Occ. Code  6644200

MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR, GRADE 16	6644200
SENIOR MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR, GRADE 20	6644300
SUPERVISOR MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATION, GRADE 23	6644500
CHIEF MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR, M-1	6644600

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

Positions in this series independently perform a variety of criminal investigations, field inspections, inventories of seized properties, odometer fraud, identity verification, fraudulent document detection, vehicle theft examinations and security evaluations.  Incumbents provide technical expertise and participate in joint operations with various federal, State, county and municipal law enforcement agencies for the purpose of combating auto theft and the production and/or use of fraudulent documents.  Incumbents enforce and administer the Vehicle and Traffic Law, the Commissioners Rules and Regulations, the Public Officers Law, the General Business Law, the Penal Law and the Criminal Procedure Law.  These positions are only found in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

            MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR: performance level; conducts investigations and collects evidentiary material related to criminal offenses involving automobile theft and production and/or use of fraudulent documents.

SENIOR MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR:  first supervisory level; acts as supervisor over a group of Motor Vehicle Investigators and clerical staff within an office or region at a vehicle examination site.

SUPERVISOR MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATION:  second supervisory level; coordinates, directs and supervises the activities of lower level investigators and clerical staff within a region and/or unit.

CHIEF MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR:  managerial level; manages all activities for a specialized program or group of investigative units or a region.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

            MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR

Under the general direction of a Senior Motor Vehicle Investigator:

Conducts field investigations and examines evidence.

· Conducts investigations related to odometer fraud and identity theft and collects the material related to criminal offenses involving automobile theft and production and/or use of fraudulent documents.

• Assists with Social Security verification for all New York State drivers licenses and non-driver identification documents.

· Examines and inventories vehicles as well as major and minor component parts seized or located on property placed under seizure by the DMV and/or other law enforcement agencies for the purpose of identifying evidence needed for criminal prosecution.

· Identifies alterations and forgeries of vehicle identification numbers by conducting chemical and forensic document analysis to restore and identify defaced or obliterated markings.

· Conducts multi-jurisdictional investigations into the organized crime involvement in automobile theft, odometer fraud and the production of fraudulent documents.

· Obtains information on suspected individuals or organizations through electronic surveillance or other unconventional methods including undercover representation and stakeouts.

· Interviews suspects in person and by phone.

· Arrests, confines and transports subjects of investigation, and processes them through central booking and the arraignment process.

Conducts departmental investigations and evaluations.

• Investigates threats directed toward DMV employees and property.

• Conducts or assists law enforcement officials in the investigation of break-ins and other security violations of DMV operations.

• Conducts security reviews of motor vehicle issuing offices and central offices, as well as private companies manufacturing or issuing motor vehicle documents.  Makes security recommendations as a result of these reviews.

• Conducts background investigations of firms being considered for contracts awarded by DMV.

• Examines salvage, out-of-state vehicles, vehicles registered with fraudulent and/or questionable proofs of ownership for the identification of stolen vehicles as well as major and minor component parts.

• Compares questionable driver license I.D. photos forwarded by DMV issuing offices for investigation to determine if intentional disguises are being employed or if discrepancies are due to duration of time between photos or other factors.

• Analyzes a chain of ownership for vehicle sales in suspected odometer rollback cases to trace true ownership that may be concealed through fraudulent documents.

Provides technical expertise and training.

• Provides fraudulent document and automobile theft prevention training to DMV and county issuing office personnel and federal, State and local law enforcement agencies. 

• Provides responses to technical questions involving inquiries related to proofs of identity and/or ownership, immigration issues, out-of-state abstracts, and out-of-state and foreign licenses.

• Researches documentation with federal, State and local agencies as well as foreign consulates.

Develops and prosecutes criminal cases.

· Develops Enterprise Corruption cases, pursuant to Section 460 of the New York State Penal Law, involving traditional organized crime groups and/or non-traditional criminal enterprises.

· Communicates large-scale felony cases to local, State or federal prosecutors; and acting as a case agent, works in conjunction with prosecutors from the intake stage through trial stage as required.

