The phrase "identifying number or numbers", as used in this section, shall mean the manufacturer's number or numbers identifying the motor vehicle, trailer or motor vehicle part as required to be contained in an application for registration by section two of chapter ninety, including the identifying number or numbers as restored or substituted under authority of section thirty-two A of said chapter ninety or similar law of another state.
An officer authorized to make arrests may arrest without warrant any person who he has probable cause to believe has committed or is committing a violation of the provisions of this section.
A conviction of a violation of this section or any adjudication that a person is a delinquent child by reason thereof shall be reported forthwith by the court or magistrate to the registrar of motor vehicles who shall revoke immediately the license to operate motor vehicles or the right to operate motor vehicles of the person so convicted or adjudged, and no appeal, motion for new trial or exceptions shall operate to stay the revocation of such license or right to operate. The registrar of motor vehicles after having revoked the license or right to operate of any such person so convicted or adjudged shall issue a new license or reinstate such right to operate, if the prosecution of such person is finally terminated in his favor; otherwise, no new license shall be issued nor shall such right to operate be reinstated until sixty days after the date of revocation following his original conviction or adjudication if for a first offense, or until one year after the date of revocation following any subsequent conviction or adjudication.
Whoever takes and carries away the registration plate that is attached to the vehicle of another or is assigned by the registry of motor vehicles to another shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years, or both.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 139