§ 22-81. Removing, defacing, etc., serial numbers.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully change, cover, alter, remove, obliterate or deface or cause to be changed, covered, altered, removed, obliterated or defaced any serial number or other manufacturer's number or any identification letters, words, or numbers of any machine, apparatus, or article that carries a manufacturer's serial number or any other identification letters, words or numbers, with the intent to conceal the identity of such machine, apparatus, or article from the rightful owner thereof or from law enforcement personnel.

(b)

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly buy, sell, receive, barter, trade, dispose of or have in his possession any articles, devices, apparatuses, or machines from which the manufacturer's number or identification letters, words or numbers have been changed, covered, altered, removed, obliterated, defaced or destroyed with the intent to conceal the identity thereof from the rightful owner or from law enforcement personnel.

(c)

Possession of any of the articles, devices, apparatuses or machines listed in subsections (a) and (b) of this section from which the manufacturer's serial number or other manufacturer's number or identification mark, the name of the manufacturer or make or model, or any other identification letters, words or numbers have been changed, covered, altered, removed, obliterated, defaced, or destroyed shall be prima facie evidence that the possessor has changed, covered, altered, removed, obliterated, defaced, or destroyed the same with the intent to cancel, destroy or misrepresent the identity or type, or ownership of such machine, apparatus, or article.

(d)

Violation of this section is a class C violation.

(Code 1964, § 23-47; Code 1988, § 22-45; Ord. No. 65498, § 17, 1-4-1990)