(A) the actor knows that the serial number or other permanent identification marking has been removed, altered, or obliterated;  or

(B) a reasonable person in the position of the actor would have known that the serial number or other permanent identification marking has been removed, altered, or obliterated.

(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the person was:

(1) the owner or acting with the effective consent of the owner of the property involved;

(2) a peace officer acting in the actual discharge of official duties;  or

(3) acting with respect to a number assigned to a vehicle by the Texas Department of Transportation or the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, as applicable, and the person was:

(A) in the actual discharge of official duties as an employee or agent of the department;  or

(B) in full compliance with the rules of the department as an applicant for an assigned number approved by the department.

(c) Property involved in a violation of this section may be treated as stolen for purposes of custody and disposition of the property.

(d) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

(e) In this section, “vehicle” has the meaning given by Section 541.201, Transportation Code.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Texas Penal Code - PENAL § 31.11. Tampering with Identification Numbers - last updated April 14, 2021 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/penal-code/penal-sect-31-11.html

Read this complete Texas Penal Code - PENAL § 31.11. Tampering with Identification Numbers on Westlaw

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.

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