Sled Wrap - A Felony Offence in SD

[sdsnocop]

I am bringing this up as an information item. The popularity of sled wraps has caused some difficulty for law enforcement when the wrap covers the VIN (vehicle identification number). SD has a law that makes it a felony to alter a vehicle VIN. I did not know for sure if that law would apply to VIN's covered up by wraps so looked up the law and without doubt it clearly does. Now I am not looking to haul to jail everyone I come across with a wrap covering the VIN (I do not have the time or the room) but that does not mean some other officer will not haul off someone to jail for that felony offence. I would strongely consider cutting a window on the wrap so the VIN will be visable.

32-4-9 Alteration or removal of vehicle identification number prohibited - Violation as felony. No person may intentionally remove, deface, alter, destroy, cover, or obscure any vehicle identification number or other distinguishing number of a motor vehicle or trailer or any part therefor in this state, without written authoriization from the Department of Revenue, ... A violation of this section is a class 6 felony.

 

[Laundryboy]

Seems reasonable to me.

 

[stumpjumper007]

This might be an unusual question and a little off subject, snocop, but what do you do when you come across someone on the trail that doesn't pass a sobriety test. We were out there a few weeks ago and my uncle ( a retired cop from the Pierre PD) came across someone pulled over ( I'm assuming it was was you) and he was "following the pen test". What do you do with them from that point?....( I think it was on trail 7 by Englewood area?)
Seems like it would be a logistical nightmare anywhere.....

 

[sdsnocop]

This might be an unusual question and a little off subject, snocop, but what do you do when you come across someone on the trail that doesn't pass a sobriety test. We were out there a few weeks ago and my uncle ( a retired cop from the Pierre PD) came across someone pulled over ( I'm assuming it was was you) and he was "following the pen test". What do you do with them from that point?....( I think it was on trail 7 by Englewood area?)
Seems like it would be a logistical nightmare anywhere.....

You are right the logistics of prisoner transport from the snowmobile trail presents some dificulty. Our best option is to call in one of our groomer operators with the sno-cat. I will switch with the groomer operator and transport the prisoner by sno-cat to the nearest plowed road to meet a Sheriff Deputy or Highway Patrol or back to Hardy Camp where my patrol vehcle is parked. Also in non-DUI arrests such as outstanding misdemeanor warrants I have escorted the snowmobiler riding his snowmobile back to Hardy Camp after making it very clear that veering from our route wil result in an arrest for felony escape.

 

[tree climber]

you mentioned this to me last year when i ran into you. it wouldnt have been hard to do when installing the wrap. now that its been on for 2 years i would be cutting blind hoping i uncover the vin

 

[inspector01]

Seems reasonable to me.

Yea, a FELONY does sound reasonable for covering your VIN with a couple mils worth of vinyl. Land of the free.....


What about aftermarket tunnels??

 

[willinwillys]

Yep super cool!!!! Let's keep trying to take the fun out of it!!! I have 6 sleds with aftermarket tunnels and I honestly don't care about the Vin at this point!!! Maybe you'll have to take me to jail for it!!

 

[sdsnocop]

There is a process in SD to reissue and re-stamp a VIN on a tunnel replacement. It must must not be important and is detrimental to the fun and freedom of snowmobiling to have readable identification number on your machine. I own several snowmobiles and would be pissed if they were stolen and had little chance of being recovered because there was no VIN to identify the sled as stolen. I would be even more pissed If I had found my stolen sled but had no way to prove I owned it because there was no VIN. It would be very easy for someone either from Wyoming or someone only rode in Wyoming to steal a sled either with a wrap covering the VIN or with a replacement tunnel to purchase a Wyoming non-resident permit and ride it in Wyoming without anyone suspecting it was stolen out of SD. You can buy a WY non-resident permit without entering a VIN you just need to enter a bogus registration number. Registration stickers fall off and get lost all the time. Every other vehicle we own (pickups, ATV's, Motorcycles, Boats ect.) are required to have a Valid VIN why do we think it should not be required on a snowmobile.

Sorry Rant over

 

[Laundryboy]

Yea, a FELONY does sound reasonable for covering your VIN with a couple mils worth of vinyl. Land of the free.....


What about aftermarket tunnels??

