How to identify car owner by license plate?

[JethroB]

You might try Googling the VIN if you can get that close (abandon vehicle). I tried that a couple of years ago on my own auto and was unpleasantly surprised.

 

[ponytug]

Our local sheriff actively solicits having us call in vehicles and issues. He says that

1. It helps them know what is going on
2. It helps them get budgetary support (more calls means that their bosses understand that there are issues)
3. It helps them have a reason to be seen in the area which deters criminals
4. They don't want untrained citizens getting involved in something that escalates in unfortunate ways

One point: the plate is nice, but the extra details, make, model, color, and if possible the description of the occupants helps them enormously.

In return, we hear about the issues that they are seeing and how we can help them keep the peace. Together we have managed to get some crime spots greatly reduced. We used to have a place where the local gangs hung out for drinking, graffiti and worse. After a couple of years, it has almost entirely been cleaned up. Almost. I also have to say that they have become much more responsive now that they know us.

YMMV...

All the best,

Peter

 

[stuckmotor]

You might try Googling the VIN if you can get that close (abandon vehicle). I tried that a couple of years ago on my own auto and was unpleasantly surprised.

Thank you, Jethro.

 

[Jaeger]

I'd post it and put trail cams up to document then maybe leave some old scrap 2x12's out with nails in them that you forget to pick up from the "parking area"

 

[turnkey4099]

Call LE and explain that you don't need LE on scene, just want to know who is parking there. That works. I was a duispatcher and also had occasion to do the same thing. Just asking for the owner of the plate with no need for LE will do it, you might have to explain why you want it.

 

[cqaigy2]

I had a pickup park on my place, kinda back in the brush, called non-emergency sheriff number to report it, they switched me to dispatch. The dispatch person said,"I don't want to alarm you, but stay inside and lock your doors", i said 'i was doing fine, till you got to the part where you said, I don't want to alarm you." She said, 'well don't go over to the vehicle, 'again too late, nobodies around'. She jokingly said, 'it must be a guy thing' I said maybe that and 10mm.

Anyway, it turned out as stolen, deputy showed up in less 20 minutes, turned out he had been nearby. Tow truck showed up and they towed it away. In talking to the deputy, he said probably what happened, truck was stolen from up north Tacoma area, and they were probably driving to the casino, nearby, probably got spooked and dumped it here. Apparently not too uncommon. I'm guessing the person was thinking they were driving up into the Capital Forest. Whoever, had a nice hike back to the main road, i'd image.

 

[stuckmotor]

Call LE and explain that you don't need LE on scene, just want to know who is parking there. That works. I was a duispatcher and also had occasion to do the same thing. Just asking for the owner of the plate with no need for LE will do it, you might have to explain why you want it.

Another helpful suggestion. Thank you.

 

[orezok]

A similar thing happened to my wife while I was at work. Our 700' drive is off a dirt road. Only a handful of houses are north of me so traffic is very light. One day a car parked at the end of our drive. Being pretty isolated out here my wife called the Sheriff to report. She has done this before for suspicious activity and they always respond. Soon a Sheriffs car shows up. Then a second and a third. The load the guy into one of the cars and take off. Later a tow truck comes and gets the car. About 10 minutes after they left, a Sheriff calls her and tells THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS GUY FOR A WHILE. The Sheriff never comes to the house to report but always calls. I guess they don't want anybody to know who reported the incident.

 

[plowhog]

Try docusearch.com

 

[Diggin It]

I have several friends who are disptachers or police officers, all of which are in different agencies and somehow I manage to randomly be talking to them on their personal phones when I happen to mention 'I'd sure like to know who license plate XXX-YHNG belongs to' and then randomly get a text that somehow they know the person belonging to that plate.

They can be fired and/or jailed for that. Access to that system is restricted, for official use only and everything is logged.

If a plate come back with a hit for a wanted person, what will they do if an officer is not on scene, or nearby enough to make the arrest? Officers have been killed on traffic stops or checking random seemingly abandoned vehicles simply running the plate and being surprised when they confront the occupant, or as the occupant returns.

There have been situations where plates are being monitored nationwide by alphabet agencies. They know the plate's being run almost as fast as the officer does. Dispatch will suddenly get a call telling them the black SUVs are rolling and not to let the vehicle go.