Cops & lawyers: Seeking support for a potential Miami 911 purchase

[SouthCoastPhil]

(I also posted this in the Marketplace section)

(maybe "lawyers, guns and money"?)

;-)

I am looking at a car in Miami (964 C2) so am wondering if anyone can provide guidance on the following:

How do I get a FL title looked at to make sure that its valid? (I ran a carfax and all seemed OK)

Where do I find law enforcement resources who can do a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) check on the seller? What do I need to provide to them? (I'm not sure that I'd be too happy to provide my SS#, for example, to an out-of-town buyer, if the show were on the other foot.)

Are any of you local Pelicaners willing to do a look-see for me and maybe send some pics?

TIA for your help,

Phil

[brads911sc]

Why would you need info on the seller? If I was selling my car, that would be none of your business. In addition to Carfax, Have a good PPI done by an independant shop of your choice. Agree on a price. and Buy the car. The background of the seller is not relevant in my opinion.

[SouthCoastPhil]

Thanks Brad. I had never considered the "valid title" nor NCIC issues until tPhilhey were brought up in a phone call I had this morning.

[brads911sc]

I can see a valid title. Didnt mean to sound harsh. Follow-up question.. What would you find out about a seller that would make you not want the car if it passed a good PPI?

[jaybird840]

NCIC regulations forbid running a criminal history check on anyone other than for a law enforcement purpose. Also, release of the information would result in revocation of the Law Enforcement Officer's NCIC access. I would think that running the VIN to make sure that the car is not reported as stolen would qualify as a "law enforcement purpose" to me, and would not violate NCIC guidelines. A friendly call to 3-1-1 or the local police or sherriff's office should do the trick. I would do it for anyone who called in my jurisdiction. Hope that helps!

--Jaybird (cop in Austin, Tx)

[john walker's workshop]

you could also check the local municipal court records online. public info.

[SouthCoastPhil]

Thanks Jaybird. I'll ring Miami PD and will LYK how they respond.

[RWebb]

& state court - tho they may not be online

various online service will provide info on anyone for a fee - even for a check of apt. renters

but again, do you really care?

use a 3rd party to xfer funds if you want to do a deal long distance

[jpnovak]

In TX you can call the Tax office/license plate and title section to run a VIN. They have gladly verified a VIN and reported it to be free of leins, not-stolen etc. I bought a parts car with bill-of-sale only (no title) and verified the VIN for my own assurance.

[Grady Clay]

All good afvice.

Originally Posted by jaybird840

NCIC regulations forbid running a criminal history check on anyone other than for a law enforcement purpose. Also, release of the information would result in revocation of the Law Enforcement Officer's NCIC access. I would think that running the VIN to make sure that the car is not reported as stolen would qualify as a "law enforcement purpose" to me, and would not violate NCIC guidelines. A friendly call to 3-1-1 or the local police or sherriff's office should do the trick. I would do it for anyone who called in my jurisdiction. Hope that helps!

--Jaybird (cop in Austin, Tx)

(my boldface)


I think that is what Phil is looking for – to run the VIN through NCIC to confirm it is not stolen. I agree that is a valid law enforcement purpose.

I suspect Phil will need to provide identification (driver’s license). If there is a ‘hit’ on NCIC, the FBI (who maintain the database) and the requesting law enforcement agency need to follow up and inspect the car. This prevents the crooks from checking the stolen car they are selling to see if it is listed in the database.

(As an aside, we have a case here in Colorado where a Federal law enforcement officer used NCIC in a political attempt to impugn our current Governor (a former DA) during his campaign for election a few years ago. It seems the officer’s boss may have lied in court and got an acquittal. Quite a number may now go to jail.)


Here is a good Pelican thread.
the buying process


Phil, ask the seller to fax you a B&W copy of the Florida title with the word “COPY” across the face. You can then fax that to the FL DMV to confirm it is valid.

On every 911 it is imperative to have all the VINs inspected by someone knowledgeable. Selling a 911 with a physical VIN inspection by law enforcement and a confirmable CoA from Porsche helps a sale and can raise the value. Provenance counts.

Best,
Grady

[mossguy]

When I opened this thread, I thought the OP might have been concerned about drugs and/or drug residue in the car. If I bought this car, I would be thoroughly annoyed if it were confiscated by the law after a minor traffic stop during which the drug dog identified the car as "contaminated" ( for want of a better word[s]).

Best,
Tom

[Gogar]

Let's just talk about Miami stereotypes for a minute.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Let's just talk about Miami stereotypes for a minute.

No stereotypes! I lived there for 2 years, every single person there drove (stolen) Porsches, did copious amounts of coke, and then sold said coke stained stolen cars to other states so they could upgrade to coke stained Bentleys.

Everyone.

[Grady Clay]

Interesting…

I think Tom & Mike bring up an important part of a through PPI. Take the 911 past local law enforcement with a ‘drug sniffing’ dog. A Pre-Purchase (drug) Inspection.

Imagine driving to the airport in your ‘new-to-you’ 911, parking and getting hit on by a drug dog while waiting for your boarding pass. I suspect just sitting in a contaminated car could set off the alarm noses.

When the 911 was new, there was a compartment in front known as the “gas heater compartment”. Someplace it became known as the ‘Smuggler’s box”. South Florida perhaps?

Is this just a South Florida issue? I think not.

Provenance counts.

Best,
Grady

[Pazuzu]

I bought an '85 Toyota 4x4 when I was in AZ, it had been confiscated from a border runner after he got arrested. I did tear all of the body panels off of that thing, and did find some...debris...

That was after getting pulled over the first night because the local state police recognized the truck, what with the shotgun hole in the bed from an angry rancher

OK, back to PPIs!

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Let's just talk about Miami stereotypes for a minute.

If only one of every 600 or so, used Porsches sold in Miami contained drug residue, I wouldn't want it to be the car that I bought.

I think I would take the same precautions with a purchase of any used car anywhere.

Best,
Tom

[brads911sc]

You are all talking about running the VIN through a database.. correct... not running information on the seller. Could be the current seller or even a past seller at some point in the cars history. Dont think a simple search of the "seller" is going to get you there... what you really want is a car search in the various crime databases.

[benp911]

What about a white testarossa in MIAMI?
oh wait that was a TV show!

[docrodg]

Scary thought about the airport... I travel every week and now I am wondering if someone might do something similar in the rental car.

[Gogar]

IMO you're about 1million times more likely to find drug residue in a 90's Hyundai, a modern civilian Caprice Classic, or a Cadillac Escalade than in an early '90's Porsche.