N.M. Stat. » N.M. Stat. / Chapter 30 / Article 16D
New Mexico Statutes

N.M. Stat. § 30-16D-6 (2026)

Altering or changing engine or other numbers.

✓ current as of May 2026
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A. No person shall, with fraudulent intent, deface, remove, cover, destroy or alter
the manufacturer's serial number, engine number, decal or other distinguishing number
or identification mark or number placed under assignment of the motor vehicle division
of the taxation and revenue department of a vehicle required to be registered under the
Motor Vehicle Code [Chapter 66, Articles 1 to 8 NMSA 1978] or any vehicle, motor
vehicle or motor vehicle engine or component as defined by the Motor Vehicle Code for
which a dismantler's notification form has been processed through the division, nor shall
any person place or stamp any serial, engine, decal or other number or mark upon the
vehicle except one assigned by the division. Any violation of this section is a fourth
degree felony.

    B. This section shall not prohibit the restoration by an owner of an original serial,
engine, decal or other number or mark when the restoration is made under permit
issued by the division nor prevent any manufacturer from placing, in the ordinary course
of business, numbers, decals or marks upon vehicles or parts thereof.

History: 1953 Comp., § 64-3-508, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 95; 1978 Comp., §
66-3-508, recompiled and amended as § 30-16D-6 by Laws 2009, ch. 253, § 6 and
Laws 2009, ch. 261, § 6.

                                    ANNOTATIONS

Recompilations. — Laws 2009, ch. 253, § 6 and Laws 2009, ch. 261, § 6 recompiled
and amended former 66-3-508 NMSA 1978, relating to altering or changing engine or
other numbers, as 30-16D-6 NMSA 1978, effective July 1, 2009.

The 2009 amendment, effective July 1, 2009, in Subsection A, added "number" and
"decal"; changed "division" to "motor vehicle division of the taxation and revenue
department"; after "vehicle engine", added "or component as defined by the Motor
Vehicle Code"; in the last sentence, changed "provision is a felony" to "section is a
fourth degree felony"; and in Subsection B, added "decals".

Laws 2009, ch. 253, § 6 enacted identical amendments to this section. The section was
set out as amended by Laws 2009, ch. 261, § 6. See 12-1-8 NMSA 1978.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case, 2019–2019 · leading case: State v. Aslin, 2020-NMSC-004, 457 P.3d 249.
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State v. Aslin, 2020-NMSC-004, 457 P.3d 249. · cites it 2× “{6} On October 6, 2015, Defendant was arrested on new criminal charges of possessing a stolen vehicle, NMSA 1978, § 30-16D-4 (2009), and altering or changing a motor vehicle engine number or other number, NMSA 1978, § 30-16D-6 (2009). The State thereupon filed a petition to…”
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