a. If a certificate of ownership or title papers are lost, the director may, upon proof by certification or otherwise in the manner required by him and if satisfied with the application, prepare a certificate of ownership, certify it and authorize its use in place of the original, with the same effect as the original. The director shall collect a fee for this duplicate certificate.
b. A person who falsely states, in an application to the director for a duplicate certificate of ownership, that a certificate of ownership or title papers are lost, shall be subject to the penalties of section 25 of this act. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a prosecution may be commenced at any time up to three years after the issuance of the duplicate certificate.