TAMPER W/ IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS

Texas Penal Code § 31.11 defines tampering with identification numbers. The State must prove one of two forms of conduct: that the defendant knowingly or intentionally removed, altered, or obliterated the serial number or other permanent identification marking on tangible personal property; or that the defendant possessed, sold, or offered for sale tangible personal property knowing that its serial number or other permanent identification marking had been removed, altered, or obliterated. The statute covers manufacturer serial numbers and other permanent identifying marks on items of personal property such as firearms, tools, electronics, and equipment. For the possession-or-sale form, the State must prove actual knowledge that the marking had been removed or altered; mere possession of property with a missing number, standing alone, does not establish the offense without that knowledge. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor.

Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.

Across 2,667 Texas bail settings for this charge (22 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $3,500 (middle half: $2,000 – $8,000). 7% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 58 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (213 records), the median was $2,500 and 16% got a personal bond.

Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.