Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 3.djvu/400

 98 STAT. 2772 19 USC 1627.

Regulations.

PUBLIC LAW 98-547—OCT. 25, 1984

"SEC. 627. UNLAWFUL IMPORTATION OR EXPORTATION OF CERTAIN VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT; INSPECTIONS.

"(a)(1) Whoever knowingly imports, exports, or attempts to import or export— "(A) any motor vehicle, off-highway mobile equipment, vessel, aircraft, or part of any motor vehicle, off-highway mobile equipment, vessel or aircraft, knowing the same to have been stolen; or "(B) any motor vehicle or off-highway mobile equipment, or part of any motor vehicle or off-highway mobile equipment, knowing that the identification number has been removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered; shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount determined by the Secretary, not to exceed $10,000 for each violation. "(2) Any violation of this subsection shall make such motor vehicle, off-highway mobile equipment, vessel, aircraft, or part thereof subject to seizure and forfeiture under this Act. "(3) The provisions of paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply in the case of any vehicle, equipment, or part, if the removal, obliteration, tampering with, or alteration of the identification number for such vehicle, equipment, or part— "(A) was caused by any collision or fire which results in damage to that portion of such vehicle, equipment, or part on which such identification number is displayed; or "(B) was carried out in accordance with the provisions of section 511(b) of title 18, United States Code. "(b) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations under which a person attempting to export any used motor vehicle or any used offhighway mobile equipment shall present to the appropriate customs officer both the vehicle or equipment, as the case may be, and a document describing such vehicle or equipment, as the case may be, which includes the vehicle or equipment identification number, as the case may be, before lading if the vehicle or equipment, as the case may be, is to be transported by vessel or aircraft, or before export if the vehicle or equipment, as the case may be, is to be transported by rail, highway, or under its own power. Failure to comply with such regulations of the Secretary shall subject such person to a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each violation. "(c) For purposes of this section— "(1) the term 'motor vehicle' includes any automobile, truck, bus, motorcycle, or motor home, but such term does not include any off-highway mobile equipment; "(2) the term 'off-highway mobile equipment' means selfpropelled agricultural equipment, self-propelled construction equipment, and self-propelled special use equipment, used or designed for running on land but not on rail or highway; "(3) the term 'aircraft' has the meaning given it in section 101(5) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. 1301(5)); "(4) the term 'used' refers to any motor vehicle or off-highway mobile equipment the equitable or legal title to which has been transferred by a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer to an ultimate purchaser; "(5) the term 'ultimate purchaser' means the first person, other than a dealer purchasing in his capacity as a dealer, who in good faith purchases a motor vehicle or off-highway mobile equipment for purposes other than resale; and

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