No, what seems reasonable is the expectation that the vin be visible. Cutting a small window in your wrap to view the vin seems reasonable. The feeling of entitlement to cover your vin because you live " in the land of the free", not so reasonable. I'm thinking anyone who's had their sled stolen may agree. However a felony does seem too harsh when there was no malicious intent when the wrap was installed.

 

[Mafesto]

I don't think anyone on here would want to conceal the VIN for illegal purposes. They simply do not want to alter the appearance of the wrap they installed.
I desire freedom from "Big Brother" as much as the next guy, but I would happily consent to any law that makes life more difficult for sled thieves.

To argue that this is unreasonable is simply a losing argument.

 

[inspector01]

There is a process in SD to reissue and re-stamp a VIN on a tunnel replacement. It must must not be important and is detrimental to the fun and freedom of snowmobiling to have readable identification number on your machine. I own several snowmobiles and would be pissed if they were stolen and had little chance of being recovered because there was no VIN to identify the sled as stolen. I would be even more pissed If I had found my stolen sled but had no way to prove I owned it because there was no VIN. It would be very easy for someone either from Wyoming or someone only rode in Wyoming to steal a sled either with a wrap covering the VIN or with a replacement tunnel to purchase a Wyoming non-resident permit and ride it in Wyoming without anyone suspecting it was stolen out of SD. You can buy a WY non-resident permit without entering a VIN you just need to enter a bogus registration number. Registration stickers fall off and get lost all the time. Every other vehicle we own (pickups, ATV's, Motorcycles, Boats ect.) are required to have a Valid VIN why do we think it should not be required on a snowmobile.

Sorry Rant over

No, what seems reasonable is the expectation that the vin be visible. Cutting a small window in your wrap to view the vin seems reasonable. The feeling of entitlement to cover your vin because you live " in the land of the free", not so reasonable. I'm thinking anyone who's had their sled stolen may agree. However a felony does seem too harsh when there was no malicious intent when the wrap was installed.

My point isn't that its fine to cover your VIN, but that making it potentially a FELONY for simply taping over your VIN is not reasonable. This could quite literally destroy entire families. So yes, its pretty F'd that we live in the "land of the free" where you could go to prison for a LONG time for simply covering a VIN with vinyl.

Obviously I know its not likely to happen that someone who is legit gets screwed hard by this, but even giving the option to an overzealous cop or prosecutor is scary. Just wait till private prisons decide they need more inmates and start pushing for prosecuting this.....

 

[jsledder]

I would hope that there would be a process to go through to decide that the intent was there to cover the number for legal reasons, rather than it be more of a "hey, I caught you putting a sticker over your VIN, now your going to prison". I feel that any of the officers I've come across in SD would at the very least make me peel off the sticker or cut the vinyl or somehow prove the VIN is still there so he can verify I am the legal owner before slapping me with a Felony charge. I would go through the hassle to pull the skid and flip the sled over and show him the number from the inside of the tunnel if that's what it took. That might not be the case everywhere and simply putting a tunnel wrap or decals over top of the number could potentially cause someone a ton of money in legal fee's, and with the right attorney's involved, whoever sold the perpetrator the wrap could be help liable if they did not include instructions to not cover the VIN.

Now, if the number was ground off or visibly altered so it can not be read at all, then that would be a different story. Are there officers out there that would not give a guy a chance to show him the VIN?, I bet there are, but it would still have to go to court and if you are the legal owner of the vehicle and can prove it, you should just get scolded and sent on your way after proving your innocence and paying any lawyer fee's. I suppose they could confiscate the vehicle right away so you would be without that for quite some time.

There are a lot of stupid laws on the books, and the interpretation of those laws can be all over the board. (even by the officers).

 

[sdsnocop]

The arguments posted above are exactly why I am bringing the issue to everyones attention so it can be remedied before someone does ends up with a felony charge. This law did not come forth because of sled wraps it has been on the books since 1983 long before anyone thought about decorating their sled with vinyl. I would also hope companies who design and manufacture wraps would take the resposibility to leave a window for the VIN. I have in my carreer confinscated 2 sleds that were in violation of this law. Both had the VIN ground or sanded off. In both cases I determined the operator or owner of the snowmobile did not have the intent of hiding the identity of the snowmobile and was not charged. But in both cases the sleds were not returned. One we determined was built from parts from several stolen snowmobiles out of Alaska. The other the owner could not provide any paperwork proving ownership.