· Provides expert testimony in State and federal courts and before grand juries regarding investigations conducted involving auto theft, production and/or use of fraudulent documents and other motor vehicle matters.

· Provides assistance to county district attorneys, states attorneys and U.S. attorneys in the preparation and presentation of criminal cases.

• Interviews witnesses to determine facts and builds criminal offense cases.

SENIOR MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR

Under the general direction of a Supervisor Motor Vehicle Investigation:

Supervises field investigations and the examination of evidence.

· Coordinates, supervises and conducts investigations related to criminal offenses involving automobile theft and the production and/or use of fraudulent documents.

· Supervises and conducts examinations and inventories of vehicles as well as major and minor component parts while ensuring that the rules of evidence and established procedures are followed at all times.

· Oversees and participates in the examination of salvage vehicles and high theft profile vehicles. Determines if vehicles registered with fraudulent or questionable proofs of ownership as well as major and minor component parts are stolen.

· Oversees and performs chemical and forensic analyses to restore and identify defaced and obliterated vehicle and part markings utilizing the latest forensic testing techniques.

· Supervises and conducts complex and multi-jurisdictional investigations concerning the involvement of organized crime in automobile theft and fraudulent documents.

· Develops strategies for and coordinates complex undercover and surveillance operations.

· Supervises, coordinates and participates in large-scale odometer tampering cases involving hundreds of vehicles that requires interaction with federal, State, local and out-of-state agencies.

· Ensures that staff receives training regarding types of security features contained in proof of identity and vehicle ownership documentation issued by federal, State and local agencies throughout the country as well as documentation issued by foreign governments and private companies.

Provides technical expertise and training.

• Provides expert testimony at the more complex criminal and administrative proceedings involving vehicle identification, departmental procedures, and the validity of hundreds of documents related to identification and vehicle ownership.

· Oversees and provides fraudulent document and automobile theft prevention training to DMV and county issuing office personnel and local, State and federal law enforcement agencies.

· Provides the more complex depositions to out-of-state authorities regarding fraudulent documents.

· Responds to the more complex technical inquiries related to proofs of identity and/or ownership, immigration issues, out-of-state abstracts, and out-of-state and foreign licenses.

· Advises staff of technological advances in vehicle manufacturing, identification, and marking technologies, as well as security devices and Department initiatives.

Develops and prosecutes criminal cases.

· Informs federal, State and local prosecutors of large-scale felony cases.

· Supervises and/or participates in the construction of intricate Enterprise Corruption cases against organized crime groups using specialized investigative techniques created for Enterprise Corruption investigations.

· Represents DMV at Traffic Violations Bureau hearings and other administrative hearings.  Presents evidence and witnesses and cross-examines respondent witnesses without the presence of legal counsel.

· Provides expert testimony in State and federal courts and before grand juries for the more complex investigations involving auto theft, production and/or use of fraudulent documents and other motor vehicle matters.

· Obtains information that is crucial to building cases through interaction with lawyers; local, State and federal prosecutors; officials and representatives from the automobile and dismantling industry; motor vehicle administrators from New York and other states; and witnesses who are sometimes hostile and their attorneys.

            SUPERVISOR MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATION

Under the direction of a Chief Motor Vehicle Investigator:

• Coordinates, directs and supervises the activities of Senior Motor Vehicle Investigators, Motor Vehicle Investigators and clerical staff within a region and/or unit.

• Directs vehicle theft and document forgery investigations relating to the registration and licensing activities of the Department.

• Determines investigative priorities according to importance and workload and delegates assignments accordingly.

• Determines the nature and scope of investigations and plans strategies to be employed.

• Reviews work to ensure that proper investigative techniques are used and procedures are followed for surveillances, interrogations, arrests, and preparation of reports and presentation of cases for prosecution.

• Reviews operational procedures and requirements for compliance with the Commissioners directives, and ensures the smooth and efficient operation of a region, and/or unit as well as the integrity of investigative personnel and records.

• Conducts and/or coordinates confidential investigations of a sensitive nature on behalf of DMV management.

• Directs, supervises and conducts background investigations of persons being considered for appointment to sensitive positions within the Department of Motor Vehicles.

