Illegal odometer tampering; prohibition; exceptions; civil action; penalty

(1) A person commits the offense of illegal odometer tampering if the person does any of the following: (a) Advertises for sale, sells, uses or installs on any part of a motor vehicle or on any odometer in a motor vehicle any device which causes the odometer to register any mileage other than the true mileage driven. For the purposes of this paragraph the true mileage driven is that mileage driven by the vehicle as registered by the odometer within the manufacturer’s designed tolerance. (b) With the intent to defraud, operates a motor vehicle on any street or highway knowing that the odometer of such vehicle is disconnected or nonfunctional. (c) Replaces, disconnects, turns back or resets the odometer of any motor vehicle with the intent to reduce the number of miles indicated on the odometer gauge. (2) This section does not apply to a person who is servicing, repairing or replacing an odometer in compliance with ORS 815.415. (3) The owner or subsequent purchaser of a vehicle may bring an action in an appropriate court of this state against any person who violates this section and may recover from the person an amount of $1,500 or treble the actual damage caused by the violation. Only a single recovery is permitted under this subsection for any single violation of this section. The court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in an action under this subsection. (4) The offense described in this section, illegal odometer tampering, is a Class C felony.