{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-514.120","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 514.120","heading":"Obscuring identity of machine or other property.","body":"(1) A person is guilty of obscuring the identity of a machine or other property when he\nor she:\n(a) Removes, defaces, covers, alters, destroys, or otherwise obscures the\nmanufacturer's serial number or any other distinguishing identification number\nor mark, in cluding property marked with a Social Security number or motor\nvehicle operator's license number for identification purposes, upon any\nautomobile or other propelled vehicle, machine, or electrical or mechanical\ndevice, or other property, including any part thereof, with intent to render it or\nother property unidentifiable; or\n(b) Possesses any automobile or other propelled vehicle, machine, or electrical or\nmechanical device, or other property, including any part thereof, knowing that\nthe serial number or o ther identification number or mark, including property\nmarked with a Social Security number for identification purposes, has been\nremoved, defaced, covered, altered, destroyed, or otherwise obscured.\n(2) Possession of any automobile or other propelled vehi cle, machine, or electrical or\nmechanical device, or other property, including any part thereof, on which the serial\nnumber or any other distinguishing identification number or mark, including\nproperty marked with a Social Security number or motor vehicle operator's license\nnumber for identification purposes, has been removed, defaced, covered, altered,\ndestroyed, or otherwise obscured is prima facie evidence of knowledge of that fact.\n(3) A person in possession of any property which is otherwise in violati on of this\nsection may apply in writing to the Department of Kentucky State Police, through\nany law enforcement agency in the county of his or her residence, for assignment of\na number for the property providing he or she can show that he or she is the law ful\nowner of the property pursuant to the provisions of this section and KRS 16.200 and\n500.090. If a number is issued in conformity with the provisions of this section and\nKRS 16.200 and 500.090, then the person to whom it was issued and any person to\nwhom the property is lawfully disposed of shall not be in violation of these sections.\nA person lawfully holding a certification issued pursuant to KRS 500.090 shall also\nbe deemed in compliance with this section. This section shall apply only when the\napplication has been filed by the defendant prior to arrest or authorization of a\nwarrant of arrest for the defendant by a court.\n(4) Obscuring the identity of a machine or other property is a Class A misdemeanor\nunless the value of the property is:\n(a) Five hun dred dollars ($500) or more but less than ten thousand dollars\n($10,000), in which case it is a Class D felony; or\n(b) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more, in which case it is a Class C felony.","path":["KRS Chapter 514"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=19814","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:02Z","sha256":"823ae6201f2ccd87b8da85bdfa09ddacb2ac004c636ef60428a7af0ed4329b34","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-514.110","next":"us-ky/krs-514.130"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}