• Establishes and maintains lines of communication with federal, State and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and other units in the Department to convey and obtain information and facts relevant to investigations. 

• Monitors staff interaction to ensure cooperation in joint investigative activities and resolves multi-jurisdictional problems and sensitivities.

• Meets with prosecutors such as U.S. attorneys or district attorneys to prepare for the prosecution of major or sensitive cases.

• Conducts, supervises and assigns personnel to evaluate DMV offices for proper security; makes appropriate recommendations and assures recommendations are implemented.

• Provides information and makes presentations to public organizations, law enforcement agencies and DMV employees to communicate the Departments investigative goals and activities and to foster continued cooperation.

• Prepares narrative and statistical reports of investigative activities and programs for management review.

• Conducts review of all Departmental registration and licensing activities, document forgery investigations and vehicle theft prevention and recovery efforts to ensure compliance with applicable federal, State and DMV laws, rules and regulations.

• Manages the investigative resources required to monitor the registration and licensing activities of the Department.

• Coordinates and assigns requests for investigative assistance from State, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, and the vehicle theft recovery efforts of the Department and the automotive and insurance industries.

• Communicates and enforces Department firearms policies and procedures.

• Prepares budget reports and makes recommendations based on current program operations and projected program needs; assists with preparation of the annual budget.

            CHIEF MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR

Under the direction of the Director Motor Vehicle Investigations:

• Establishes and maintains lines of communication with high-ranking officials from numerous federal, State and local law enforcement agencies.

• Approves and coordinates joint investigations with numerous outside law enforcement agencies often involving interstate organized crime schemes.

• Initiates and participates in sensitive asset seizure proceedings resulting from investigations.

• Identifies the need for new legislation and makes recommendations to the Director Motor Vehicle Investigations; interprets proposed legislation and legislative mandates and determines potential impact on investigative activities. 

• Oversees and develops the curricula for the training of District Attorneys and State and federal prosecutors regarding identity theft, fraudulent documents, civil forfeiture laws, and the laws regulating the sale of salvage vehicles and parts.

• Communicates with federal, State and local elected officials as well as attorneys representing victims of motor vehicle related fraud for the purpose of explaining civil forfeiture laws and regulations, constituent rights and monetary reimbursement procedures.

• Responds to numerous sensitive communications from the public, elected officials and attorneys regarding complaints of illegally obtained driver licenses and registrations.

• Initiates and coordinates the dissemination of information for inclusion in press releases and press conferences.

• Oversees and authorizes all NYC pistol permit requests and mandatory certifications for all investigators. Updates firearms qualification and policy and ensures that they are in compliance with current Division of Criminal Justice Services policies; certifies Peace Officer status for all investigators, and oversees the employee compliance with mandatory training and qualification requirements.

• Conducts research and advises DMV managers and executive management on document security feature enhancements such as holograms, biometrics and encriptive bar codes.

• Ensures that fraudulent document training and guidance are provided to all State and county issuing office employees as well as pertinent Central Office employees.

• Reviews building security evaluations of State, county and Private Partner facilities and makes written recommendations regarding security enhancements to respective facility managers or owners; ensures that all security recommendations are complied with.

• Prepares budget requests; provides for the training, development and evaluation of staff; and reviews, selects, and obtains a variety of specialized investigative equipment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

     MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR

Open Competitive: a Bachelors Degree and satisfactory completion of a one year traineeship or a Bachelors Degree and one year of full-time paid experience in a law enforcement or investigative position primarily involving field investigations and the preparation of detailed narrative reports and evidence to be used in criminal prosecution.  Candidates are, in addition, required to:  meet physical and medical standards; possess and maintain a drivers license valid in the State of New York; be able to carry, maintain and qualify with a Department issued firearm; and meet citizenship and State residency requirements related to peace officer status.

          SENIOR MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Motor Vehicle Investigator.

SUPERVISOR MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATION

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Senior Motor Vehicle Investigator.

CHIEF MOTOR VEHICLE INVESTIGATOR

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Supervisor Motor Vehicle Investigation.

Date:  11/05

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications are those, which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.