---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 32703"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "32703"
heading: "Preventing tampering"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/32703"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs"
  - "Part C — Information, Standards, and Requirements"
  - "Chapter 327 — Odometers"
---

# §32703. Preventing tampering


A person may not—

- (1) advertise for sale, sell, use, install, or have installed, a device that makes an [odometer](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5) of a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) register a mileage different from the mileage the vehicle was driven, as registered by the [odometer](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5) within the designed tolerance of the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) of the [odometer](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5);
- (2) disconnect, reset, alter, or have disconnected, reset, or altered, an [odometer](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5) of a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) intending to change the mileage registered by the [odometer](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5);
- (3) with intent to defraud, operate a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) on a street, road, or highway if the person knows that the [odometer](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5) of the vehicle is disconnected or not operating; or
- (4) conspire to violate this section or section [32704](/usc/49/32704.md) or [32705](/usc/49/32705.md) of this title.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1049; Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(33), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4380.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pub. L. 103–272 |  |  |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 32703(1) | 15:1983. | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, § 403, 86 Stat. 962; July 14, 1976, Pub. L. 94–364, § 402, 90 Stat. 983. |
| 32703(2) | 15:1984. | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, §§ 404, 405, 86 Stat. 962; restated July 14, 1976, Pub. L. 94–364, §§ 403, 404, 90 Stat. 983. |
| 32703(3) | 15:1985. |  |
| 32703(4) | 15:1986. | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, § 406, 86 Stat. 962. |

In clause (1), the words “the mileage the vehicle was driven, as registered by the odometer within the designed tolerance of the manufacturer of the odometer” are substituted for “the true mileage driven. For purposes of this section, the true mileage driven is that mileage driven by the vehicle as registered by the odometer within the manufacturer’s designed tolerance” to eliminate unnecessary words.

In clause (3), the words “public” and “road” are added for consistency in this subtitle.

### Pub. L. 103–429

This amends 49:32703(3) to correct an error in the codification enacted by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 1049).

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Par. (3). Pub. L. 103–429 struck out “public” before “street”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–429 effective July 5, 1994, see section 9 of Pub. L. 103–429, set out as a note under section 321 of this title.