NCIC Specific File Requirements: Stolen Vehicles and License Plates 3

Question 1

When entering a stolen vehicle into NCIC, what should an agency do if the VIN has been altered or removed from the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Document the known partial VIN or vehicle identification information and enter the most complete record possible, noting VIN alteration in appropriate fields

Answer

When a VIN is altered or removed, the agency should enter as much identifying information as possible, noting the VIN alteration, to create a useful record even without a complete, intact VIN.

Question 2

What does NCIC policy require when a vehicle is recovered but is considered a total loss before it is cancelled from the Stolen Vehicle file?

Accepted Answer

The record must be cancelled immediately upon confirmed recovery, even if the vehicle is a total loss and will be disposed of

Answer

Regardless of the recovered vehicle's condition, the NCIC Stolen Vehicle record must be cancelled immediately upon confirmed recovery.

Question 3

Under what circumstances would an officer query both the Stolen Vehicle file and the Stolen License Plate file separately during a traffic stop?

Accepted Answer

When the officer wants to check whether the plates are legitimately associated with the vehicle or may have been stolen from another vehicle

Answer

Querying both files separately allows an officer to determine not only whether the vehicle itself is stolen, but also whether the license plates on the vehicle may have been stolen from a different vehicle — a tactic used to disguise stolen vehicles.

Question 4

What is the significance of a 'VIN cloning' situation for NCIC record management?

Accepted Answer

VIN cloning is when a stolen vehicle is given the VIN of a legitimately titled vehicle, creating potential false positives or false negatives in NCIC queries

Answer

VIN cloning involves applying the VIN of a legitimately titled vehicle to a stolen vehicle, creating situations where an NCIC query may not return a stolen hit even though the vehicle is stolen.

Question 5

When a law enforcement agency seizes a vehicle suspected of being stolen but cannot confirm the VIN due to damage, what investigative resource can assist in recovering the VIN?

Accepted Answer

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), manufacturer confidential VIN locations, and forensic VIN recovery techniques

Answer

The NICB, manufacturer-specified confidential VIN locations, and forensic techniques can help recover or confirm a VIN when the primary VIN plate has been removed or damaged.

NCIC - National Crime Information Center Certification Practice Test

NCIC - National Crime Information Center Certification Practice Test

NCIC Specific File Requirements: Stolen Vehicles and License Plates 3