That's right, Panic -- it's not a police matter. The OPs experience so far is testament to this, he's gone through all the LEO hoops and was told flat out by the police in his home state that this is not a police matter.
As for this business about restamping - there's no evidence this has occurred. YOU have jumped to the conclusion there is illegal stamping and a crime committed. This whole matter can be as simple as someone typing 53K instead of 54K.
Not to mention, restamps aren't always illegal.
Despite all the bullshido across forums; the truth is that it is not illegal at the Federal level to restamp a VIN
for repair or restoration purposes. It is only illegal to tamper with a VIN to try and obscure or alter the identity of a vehicle.
A lot of people don't believe this, mostly because they have not been in the vehicle repair business and do not know that the Feds and most states have provisions for VIN repair/replacement. These provisions apply to private individuals and their agents (aka repair shops).
At the FEDERAL level, VIN restamps and replacement are covered by U.S. Code section 18 USC 511.
You can look up the PDF of the code right here:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USC ... sec511.pdfThis section of the code DOES declare that anyone who “knowingly removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters an identification number for a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part” can face as much as five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
However, it makes an exemption for “a person who repairs such vehicle or part, if the removal, obliteration, tampering, or alteration is reasonably necessary for the repair.” specifically you discover B and C are directly applicable to many bikers with busted cases:
(b)(1) Subsection (a) of this section does not
apply to a removal, obliteration, tampering, or
alteration by a person specified in paragraph (2)
of this subsection (unless such person knows
that the vehicle or part involved is stolen).
(2) The persons referred to in paragraph (1) of
this subsection are—
(A) a motor vehicle scrap processor or a
motor vehicle demolisher who complies with
applicable State law with respect to such vehi-
cle or part;
(B) a person who repairs such vehicle or
part, if the removal, obliteration, tampering,
or alteration is reasonably necessary for the
repair;
(C) a person who restores or replaces an
identification number for such vehicle or part
in accordance with applicable State law; and(D) a person who removes, obliterates,
tampers with, or alters a decal or device af-
fixed to a motor vehicle pursuant to the Motor
Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, if that person is
the owner of the motor vehicle, or is author-
ized to remove, obliterate, tamper with or
alter the decal or device by—
(i) the owner or his authorized agent;
(ii) applicable State or local law; or
(iii) regulations promulgated by the Attor-
ney General to implement the Motor Vehicle
Theft Prevention Act.
(c) As used in this section, the term—
(1) ‘‘identification number’’ means a number
or symbol that is
inscribed or affixed for pur-
poses of identification under chapter 301 and
part C of subtitle VI of title 49;
In other words, you or a repair shop you engage can legally restamp a VIN if necessary for repairs. This is the FEDERAL law about VINs.
The state level is where it gets messy and everything depends on your state laws. Currently about 35 states have laws which make it very clear owners and their agents (ie repair shops) can restamp if needed for repairs.
For most of those ~35 states, there is not even a requirement the VIN look original. All that is required is that it is "neatly done and conforms to the original placement." From there, it is generally as simple as keeping a record of the change, having your handiwork inspected and signed off on by a state trooper authorized to confirm VIN repair within 90 days of the restamp, and signing an affidavit or providing evidence the original number/part was destroyed.
There are several companies who sell blank VIN and blank door jamb stickers directly to certified repair shops for these reasons.
For those 15 or so states where this is still grey -- there's been an effort by the auto repair industry to clarify over the past 10 years. Those states without clear laws put repair shops into legal binds. This article makes it clear:
https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2017 ... -a-repair/But, remember what i said about this not being universal at the state level and how others may not always understand?
The most famous case right now was just decided a few weeks ago. In sum; a restorer in Indiana did a VIN replacement on a Corvette. The VIN replacement was legal under FEDERAL and Indiana law -- but Kansas law said any VIN replacement was contraband. The kansas state inspector was top notch and noted the VIN in question was affixed with rivets when in the year in question it should have been screwed into place. That immediately invalidated the vehicle in Kansas and it was impounded. The private owner sued and this happened:
https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/corv ... -vehicles/The owner also won their suit but were only awarded $20,000 restitution:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/corv ... n-debacle/So, yes, in your experience this may very well be evidence of a crime in NY state.
It does not mean it is automatically a crime or even a police matter in other states.