23 V.S.A. § 1704: Possession prima facie evidence of violation

The possession by a person of a motor vehicle or vessel, the motor or manufacturer’s serial or Commissioner assigned identifying number of which has been changed, tampered with, obliterated, or defaced, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of the provisions of section 1703 of this title, unless the person applies to the Commissioner for the assignment of a new number as provided in section 1702 of this title.