What IS Chop Shop Activity?

• Owning or Operating a Chop Shop is when a person knowingly owns or operates a chops shop, and they know it is a chop shop. The charge can also come from when a person works with another person to own or operate a chop shop, and can include:

  • The unlawful to transport a major component part of a motor vehicle to or from a chop shop.

  • The unlawful sale, transfer, or receiving of an unlawfully obtained motor vehicle or major motor vehicle part from a chop shop.

• Owning or Operating a Chop Shop is a Class 4 Felony, which carries a penalty of up to 6 years in the Department of Corrections, and a fine of up to $500,000.

• Transporting, Selling, or Purchasing stolen vehicles or parts from a chop shop is a Class 5 Felony, which carries a penalty of up to 3 years in the Department of Corrections, and a fine of up to $100,000.

• Altering or Removing a Vehicle Identification Number is when a person removes, changes, alters, or defaces/destroys the identification number of a vehicle, including a vehicle identification number, a manufacturer’s number, or engine block number.

  • This charge may be used when a person possesses, purchases, sells, or transfers any vehicle or part with knowledge that the vehicle or part has had the identification number removed, changed, defaced or destroyed.

• Altering or Removing a Vehicle Identification Number is a Class 5 Felony, which carries a penalty of up to 3 years in the Department of Corrections, and a fine of up to $100,000.

C.R.S. 18-4-420 - Chop Shop Activity - Ownership or Operation of a Chop Shop - Altered or Removed Identification Number

(1) A person commits ownership or operation of a chop shop if he or she knowingly:

(a) Owns or operates a chop shop, knowing that it is a chop shop, or conspires with another person to own or operate a chop shop, knowing that it is a chop shop;

(b) Transports an unlawfully obtained motor vehicle or major component motor vehicle part to or from a chop shop, knowing that it is a chop shop; or

(c) Sells or transfers to, or purchases or receives from, a chop shop, knowing that it is a chop shop, an unlawfully obtained motor vehicle or major component motor vehicle part.

(2) A violation of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section is a class 4 felony. A violation of paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of this section is a class 5 felony.

(3)

(a) A person commits altering or removing a vehicle identification number if he or she knowingly:

(I) Removes, changes, alters, counterfeits, defaces, destroys, disguises, falsifies, forges, or obliterates the vehicle identification number, manufacturer’s number, or engine number of a motor vehicle or major component motor vehicle part with an intent to misrepresent the identity or prevent the identification of a motor vehicle or major component motor vehicle part; or

(II) Possesses, purchases, disposes of, sells, or transfers a motor vehicle or a major component motor vehicle part with knowledge that it contains a removed, changed, altered, counterfeited, defaced, destroyed, disguised, falsified, forged, or obliterated vehicle identification number, manufacturer’s number, or engine number unless such motor vehicle or major component motor vehicle part is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of section 42-5-110, C.R.S.

(b) This subsection (3) does not apply to a private party or to an agent of a private party that is acting with the authorization of a law enforcement agency to lawfully seize, retain, recycle, transport, or otherwise dispose of a motor vehicle or major component motor vehicle part with a vehicle identification number, manufacturer number, or engine number that is removed, changed, altered, counterfeited, defaced, destroyed, disguised, falsified, forged, or obliterated.

(4) Altering or removing a vehicle identification number is a class 5 felony.