,i  #aaith ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #ifej  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,july #ac1 #bjbf,mr4 
,ezell 7for himself and ,mr4 ,carbajal7 
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on the      
,judiciary  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend title  
#ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 to establish
 a crime for altering1 removing1 or     
affixing unauthorized vessel            
identification numbers and trafficking  
certain vessels1 and for other purposes4
  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be    
cited as the ,vessel ,identification    
,protection ,act of #bjbf4  #b4         
,unauthorized vessel identification     
numbers  7a7 ,in general ,chapter #be of
 title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is   
amended by inserting after section #ejg 
the following3  #ejg;,a4 ,altering1     
removing1 or affixing unauthorized      
vessel identification numbers  7a7 ,in  
general ,with respect to a vessel or    
vessel part in or affecting interstate  
commerce1 no person shall knowingly1    

with the purpose of obscuring the       
identity of a vessel or vessel part--   
7#a7 remove1 obliterate1 tamper with1   
forge1 counterfeit1 alter1 or obstruct  
the visibility of--  7,a7 a hull        
identification number2  7,b7 an         
identification number2 or  7,c7 a decal 
or device affixed to a vessel or vessel 
part2 or  7#b7 affix--  7,a7 a hull     
identification number or an             
identification number that has not been 
issued by the appropriate manufacturer1 
importer1 ,state authority1 or ,federal 
authority to a vessel or vessel part2 or
  7,b7 a decal or device that has not   
been issued by the appropriate          
manufacturer1 importer1 ,state          
authority1 or ,federal authority        
pursuant to chapters #da1 #dc or #abc of
 title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 or   
regulations issued thereunder4  7b7     
,nonapplication ,subsection 7a7 shall   
not apply to the removal of an          
identification number by a person who   
is-- 7#a7 authorized to remove the      

identification number by the ,united    
,states ,coast ,guard2 or  7#b7 required
 to remove the identification number    
pursuant to ,coast ,guard regulations4  
7c7 ,penalty ,whoever violates          
subsection 7a7 shall be fined under this
 title1 imprisoned not more than #e     
years1 or both4  7d7 ,definitions ,in   
this section3 7#a7 ,hull identification 
number ,the term hull identification    
number has the meaning given such term  
in section #ahg4g of title #cc1 ,code of
 ,federal ,regulations 7as in effect on 
the date of enactment of this ,act74    
7#b7 ,identification number ,the term   
identification number means a number or 
symbol that is inscribed or affixed for 
purposes of identification under chapter
 #da1 #dc1 or #abc of title #df1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 or regulations issued   
thereunder4  7#c7 ,tampers with ,the    
term tampers with includes covering a   
decal or device affixed to a vessel     
pursuant to chapters #da1 #dc1 and #abc 
of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 or 

regulations issued thereunder4  7#d7    
,vessel ,the term vessel has the meaning
 given such term in section #aae of     
title #df1 ,united ,states ,code4  4    
7b7 ,trafficking in certain vessels     
,chapter #aac of title #ah1 ,united     
,states ,code1 is amended by inserting  
after section #bcba the following3      
#bcba;,a4 ,trafficking in certain       
vessels  7a7 ,in general ,whoever buys1 
receives1 possesses1 or obtains control 
of1 with intent to sell or otherwise    
dispose of1 a vessel in or affecting    
interstate commerce1 knowing that an    
identification number or hull           
identification number for such vessel   
has been removed1 obliterated1 tampered 
with1 forged1 counterfeited1 altered1 or
 not issued by the appropriate          
manufacturer1 importer1 ,state or       
,federal authority shall be fined under 
this title or imprisoned not more than  
#aj years1 or both4  7b7 ,nonapplication
 ,subsection 7a7 does not apply if the  
removal1 obliteration1 tampering1 or    

alteration--  7#a7 is caused by         
collision1 allision1 or fire2 or  7#b7  
is not a violation of section #ejg;,a of
 this title4  7c7 ,identification number
 ,in this section1 the terms            
identification number1 hull             
identification number1 and vessel have  
the meaning given such terms in section 
#ejg;,a of this title4  4