Ask A Licensed Private Investigator, Part 4

Part 4

Q: I've been told that California now allows 24-hour access to Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reports at $2 per record. How do I get in on this deal? It sounds too good to be true.

A: Actually, it is true. There's a minor catch, however. The first report you order will cost you $10,002 because you must be an 'authorized account' and pay a one-time vendor fee of $10,000 for that status. The good news is that there are no minimums and the service is round-the-clock. More information can be obtained by calling (916) 657-5582.

You can do this in a number of states, and most have similar start-up fees. This is partly to restrict access to all but large users-companies that are adequately insured and bonded. Ever since actress Rebecca Schaefer was murdered by someone who easily traced her home address via a driver's license search, restrictions have been tightened, and the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act is now in full effect. This means most independent investigators can't directly obtain DMV reports.

Q: We've been trying to serve a summons to appear on a noncooperative witness. He moved, and, try as we might, we can't learn his new location. The old neighbors don't know anything, and the post office has no forwarding address. Our only lead is a recording at his old phone number that gives us his new phone number. When we call the new number, we always reach his answering machine, and he never returns our calls.

A: First, ascertain the area of town that the new phone number is assigned to by either calling the phone company (who will give you the geographical boundaries) or doing some finger-walking through the phone directory. Then look up the main pizza chain in the witness's new neighborhood.

Some national carry-out pizza chains answer their phones, 'X's Pizza. Will this be carry-out or delivery?' If you say it's for delivery, they'll request your phone number. When you reel off the witness's new phone number, you might be asked, 'Are you still at 123 Main Street?' It might be illegal to order the pizza, so as soon as I have the address I usually say, 'I'll have to call you right back; I have a call on my other line,' and then I hang up.

These in-house computer banks are incredible. Besides using the phone to get an address, on occasion an investigator can walk in and, using a bit of subterfuge, ask the clerk for the address. Consider how many moving parties reward friends who help with pizza and beer. In many cases, the pizzeria will have the address belonging to a phone number within hours of the phone's installation, not to mention otherwise unlisted numbers.