Seizure of vehicle where number is altered or removed.
Del. Code tit. 21, § 6706
in effect(a) Any member of the State Highway Police or any automobile inspector shall summarily seize in the name of the State and take from any person, other than the rightful owner thereof, any motorcycle or motor vehicle or other vehicle in the person’s possession, if the manufacturer’s serial number or any other manufacturer’s trade or distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed and effaced, changed, covered or destroyed or wherever there is reasonable grounds to believe such serial number, trade number or other distinguishing number or identification mark has been removed and effaced, changed, covered or destroyed. The officer making the seizure shall at once deliver the motorcycle or motor vehicle or other vehicle to the Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security (hereinafter “Secretary”) who may hold the motor vehicle or other vehicle until the Secretary has determined the true owner thereof. Upon such determination, the Secretary shall notify the true owner that the Secretary has such motorcycle or motor vehicle or other vehicle in possession, and the Secretary shall deliver the same to such owner upon payment to the Secretary of the cost of the delivery.
(b) The Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security shall hold in possession any motorcycle or motor vehicle or other vehicle seized under subsection (a) of this section for at least 10 days after such seizure, during which time the person from whom the vehicle was taken shall have the right to replevy it.
(c) If, at the end of 10 days, the person from whom the said vehicle or engine has been seized fails to provide the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles, or 1 of the Director’s authorized agents, sufficient proof of the origin and the ownership of a vehicle and the origin of its engine, the vehicle or engine shall be considered abandoned and disposed of pursuant to Chapter 44 of this title.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c067/sc01/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026