§ 512. — Forfeiture of certain motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC512]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 25--COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY
Sec. 512. Forfeiture of certain motor vehicles and motor vehicle
parts
(a) If an identification number for a motor vehicle or motor vehicle
part is removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered, such vehicle or
part shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture to the United States
unless--
(1) in the case of a motor vehicle part, such part is attached
to a motor vehicle and the owner of such motor vehicle does not know
that the identification number has been removed, obliterated,
tampered with, or altered;
(2) such motor vehicle or part has a replacement identification
number that--
(A) is authorized by the Secretary of Transportation under
chapter 301 of title 49; or
(B) conforms to applicable State law;
(3) such removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration is
caused by collision or fire or is carried out as described in
section 511(b) of this title; or
(4) such motor vehicle or part is in the possession or control
of a motor vehicle scrap processor who does not know that such
identification number was removed, obliterated, tampered with, or
altered in any manner other than by collision or fire or as
described in section 511(b) of this title.
(b) All provisions of law relating to--
(1) the seizure and condemnation of vessels, vehicles,
merchandise, and baggage for violation of customs laws, and
procedures for summary and judicial forfeiture applicable to such
violations;
(2) the disposition of such vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and
baggage or the proceeds from such disposition;
(3) the remission or mitigation of such forfeiture; and
(4) the compromise of claims and the award of compensation to
informers with respect to such forfeiture;
shall apply to seizures and forfeitures under this section, to the
extent that such provisions are not inconsistent with this section. The
duties of the collector of customs or any other person with respect to
seizure and forfeiture under such provisions shall be performed under
this section by such persons as may be designated by the Attorney
General.
(c) As used in this section, the terms ``identification number'',
``motor vehicle'', and ``motor vehicle scrap processor'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 511 of this title.
(Added Pub. L. 98-547, title II, Sec. 201(a), Oct. 25, 1984, 98 Stat.
2769; amended Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 5(e)(4), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat.
1373.)
References in Text
The customs laws, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), are classified
generally to Title 19, Customs Duties.
Amendments
1994--Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103-272 substituted ``chapter 301
title 49'' for ``the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of
1966''.
