A. Any person or persons who shall destroy, remove, cover, alter or deface, or cause to be destroyed, removed, covered, altered or defaced, the United States registration number assigned by the Federal Aviation Administration or manufacturer's serial number of any aircraft in this state, without first giving notice of such act to the Federal Aviation Administration, upon such form as the Federal Aviation Administration may prescribe, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term of not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years.

B. A person who removes a manufacturer's identification number plate or decal from an aircraft or affixes to an aircraft a manufacturer's identification number plate or decal not authorized by law for use on said aircraft with intent to conceal or misrepresent the identity of the aircraft or its owner shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony.

C. A person who buys, receives, possesses, sells or disposes of an aircraft, knowing that the identification number of the aircraft has been removed or falsified, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor.

D. A person who buys, receives, possesses, sells or disposes of an aircraft, with knowledge that the identification number of the aircraft has been removed or falsified and with intent to conceal or misrepresent the identity of the aircraft, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony.

E. As used in this section:

1. “Identification number” includes an identifying number or serial number placed on an aircraft by its manufacturer or by authority of the Federal Aviation Administration or in accordance with the laws of another country;

2. “Remove” includes deface, cover and destroy; and

3. “Falsify” includes alter and forge.

F. An identification number may be placed on an aircraft by its manufacturer in the regular course of business or placed or restored on an aircraft by authority of the Federal Aviation Administration without violating this section; an identification number so placed or restored is not falsified.

Added by Laws 1991, c. 248, § 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 107, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 42, eff. July 1, 1999.

NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 107 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.