Is It Criminal to Alter A Serial Number?
There may be a variety of reasons to alter the identifying information on a product.
It is difficult to conceive of a valid, lawful reason to do so. The consequences surprise. Many might not be aware, but one faces 18 months in jail for altering serial numbers on products. Now, any good criminal defense attorney Attorney Eric T. Kirk in Baltimore MD knows that there also must be an accompanying criminal intent that the product not be identified. Selling products with removed or altered serial numbers carries the same penalty.[Code, Criminal Law Article, 6-306].