Obtaining Driver Information
8 April 2007 | how-to, random bike stuff | 1 Comment
I got this email tonight:
“Last time we spoke you were telling me that you knew how to track people’s address and name with their license plate. My friend’s bike got totaled by a car that was trying to park. Luckily the people from the store it was parked in front of got the driver’s license plate number. He wants to track the guy down and try to get him to pay for his bike. Hopefully that will work or he’ll have to file a police report and then go to small claims court etc. Anyway if you could tell me how he can track the person’s contact info down that would be great. any other advice on the topic would be great too. I can send you the plate numbers if that would be easier.
Thanks,
Kearstin”
Let’s say you get in a bike accident, and the jerk that hits you takes off, but you’re able to get the Plate Number. If you would like to dig deeper into this person’s background you should fill out the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Form INF 70 which is the Request for Record Information. Fill out Section C (this is where you put the license plate number) and check the boxes for current record.
In Section D, the form asks for purpose of request. According to the instructions, a “permissible use” is if your request is in connection with motor vehicle or driver safety. The information you should receive is located in Setion C of the instructions that states: “Current record including current registered owner name, legal owner name and address, vehicle/vessel description, registration status, etc.”
Now you have their information, what to do with it? Simple, become friends with your local police, and let them know what happened if you didn’t report the accident. Probably nothing will happen, but it’s important to let the police know what you know if this is a chronic problem with the driver that hit you. They may have other cases against a particular driver that helps build a case.
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FILE A POLICE REPORT! I can’t stress this enough. Once you get the information on the driver (address), you can hire a personal injury attorney that will send a letter of representation formally notifying this bastard that he/she had better put their auto insurance on notice that a claim is being made against him/her. If your damages aren’t very high, several hundred dollars, take the driver to small claims court.