Operation of motor vehicle with concealed, removed, defaced, destroyed, or obliterated special identification number; confiscation and return of motor vehicle upon proof of owner's title
Ind. Code § 9-17-4-19
in effectSec. 19. (a) A person that:
(1) either:
(A) with the intent to conceal evidence of the commission of a crime, operates a vehicle with an identification number that is concealed; or
(B) operates a vehicle with an identification number that is removed, defaced, destroyed, or obliterated; and
(2) has not applied under section 7 of this chapter for a new special identification number;
commits a Class C infraction.
(b) If a person that violates subsection (a) cannot prove to the satisfaction of the court that the person owns the vehicle, the court shall confiscate and sell the vehicle. The proceeds from the sale shall be used to pay the fine and costs of prosecution, and the balance, if any, shall be deposited in the motor vehicle highway account.
(c) If the fine and costs are not paid not later than thirty (30) days after judgment is rendered under this section, the court shall proceed to advertise and sell the vehicle in the manner provided by law for the sale of personal property under execution.
(d) If at any time at which the vehicle remains in the custody of the court or the court's officers under this section, the owner appears and establishes the owner's title to the vehicle to the satisfaction of the court, the vehicle shall be returned to the owner. The owner shall then make application for and may obtain an identification number and a title as provided in this chapter. The owner may then use the vehicle upon proper registration.
As added by P.L.262-2013, SEC.42. Amended by P.L.198-2016, SEC.238.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/9Fetched: 10/17/2026