HB325 Alabama 2010 Session

Under existing law, obscuring the identity of a vehicle is a crime and the definition of vehicle includes motorboats and vessels. The crime of obscuring the identity of a vehicle or a boat is a misdemeanor and the vehicle or boat would be returned to the holder if it could not be proved that the vehicle or boat is stolen

Under existing law relating to motor vehicles, the Uniform Certificate of Title and Antitheft Act provides further for the falsification of motor vehicle identification numbers or registration, criminal penalties for violations, and forfeiture procedures under certain conditions

This bill would adopt similar provisions relating to boats as the provisions relating to motor vehicles under the Uniform Certificate of Title and Antitheft Act. The bill would prohibit the falsification of the identification number or registration of a vessel or vessel trailer, provide criminal penalties, and provide further for forfeiture procedures under similar conditions

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to boats and vessels manufactured and sold after 1985; to prohibit the unauthorized alteration of identification numbers on or the registration information relating to vessels, outboard motors, vessel trailers, or identifiable component parts thereof; to provide criminal penalties for violations, including illegal possession thereof; to provide for forfeiture procedures under certain conditions; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.