Los Angeles Altering a Vehicle Identification Number

Protect Your Rights: Understanding VIN Tampering Charges

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique identifier for any motor vehicle. It is posted on the front driver’s side dashboard and appears in 3-4 other places within the car, including the engine, frame, and body. Law enforcement can easily identify if there has been tampering with this number since it will not match other records of identification. If you are caught falsifying, altering or destroying a VIN number, you could face severe legal consequences.

Altering a VIN under California Law: An overview

According to Vehicle Code 10750 in California law, if you destroy or alter a VIN, it becomes a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine. A more serious charge awaits those who violate this code to sell vehicles or falsely represent their identity as they may potentially receive jail time extending from 16 months to three years accompanied by an additional fine of up to $25,000.

A higher level offense typically linked with VC 10750 includes violating 10802 VC. This code applies when someone runs an illegal establishment that dismantles stolen automobiles into parts known as chop shops.

What Are Chop Shops?

Chop shops refer to illicit criminal groups that alter or store stolen motor vehicles/vehicle parts intending to sell them afterward illegally. In most cases involving chop shops where all objects involved reflect Grand Theft Auto status under felony charges against the perpetrator/s carrying out these activities typically lead to fines between $50,000 – $60,000 coupled with extended prison sentences running for up to six years maximum.

Those who accept any stolen vehicle with altered VIN without proper investigation can also find themselves similarly charged like those involved in chop shop operations mentioned above.

Having Legal Representation Can Help Defend Against These Charges

If authorities have accused you of tampering with vehicle identification numbers (VINs), it’s essential always to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney to try and defend against these accusations. One of the most important reasons is that law enforcement often construes many VIN-tampering charges as serious felonies intending to prosecute aggressively on cases.

An active legal defense could help in getting charges downgraded or even dismissed depending on specific circumstances surrounding each case. Some of the defenses our legal representatives can use may include convincing the court that you did not have any knowledge or involvement in previous changes made by someone else or a former vehicle owner.

Another common legal defense strategy we adopt for our clients charged under this rule includes arguing that your actions cannot be seen as a crime because there was no intention of selling the car. We could also state that you never intended to change the VIN, only hide your vehicle’s identity legally by defacing it accidentally.

Example Scenario: How Defense Could Alter Court Proceedings

For instance, let us assume someone like Debbie stole a car out of frustration from having to depend solely on taking buses every day for work purposes. So she decided alternatively it would be best to alter just one digit in her car’s VIN number – changing number 3 into an 8 instead but not for fraudulent/unsavory behavioral purposes following example case above . Here because she did not have any fraudulent intentions, and instead chose modification persuasion option unknowingly – tampering charges could still easily still become grounds they could prosecute her from according pre-existing laws United States .

Protect Your Rights – Call Us Today

If you face issues around VIN-tampering challenges involving California Law enforcement today or anytime soon, speak with our legal team at once. We provide initial consultations aimed at reviewing all facts tied up surrounding your pending case before crafting suitable defenses able to earn you a reduction or dismissal of charges.

We maintain offices situated within Los Angeles area offering high-quality services geared respectively towards ensuring protection of customers’ interests throughout any court proceedings involving accusations related VIN alteration/tampering today!