Departmental Examination Open To All Qualified Employees of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles

Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainee

† Salary Effective 4/1/14

* Due to the size of the candidate population for this test date, you may be assigned to either Saturday, May 17, 2014, or Sunday, May 18, 2014, to take your test. Your admission notice will tell you where and when you are scheduled to appear. You cannot request a day or time in advance or change your scheduled day or time.

An open-competitive examination is being held at the same time as this transition examination. Agencies have the option of making appointments from either list. If you meet the requirements for the open-competitive as well as the transition examination, you may wish to apply for both. The appropriate processing fee must be filed for each examination.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before May 17, 2014, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and have had three months permanent competitive, non competitive, or labor class service as follows:

Either 1. as an Investigative Aide or Investigative Aide (Spanish Language);
Or 2. in a position allocated to Grade 9 or higher and a bachelor's degree (obtained by August 31, 2014).

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before February 17, 2014, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Qualifying Experience for Appointment from the Eligible List

After completion of the service described below, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list:

Either 1. two years of service as an Investigative Aide or Investigative Aide (Spanish Language);
Or 2. one year of service in a position allocated to Grade 9 or higher and a bachelor's degree.

The Department of Motor Vehicles is actively recruiting candidates who speak the following languages for these positions. If you speak Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, or Russian Language and you meet the minimum qualifications, you are encouraged to apply to examination No. 00-273 as DMV anticipates making appointments to positions requiring language proficiency.

Notes

1. Important: As the processing fee is non-refundable, verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.
2. If you submit an application for No. 00-273 Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainee (Various Language Parenthetics), an application will automatically be submitted for No. 00-272 Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainee, at no additional cost.
3. Your degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S1MXT.
4. In accordance with Section 52.11 of the Civil Service Law, individuals serving permanently in the non competitive or labor class in a qualifying title (including those serving under Section 55-b/55-c) who otherwise meet the requirements for taking this examination are eligible to compete in this promotion examination.
5. This examination is being held on a transition and open-competitive basis. If you are admitted to the transition examination under anticipated eligibility (i.e., you do not have the required one year of Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List) and if you meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications, you may also be admitted to the open-competitive examination. To be admitted, you must apply for the open-competitive examination according to the instructions given on the open-competitive announcement. Once you meet the required one year of qualifying service for appointment from the transition list, you will not be eligible for appointment from the open-competitive eligible list.
6. This examination has special minimum qualifications in addition to the usual "time in service requirement." If you are filing on the Internet, please list all pertinent information online. If you are applying on examination application NYS-APP form, you must list all pertinent information on the application. Attach additional sheets if needed.
7. Travel Requirements: Appointment to these positions require extensive travel within a designated area of assignment. Appointees to these positions will be required to operate a motor vehicle. You must possess a driver's license valid in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter. Field work and travel expenses are reimbursed on a fixed schedule.
8. Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include distant visual acuity should be correctable to better than, or equal to 20/30 in each eye; if correction is required, binocular visual acuity must not be less that 20/70 without correction. You will also be evaluated for the ability to perform job specific tasks; color vision; specified hearing level; and neurological, cardiopulmonary, and musculoskeletal health. To obtain a complete statement of the physical and medical standards write to the Medical Review Unit, NYS Department of Civil Service, 55 Mohawk Street, Suite 201, Cohoes, NY 12047. A medical examination will be required prior to appointment, and you are responsible for payment of the clinical laboratory test fee. Appointees to this position may be required to undergo periodic medical examinations to reassess their ability to perform the essential duties of the position. Failure to meet the standards will result in your disqualification.
9. Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a drug screening test and are responsible for the clinical lab fee. Failure to meet the standards may result in your disqualification.
10. Psychological Evaluation: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a psychological evaluation to determine your fitness to perform the essential duties of the position.
11. If you expect to meet the educational requirements by August 31, 2014, you can be admitted to the written test but you cannot be considered for appointment until you submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirements to the New York State Department of Civil Service.
12. U.S. Citizenship and New York State Residence: is required at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter.
13. Firearms: Appointees will be required by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain and maintain a firearm permit from New York City, which requires an extensive background check, and to carry a firearm in the performance of their duties. You must successfully complete an assigned firearms training and annual re-qualification and display continued proficiency. Denial or loss of a firearm permit will result in removal from employment in this position.
14. Peace Officer Status: Motor Vehicle Investigators are peace officers and must be qualified to hold such office in accordance with state law. As such, they are required to attend NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services sanctioned peace officer training. Employment is dependent on continuous certification as a peace officer.
15. Background Investigation: Because of the nature of the position there is an investigative screening that may include a thorough character investigation. All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information will bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.††
16. Language Proficiency: If you are considered for appointment to a language parenthetic, you will be required to pass a performance test to demonstrate your proficiency in the language. Proficiency must be at a level that will ensure your ability to properly perform the duties of the position.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Evaluating information and evidence - These questions test for the ability to evaluate and draw conclusions from information and evidence. Each question consists of a set of facts and a conclusion based on the facts. The candidate must decide if the conclusion is warranted by the facts.
2. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
3. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' credits to your final passing score.

Credit for Seniority

Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

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Duties

Under close supervision and while receiving training, Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainees or Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainees (Various Language Parenthetics), conduct a variety of field investigations and are required to make arrests. Motor Vehicle Investigators Trainees use facial recognition technology to generate and assist in cases. They investigate those engaged in stealing vehicles, including organized auto theft rings; these investigations include determining the true identity of vehicles by locating vehicle identification numbers to detect stolen vehicles and component parts, and inventorying seized properties. They conduct investigations of forged ownership and identity documents, incidents of substitution on the preliminary test or road test, and suspected fraud or deceit by registrants, licensees, or applicants. They also conduct investigations related to odometer rollback fraud. Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainees apprehend and assist in the prosecution of those involved in the perpetration of the aforementioned criminal activities and are required to work with other state and federal law enforcement agencies (sometimes as members of joint task forces). They also train law enforcement members in the detection of fraudulent documents, auto theft, and other motor vehicle related matters relative to obtaining licenses through illegal means. They also review architects' plans for Motor Vehicle's sites to determine whether security requirements are met. Motor Vehicle Investigators complete security evaluations of State and County offices in response to emergencies and natural disasters. Assignments may require working overtime and extensive travel. Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainees are required to attend NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services sanctioned peace officer training. Evaluations are conducted at three-month intervals. Successful performance in the traineeship will result in advancement to Motor Vehicle Investigator, G-16, without further examination.

Test Guide

A Guide to the Written Test for the State and Local Investigators Series is available.

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How To Apply

If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2]. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2]. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm

Eligibility for Examination

To be eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S1/TC1 MXT-sac
Issued: 2/28/14
† Revised: 3/10/14
†† Revised: 3/12/14

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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