# Justice Manual § 9-61.700: Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Statutes

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.700

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-61.700
- **Heading:** Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Statutes
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-61.000 - Crimes Involving Property / Justice Manual § 9-61.700

## Text

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has investigative jurisdiction over the civil penalty provisions in 49 U.S.C §§ 33114 and 33115 relating to a manufacturer's or importer's failure to comply with passenger automobile theft prevention (parts marking) standards required under 49 U.S.C. §  Chapter 331 and implementing regulations. NHTSA also has investigative jurisdiction over civil penalties, under 49 U.S.C. § 33115, applicable to owning and operating a "chop shop."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has investigative jurisdiction over criminal offenses relating to altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers (18 U.S.C. § 511), unauthorized application of theft prevention decals (18 U.S.C. § 511A), trafficking in motor vehicles and parts knowing that identification numbers have been removed (18 U.S.C. § 2321), and operating a chop shop (18 U.S.C. § 2322).

The United States Customs Service has investigative jurisdiction over the importation or exportation of stolen motor vehicles (18 U.S.C. § 553), as well as the civil penalty provisions in 19 U.S.C. § 1627a relating to importing or exporting stolen motor vehicles. The Customs Service also assists the NHTSA in the enforcement of the regulatory provisions applicable to importers of foreign manufactured vehicles.

[updated April 2022] [cited in
JM 9-61.100
]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-61.010 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.100 Motor Vehicle and Aircraft Theft—18 U.S.C. § § 2311-2313](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.111 Motor Vehicle and Aircraft Theft—Prosecution Policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.111.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.112 Motor Vehicle and Aircraft Theft—Prosecution Policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.112.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.113 Motor Vehicle and Aircraft Theft—Prosecution Policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.113.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.114 Motor Vehicle and Aircraft Theft—Notification Requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.114.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.200 National Stolen Property Act—18 U.S.C. §  2311, 2314, and 2315](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.210 National Stolen Property Act—Prosecution Policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.210.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.244 National Stolen Property Act—Securities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.244.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.300 Theft From Interstate Shipment—18 U.S.C. §  659](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.300.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.400 Fencing—Prosecution Policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.400.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.500 Counterfeiting and Forging of State and Corporate Securities—18 U.S.C. § 513](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.500.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.510 Counterfeiting and Forging Securities—Prosecution Policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.510.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-61.600 Bank Robbery and Bank Larceny—18 U.S.C. 2113](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.600.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-61.700. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.