DMV Investigations? - Neighbor Situation

[mark2203]

Yesterday early in the afternoon two gentlemen from DMV investigations came to my door inquiring about a neighbor's home, if anyone lived there (place looks vacant most of the time), and if a specific car was seen around the home. First of all, I had no idea the DMV had an investigation department but these guys looked like legitimate, casually dressed investigators wearing badges hanging from a strings around their necks. I told them what I knew about the family, which wasn't much, and that I have not seen the car they were looking for. They took notes and left me their card.

A little about the neighbor, the couple that live in the home are nice, but quiet and recluse people but they have a ~25yr old daughter that has some serious issues and associates with some pretty shady "thug-life" people. I'm pretty sure there's a drug related issues with her because my wife and I spotted a piece of burnt tin foil in front of their place a few years back while going for a walk. The parents finally booted the daughter out about a year ago after she trashed the house having parties while the parents were away. Over the last year the neighborhood has been peaceful.

Ironically, yesterday late in the afternoon, there's a U-Haul in front of the house and the daughter is moving back in. Also, this morning, the specific car the DMV investigators were asking about is parked in front of the house. Seems a bit coincidental that the visit from the investigators and the arrival of the daughter and car in question were both within less than a 24hr period. I'm inclined to call the investigators with the information but don't want our family to become a target for some of the douche-bags the daughter hangs out with. Especially if the investigators are sloppy and wind up releasing our info while trying to implicate the daughter in and her associates in something.

First of all, what does DMV investigations do? If there's a criminal in my neighborhood I want him out but if they have no authority to investigate and arrest a criminal, should I call the police instead, explain my situation and pull the local police department into the mix? While the daughter lived in the house before, they did have a few unexpected visits from the local police department so she no stranger to the law.

Advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Markhb]

The DMV Investigations Division protects the programs and interests of the department and public through active fraud/counterfeit detection, investigation, audit and enforcement services. The Investigations Division diligently enforces laws, rules, and regulations that apply to new and used vehicle dealers, brokers, dismantlers, registrations services, vehicle verifiers, driving schools or traffic violator schools, and other vehicle-related businesses.

[halifax]

If the investigators left their contact information, find a pay phone and provide an anonymous tip.

[AAShooter]

. . . find a pay phone . . .

That could take a while . . .

[mark2203]

The DMV Investigations Division protects the programs and interests of the department and public through active fraud/counterfeit detection, investigation, audit and enforcement services. The Investigations Division diligently enforces laws, rules, and regulations that apply to new and used vehicle dealers, brokers, dismantlers, registrations services, vehicle verifiers, driving schools or traffic violator schools, and other vehicle-related businesses.

Right off the website. Already read that. Thanks.

[1000 oaks]

repo agent

[Dubious_Beans]

repo agent

The life of a repo man is always intense.

[Ron-Solo]

DMV Investigators also handle auto theft rings, chop shops, and fraudulent registration issues where people do vin switches and then try to get new license plates on stolen cars.

They have peace officer powers.

[003]

One of the things that DMV investigators handle is vehicle registration fraud. That is investigating California residents that register their vehicles out of state to beat the California registration fees. Many states charge very little to register a vehicle compared to California. While I certainly have no idea what is going on in this specific situation. This is one example of the type of thing DMV investigators handle.

[neomentat]

they also do identity theft

[yzErnie]

I've heard they exist but have never had a sighting of one!!

[tom2]

DMV are (specalized) state investigators. Specialized state investigators handle issues specific and/or related to their primary agency mission / role. There are many types of State Investigators. I have worked with a few on various vehicle and identity related matters....

For regular issues in your neighborhood (if you live in an incorporated city) the City PD or (unincorporated area) call the Sheriff's Office.

[heyeugenio]

Pick up the phone and dial

If I may make a suggestion here; call them. You've already stated the vehicle they had particular interest in, at the home of the center of their investigation, has been identified.

They are fully sworn peace officers in the middle of an investigation. Just like a Detective's unit working a homicide, burg, tech crimes etc., they are handling a specific "type" of investigation. Would you hesitate calling a Detective investigating a recent rash of burgs in your neighborhood if they asked you about a specific individual at a specific address? I didn't think so - so get on the horn.

No doubt they've already made some contact with the locals - especially if they're about to serve a warrant.

The sooner you call the sooner they can continue any enforcement actions.

FYI, they have full peace officer authority and powers pursuant to PC 836 and are LEO pursuant to PC 830.3.

BTW, contrary to some speculation and rumor, LEO's generally will not take the bad guy to your front door and say, "Yep, here's the guy that called us about you. He works here, has X amount of children and will leave the front door open for you when you get out of jail"...unless of course you're the reason the investigation took so long and are an accessory (you'd be an accomplice if you didn't call/cooperate ) I keeed I keeed

[Onemoreround]

I had a DMV Investigator visit my home 2 months after i purchsed a used truck from my Boss. Apparently the DMV Customer Service Rep kept a credit for the recently paid tags by my boss and again charged me for them. The DMV rep kept the credit and 2 customers later he applied my credit to that customers account because they paid in cash and he pocketed the money.

The DMV Investigator come to my place of work showed me a line up of 6 people and I identified the DMV rep that stole from me. The DMV Investigator was very happy with my identification because this dummy had given his notive and was hired by the US. Border Patrol.

So that was the end of his current and future career.

[CSDGuy]

I've had some contact with the DMV Investigators. They're a pretty small bunch for what they do and you rarely hear about them...