Law Enforcement

[SilverMallard]

Here's a hint about what I said about legal ways of getting this info:

Voter registration record are public domain and often include things like social security numbers or driver's license numbers. But that would not help by itself in this case. County tax records are public records. And they would have the make/model/year of all vehicles owned, but not the plate number. But a private investigator could (and would...for a fee) find all cars fitting the make/model/year (estimate) in the county, drive by each of those houses with the plate number, and cross-reference to the address to determine who the registered owner is. Combined with the surveillance video, an ID of the actual driver/thief could be obtained legally in this manner pretty easily. If it was the guy's brother or neighbor or co-worker borrowing his car, then there might be one or two more steps involved. But you get the idea. Of course, if the vehicle is garaged, then you're at a dead end. A PI cannot trespass or violate any reasonable expectation of privacy. And he/she sure cann't commit a B&E!

For the cops to ignore this is ridiculous. Statistically, there is a very high likelihood that someone who does an intentional drive-off from a gas station is also involved in a LOT of other more significant illegal activity.

[crappiefisherman]

How much will it cost said business to prosecute said drive off offender.Is it worth it or is it easier to make the clerk pay it.Also if the clerk was told to collect before turning on the pump, dang it it is indeed the employees fault,No one said being in business , one never had to make hard decisions.Im betting no more drive offs occur on this persons watch.And that will make a better more responsible employee.

[Danoinark]

Unless it was a juvenile who did the gas-n-git.

Exactly! Prosecution is unlikely for said officer, but a reprimand for a first offense or a firing if there are other issues as well ARE likely outcomes. The reprimand could come with forfeiture of pay, demotion, etc. Not something I want to happen to someone who did me a favor.

I deal with this every day and here is an example.

A personal friend of a local dispatcher was asked to run criminal background checks on people who applied at the friends business. When it was discovered, the dispatcher had the option of quitting or being prosecuted. Its not the local police department that does the prosecution its the in this case the Arkansas Crime Information Commission...the provider of the data base. The Department could also have had its access to the data base cut off.

Dano

[Chief Grey Bear]

Chief I understand what you are wanting to do, but the problem comes when the prosecuting attorney asks Ducky where he got the license info. And if they wanted to pursue it..then all they do is run a recap of that license plate and see what agency and officer ran it. They could track that info down and even prosecute the officer. I wouldn't step into that situation. It's easier for ducky to take the plate number to the prosecutor. It has nothing to do with the driving record. Its the running of ANYTHING without jurisidiction and authorization that will get you in trouble. I wouldn't go there. Dan

What is the difference in going to the courthouse to find out who owns any piece of property in the county? A car is property is it not? Plates are run all the time with out a person getting pulled over.

There is nothing illeagle that I know of in having a plate ran. I think maybe we just better agree to disagree on this issue. But I will say it is being done more than you may think.

MrDucky- If you have officers that regularly come into one of your stores just ask if he can run it for you. Should not be any problem.

I deal with this every day and here is an example.

A personal friend of a local dispatcher was asked to run criminal background checks on people who applied at the friends business. When it was discovered, the dispatcher had the option of quitting or being prosecuted. Its not the local police department that does the prosecution its the in this case the Arkansas Crime Information Commission...the provider of the data base. The Department could also have had its access to the data base cut off.

Dano

Criminal background checks and driving records are a total different beast than what we are talking about. All he wants is who owns the car. The rest can be done by the DA.

[The Caddis]

QUOTE(Chief Greybear @ May 25 2007, 09:29 AM)

Did you see on the news here a while back those kids that stole a loaded donut truck? No kidding it really happend! They had every law enforcement officer chasing this truck. I think they got the electric chair.

When the cops caught up them, they had a glazed look about em.

[Growler]

My take on this situation is to look at Springfield stoplight cameras. You run a red light, camera takes picture of your plate. They look up registration info & mail you a ticket. Shouldn't be that hard for them to do the same for a drive-off, minus the ticket, just a summons to appear in court.

If you have no luck with the various officers and prosecutors, don't forget to register a complaint with the Attorney General. Just keep knocking on doors on higher floors til someone answers.

G

[Chief Grey Bear]

When the cops caught up them, they had a glazed look about em.

OH, thats funny. IIRC it happened in NYC or somewhere in that part of the country. I think it was a load of Krispy Kreams that was for a fund raiser. I do remember it was for a fund raiser.

[jdmidwest]

As more info comes out, nobody notices. Ducky says he was an old man with a clean car. He has photos and the license plate. How hard can the detective work be? Maybe the old man swiped a card and thought it went through? Maybe he thought it was paid for! Maybe he has oldtimers so bad and forgot to pay. I did that one time, even walked out of the C-store with a soda and was on the payphone with the office checking in when the helper started chewin butt wanting me to pay. My pager went off while in the store and I lost train of thought for a moment. I have also paid at the pump, then realized the pay at the pump was out of order and had to go in.

Needless to say, Barney should check it out and find what is going on. Maybe all the fuzz is going to the stream to bust the titties and beer this weekend!!

[trout fanatic]

As I understand it, the police department was contacted and stated that they would not pursue it. That does not mean that they won't file a report. Stealing gas is stealing and the police are duty bound to perform their functions. I would get a copy of this report and and the contact the city DA and take it from their. If you still don't get results you could also file civil charges against the offender (although in this case i really think the home office of the stores has to step up to the plate to enforce it-if not the drive-off problems will worsen

[jdmidwest]

Wait a minute, didn't Beeson say he was going to buy a car?

Where was he yesterday?