Free NCIC Specific File Requirements: Stolen Vehicles and License Plates Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When entering a stolen vehicle into the NCIC Vehicle File, what is the most critical piece of identifying information required?
- License Plate Number (LIC)
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (Correct answer)
- Vehicle Color (VCO)
- Owner's Name (OWN)
Correct answer: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the unique, permanent identifier for a vehicle and is the primary key for the NCIC Vehicle File record. While the license plate is important, it can be easily changed, making the VIN the most reliable identifier.
Question 2: An agency recovers a stolen license plate but not the vehicle it was attached to. What is the correct procedure for the NCIC record?
- Clear the entire stolen vehicle record.
- Modify the stolen vehicle record to add a supplemental note about the plate.
- Clear the stolen plate record only, leaving the vehicle record active. (Correct answer)
- Enter a new record for the recovered plate.
Correct answer: Clear the stolen plate record only, leaving the vehicle record active.
The license plate and the vehicle are separate stolen articles, even if entered together. If only the plate is recovered, only the 'stolen plate' status should be cleared or located, as the vehicle itself remains stolen and its record must remain active.
Question 3: What is the standard retention period for a stolen vehicle record in NCIC after the date of entry?
- 1 year
- The remainder of the year of entry plus 4 years. (Correct answer)
- 5 years from the date of entry.
- Indefinitely until recovered.
Correct answer: The remainder of the year of entry plus 4 years.
NCIC policy dictates a specific retention period for stolen vehicle records to keep the database current and manageable. The standard is the remainder of the year it was entered, plus an additional four full years, after which it is purged if not updated.
Question 4: A vehicle is stolen with a temporary, paper license plate. How should this be handled for an NCIC entry?
- The vehicle cannot be entered until a permanent plate is assigned.
- Enter the vehicle using the VIN but leave the LIC field blank.
- Enter 'TEMP' or 'PAPER' in the License Plate (LIC) field.
- Enter the vehicle using the VIN and enter the temporary plate number in the LIC field. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Enter the vehicle using the VIN and enter the temporary plate number in the LIC field.
Temporary plates are valid identifiers and should be entered into the LIC field just like a permanent plate. This information is crucial for a potential roadside stop and identification of the vehicle, even though the VIN remains the primary identifier.
Question 5: Which of the following circumstances would justify an entry into the NCIC Vehicle File for a vehicle that is not stolen?
- The vehicle was used in a minor traffic violation.
- The owner is delinquent on their loan payments.
- The vehicle is sought in connection with a felony. (Correct answer)
- The vehicle has been impounded for parking violations.
Correct answer: The vehicle is sought in connection with a felony.
The Vehicle File can be used for non-stolen vehicles if they are associated with a serious crime. This includes vehicles used in a felony, associated with a missing person (AMBER Alert) or a wanted person, or vehicles that need to be located for evidentiary purposes.
Question 6: When entering a stolen commercial vehicle or heavy equipment, what other field besides the VIN is critically important for identification?
- Company name painted on the door.
- The Owner-Applied Number (OAN). (Correct answer)
- The vehicle's gross weight.
- The color of the trailer.
Correct answer: The Owner-Applied Number (OAN).
Commercial vehicles, trailers, and heavy equipment often have an Owner-Applied Number (OAN) for asset tracking. This number is a key secondary identifier in NCIC and can be crucial for recovery if the VIN is altered, missing, or inaccessible.
Free NCIC Specific File Requirements: Stolen Vehicles and License Plates Questions and Answers 1
When entering a stolen vehicle into the NCIC Vehicle File, what is the most critical piece of identifying information required?