1372
Importing or Exporting Stolen Motor Vehicles,
Off-Highway
Mobile Equipment, Vessels, or Aircraft
|
Section 553(a) of Title 18 makes it a crime to knowingly import or
export, or attempt to import or export: (1) any motor vehicle, off-highway
mobile
equipment, vessel, or aircraft, or a part thereof, knowing it to have been
stolen; or (2) any motor vehicle or off-highway mobile equipment, or a part
thereof, knowing that the identification number has been removed,
obliterated,
tampered with, or altered.
Section 553(b) of Title 18 provides that subsection (a)(2) does not
apply if the vehicle identification number has been removed, obliterated,
tampered with, or altered by a collision or fire, or in a manner that does
not
violate 18 U.S.C. § 511.
Section 553(c) of Title 18 contains the definitions of "motor
vehicle,"
"off-highway mobile equipment," "vessel," "aircraft," and "identification
number." The term "motor vehicle" only covers those vehicles intended to be
driven or pulled on the public roads. See 18 U.S.C. § 511(c)(2)
and
49 U.S.C. § 32101(7). The term "off-highway mobile equipment" covers
self-propelled construction and farming equipment.
For a discussion of proving a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 553, see
this Manual at 1377.
[cited in USAM 9-61.700] | |