No licensee shall remove, alter or obliterate any manufacturer's make, model, or serial number, personal identification number, or identifying marks engraved or etched upon an item of personal property that was purchased or received in pledge until such time that the licensee becomes the legal owner of the property. In addition, an item shall not be accepted for pledge or purchase where the manufacturer's make, model, or serial number, personal identification number or identifying marks engraved or etched upon an item of personal property has been removed, altered or obliterated.
(Amend Coun. J. 2-26-97, p. 40141)