HB 325 Summary

• Prohibits willful removal or falsification of identification numbers on vessels, outboard motors, vessel trailers, and component parts manufactured and sold after 1985, making violations Class A misdemeanors punishable according to law.

• Criminalizes possession of vessel parts with altered or removed identification numbers, and prohibits buying, receiving, selling, or disposing of vessels or components knowing identification numbers have been removed or falsified, all as Class A misdemeanors.

• Authorizes law enforcement to seize and detain vessels or components with altered identification numbers for up to 72 hours for identity verification, with items subject to forfeiture if ownership cannot be determined.

• Permits forfeiture of vessels and components with approval of a court of competent jurisdiction, allowing law enforcement to retain property for official use, destroy it, or repair and sell it with proceeds earmarked for law enforcement purposes.

• Exempts bill from Alabama Amendment 621 requirements for local expenditure approval because it defines a new crime; effective January 1 following passage and gubernatorial approval.