 

[mtncat1]

don't forget to keep in mind that although the vin may not be seen , titles and registrations are pretty good indicators of owner ship.

 

[kiliki]

most sleds have an alt vin on the bulkhead and or rear tunnel....and this is not covered by a wrap. does the law spec one vin over another ?
i live in ID and we NEVER have this problem and only have had a sticker check 2 times in 15 years.

 

[sdsnocop]

don't forget to keep in mind that although the vin may not be seen , titles and registrations are pretty good indicators of owner ship.

Those indicators of ownership become very weak when you can not compare the VIN written on a registrationor Title to an absent VIN on the snowmobie.

 

[Chadx]

Good on ya, sdsnocop for bringing this up. While some may choose to not alter their current wrap, at least everyone can be aware of it when applying wraps in the future and ensure they accommodate viewing the vin. It's really for a persons own good. Less of a pain when vin needs to be checked at a stop, easier to deal with if your sled is stolen, etc.

In West Yellowstone last weekend, a sled was stolen and so at the checkpoint, the rangers were checking vins of sleds that matched the year/make/model. Covering the vin makes the work, and length of the stop, associated with such a check much longer and more of a pain for everyone.

Another tip...pass the personality test. Those guys are doing their jobs and if you get a ticket, it's because YOU did something wrong; not them. Be upset with yourself. True, you may occasionally run into law enforcement/ranger that is a jerk, but some of us are jerks, too. Ha. It's luck of the draw when dealing with humans. Don't make your life worse by being anything less than courteous and then moving on. Most are really great guys and gals.

My deceased father put it in perspective for me long ago. His comment was around a speeding ticket in a vehicle when I was a kid, but translates to all stops. The jist of it was this..."There is nothing to be upset about when you choose to break the law and then get caught and fined. You chose to do it so happily accept the penalty for your choice and move on. That was the cost of your choice". I learned a lot more from that comment then from the ticket itself.

As with most laws (there are a few screwball exceptions), this law is to protect you and is a reasonable expectation. If sledders make it the norm for a vin to not be readable then what expectation could we have regarding getting our stolen sled or parts back or catching the thief so they can be stopped from stealing someone elses sled.

At least now we will all think about it and can accommodate this on the next wrap whether one lives in SD or another state. Good thread.

 

[Mafesto]

If you are riding in a group of riders, odds are one of you are going to be in violation of something. Whether its not having proof of insurance, no registration sticker, possession of weapon w/o permit, outstanding warrant, one too many beers earlier or whatever.

My point is 90% of the above will fly under the radar under a normal stop.
But if one sled in the group does not have a visible VIN, your time interacting with the officer will be dramatically lengthened. This increases the likelihood of one of the above offenses being discovered.
So the reality of it is that your buddy could end up in jail because you did not want to alter your precious little Monster logo to enable your VIN to be visible.

It's a very reasonable law.

 

[sdsnocop]

I came across a perfect example today why having the VIN visible is important. I came across 2 sleds, both did not have license registration decals on them. The story was they were from ND and forgot to put their registration decals on. Sled number one I recorded the VIN and requested a registration check out of ND by VIN through radio dispatch, it did get a response back with the registered owner and that it was registered through June of 2015. No problem story verified. Sled number 2 has no VIN on it. I cannot request a registration check without the VIN and cannot verify the registration is current so he ends up with a citation for unregistered sled. The question came up if he found his registration could he show it to some one and have the ticket voided. The answer is probably not since the registration could be for any 1 of several thousand 2011 Skidoo Summit 800's and without a VIN to compare it to the registration could fit any one of them. If they would have placed their registration decals on their sleds I would have just rode by them and waved.

 

[tree climber]

my sleds were stolen last year. and no thanks to local LE they were recovered. the wrap itself was the giveaway. i also believe that having the vin under a wrap hid from them the possibility of identification as they were not smart individuals. had i known before my install, i wouldnt have thought twice about cutting a small window for the vin. sure might ruin the look a bit but rules are rules and snocop is helpful as always relaying information to us. as far as the law itself goes i can see maybe if you try to alter the vin in any way being a punishable offense because your obviously hiding something. felony is a bit heinous and certainly in the case of simply being covered by a decal. maybe the state should revisit the law and put some sort of amendment or allow for a duplicate to be put in another location. i could very easily make a tag and mount it pretty well anywhere if they would accept it