61159741.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER TITLE ACCREDITATION Stolen & Recovered Vehicle, Vehicle 61.4.3.c Part, and License Plate Procedures PRIOR REVISIONS 04/29/02; 10/24/05, PROPONENT UNIT 02/29/12, 11/27/19 Criminal Investigations Division ATTACHMENT: NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES 40.16 07/01/1998 09/17/2024 10 I. PURPOSE: This Order establishes procedures for investigating and reporting stolen and recovered vehicles, vehicle parts and license plates. II. POLICY: Department members shall rigorously investigate incidents of stolen vehicles and vehicle parts, and instances of stolen license plates / decals. III. DEFINITION: A. Motor Vehicle: Any self-propelled vehicle not operated on rails or guide-way (does not include bicycles or mopeds). B. Note: Even though Florida law does not define a moped as a motor vehicle, the NCIC code manual states that mopeds are entered into the vehicle file, and classified as a motorcycle. Therefore, ONLY for the purposes of entering mopeds into F/NCIC are they to be considered motor vehicles. IV. PROCEDURE: A. Receiving Stolen Vehicle Complaints: The Communications call-taker or the Front Desk person receiving the report shall screen the call to verify the circumstances and jurisdiction of the theft. B. Dispatch: Communications personnel shall prioritize the complaint based upon the circumstances of the crime. 1. In-Progress or Just-Occurred: Sworn members will be dispatched to the area/location of the offense to attempt to apprehend the offenders and recover the vehicle. 2. After the Fact: The complainant will be requested to stand by at the scene for a Police Service Technician or an officer. 3. BOLO Information:\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT i. A [limited] BOLO (Be On the Look Out) for the vehicle shall be dispatched to all field units when the complaint is received. ii. Information shall be updated as additional information is received and verified. C. Initial Investigation/ Responsibilities: While conducting a preliminary stolen vehicle investigation, a member shall verify that the vehicle has been stolen (rather than towed, repossessed, borrowed, etc.), and, if so, that it occurred in the City of Gainesville. The investigating member shall: 1. Contact Communications to request that personnel check the tow log to ensure that the vehicle has not been reported as towed or repossessed. 2. If the Communications person reports that the vehicle is not on the tow log, the investigating member shall note the date and time, and the ID# and name of the advising Communications person in the investigative report. 3. Tactfully ask the owner about the lien holder and the status of the payments (if applicable) for the vehicle. 4. Inquire as to the vehicle’s last known location (in case the complainant may have forgotten where it was parked), personal relationships and the possibility that a known person may be in possession of the vehicle. 5. Members shall inform persons making stolen vehicle reports that whoever is found driving the vehicle will be arrested for grand theft auto. D. Reporting Responsibilities: Members taking a stolen vehicle report shall conduct a thorough investigation, and shall: 1. Obtain information surrounding the circumstances of the theft, to include, but not be limited to: i. Location of theft; ii. Year, make, model, color, and other identifying characteristics of the vehicle; iii. License plate number, decal number (if applicable) state, and expiration date; a Some states issue two license plates; if this applies, include in the report. b Verify whether the tag reported stolen is assigned to the stolen vehicle. iv. VIN (vehicle identification number); v. Conditions and surrounding circumstances of the vehicle at the time of theft, such as whether: a The keys were in it, or if anyone else had keys to it; 2\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT b There may have been any witnesses, and, if so, what they may have seen; c It was able to be locked; d It was running low on gas; e It had any mechanical trouble that could inhibit its travel; f Any other details that could contribute to its identification and recovery. 2. Verify proof-of-ownership. i. The vehicle registration, title, or some other legal proof of ownership (such as a rental/lease contract or power of attorney) can serve as verification of ownership. ii. In the absence of other supporting documentation, members may conduct a registration inquiry and use the computer document to serve as a proof of ownership. 3. Confirm the complainant’s identity; i. Verify that the complainant is the owner or the owner’s authorized representative. ii. A complainant who is not the registered owner must have legal documentation (such as power of attorney, notarized letter) which authorizes him/her to make a report on behalf of the owner. 4. Issue a BOLO for the vehicle (or an updated BOLO, if applicable); 5. Complete an Investigative Report; i. When possible, attach a photocopy of the owner’s (or complainant's) identification and proof of ownership to the Investigative Report. ii. Computer registration print-outs should always be attached to the report to document ownership. 6. Complete the appropriate FCIC/NCIC Data Entry, copy and paste into a message to records. Records will acknowledge the message; the officer shall cut and paste this acknowledgement in the notes area of the property or vehicle section i. Records personnel will enter the stolen vehicle information into FCIC/NCIC. ii. Records will provide an NIC #. Copy and paste the number provided by records in the NIC # box E. Vehicles Which Appear Stolen (Theft Cannot be Verified): Whenever a member comes into contact with a vehicle (abandoned, vehicle crash, etc.) that may have been the subject of theft (looks hot-wired, VIN plate altered / removed, etc.), but the theft cannot immediately be verified, the member will make every effort to identify and contact the 3\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT registered owner. In most cases, it will be appropriate (with supervisory approval) to tow the vehicle. 1. Verify Registration / Contact Owner: i. If the vehicle identification information (tag, VIN, etc.) is intact, and the tag and VIN agree with the vehicle registration, the member shall contact the owner to determine the status of the vehicle. ii. If an owner identifies the vehicle as stolen, the investigating member shall take an original stolen/recovered vehicle report, and have the owner produce the proper paperwork and fill out the proper forms. The investigating member shall proceed with the recovery investigation as outlined in Section IV, F (Below). 2. Vehicles Without VIN Plates: Removal of VIN plates is unlawful, and vehicles without VIN plates should be immediately towed, pending further investigation. i. If the wrecker driver locates the VIN, the member shall run a registration / stolen check on the number, verify that it identifies the vehicle and owner, and attempt to contact the owner. However, the vehicle shall still be towed. a The VIN identified by the wrecker driver shall be noted on the tow report. b If a VIN is not located or identified by the wrecker driver, note this as well. c Be sure not to confuse the engine number with the VIN. ii. The investigating member shall contact an on-duty detective, or leave a message for the Auto Theft Detective so that a member of the Criminal Investigations Division is aware of the vehicle tow and need for VIN verification. F. Recovered Stolen Vehicles: 1. General Responsibilities: Members shall conduct an investigation and complete a report, to include the following information: i. Location where vehicle was recovered; ii. Description of the vehicle (year, make, model, color, license number, Vehicle Identification Number [VIN]); iii. Condition of the vehicle (list missing parts/damage to the vehicle); iv. Contents of the vehicle; v. Information on occupants, or arr