LEO Personal Information Access

[dude]

I was wondering today what kind of information LEO's have in their car systems.

For example, based on your license plate, can they pull up your name, address, driver's license photo, firearm ownership, etc?

If a LEO or anyone else who knows can chime in, thanks!

[GammaRei]

Maybe you shouldve posted this in the LEO forum. . .

- G

[dude]

Maybe you shouldve posted this in the LEO forum. . .

Oh, didn't realize there was one... if a mod could move this thread there, I'd appreciate it

[SVT-40]

A check of your license plate will get the make model and year VIN ect. The registered owner(s) name and address as well as any information on the legal owner of the vehicle.

From there a LEO could use the name to try and get drivers license info. from the DMV. Usually it's best with a DOB, but If you can guess well as to age SOMETIMES with the address you can obtain complete drivers license info.

If the mobile terminal has AFS access a check could then be run for firearms in the name discovered from the DMV info.

The short answer is it would take quite a while and would not be real reasonable while driving.

[Jonathan Doe]

The MDT in my patrol car had the access for the all information.

[Ron-Solo]

and even tell us the age you lost your virginity..........

Seriously tho,,,,,,,,what Top Gun said.

[Cokebottle]

So in reference to another thread where the poster was curious about unlawful concealed carry... he'd be fine until he got tagged for a minor traffic stop, and he, unlawfully carrying, gets really nervous, and the officer being aware that he owns weapons, decided to ask him if he is carrying.

[VHK]

The MDT in my patrol car had the access for the all information.

So you can tell if a person has registered firearms just from checking a DL?

[ilbob]

They even a picture of the mom tatoo you have on your butt.

[oddjob]

Firearms check

Not from only a driver's license check. The leo would have to run you through the Automated Firearms system (AFS). To be honest with you I never had the time or inclination too run an AFS check on people I stopped. I just checked them for arrest warrants, maybe a DMV status and thats it. Even the dispatchers would get mad at you for running AFS. And they were the last people you wanted to make mad! I don't think the terminal units now a days can bring up a photo. The terminals can pretty much bring up anything else though.

We didn't have terimals in the cars, carried revovers, cell phones didn't exist, CD's were LP's, VHS didn't exist and the Raiders were some what respected. That was 22-30 years ago though when I was on patrol. Now I'm a desk jockey leo type dude.

[sacshooter1]

All that info is available in the car now. But, why would I want to stop someone that legally owns a firearm? I'm much more interested in the guy that has a stolen gun or isn't allowed to own one at all.

[Ron-Solo]

So you can tell if a person has registered firearms just from checking a DL?

It's a different system than the drivers history, but is available in the field. It's primarily used to run guns for stolen inquiries. It can be run by name but it only gives prior DROS info and doesn't indicate if you still own the gun or not.

Like previous posts have said, we are more interested in recovering stolen guns and getting guns from parolees and such who can not legally possess them.

[Cokebottle]

All that info is available in the car now. But, why would I want to stop someone that legally owns a firearm? I'm much more interested in the guy that has a stolen gun or isn't allowed to own one at all.

Could that perhaps explain why I haven't been ticketed (and only stopped 3 times while driving) since 1992?

Now, stopped while walking down the sidewalk... that's another story. Had a very uncomfortable few minutes a couple of months ago while walking home from the post office. Would have been in deep crap had he taken me in, as I didn't have my cellphone on me, and my wife would not have answered the land line from a CID she didn't recognize.

[trendar5]

So in reference to another thread where the poster was curious about unlawful concealed carry... he'd be fine until he got tagged for a minor traffic stop, and he, unlawfully carrying, gets really nervous, and the officer being aware that he owns weapons, decided to ask him if he is carrying.

Officer safety would dictate that I make these assumptions with strangers in cars:

1. Everybody I stop owns guns.

2. Everybody I stop has a gun within reach.

3. When they don't, I go look for another one.

Officers using their car computers to find out you own guns and then asking if the person is carrying the gun illegally is not the way we operate. You are still not "OK" to break this law. You can get in big trouble if you get caught.

[Ron-Solo]

Officer safety would dictate that I make these assumptions with strangers in cars:

1. Everybody I stop owns guns.

2. Everybody I stop has a gun within reach.

3. When they don't, I go look for another one.

Officers using their car computers to find out you own guns and then asking if the person is carrying the gun illegally is not the way we operate. You are still not "OK" to break this law. You can get in big trouble if you get caught.

Never made an arrest because the computer told me the driver owned guns. Made LOTS of gun arrests back in the day when we didn't have computers and a #2 pencil was the way we did things.

No computers, no hand held radios, no cell phones, no worries.

Take no guff, cut no slack, hook & book, and watch your back.......