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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    1

    Default Possession of Stolen Property Charge Over a Car Engine

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: UT

    Hello everyone heres is my situation any help is appreciated. So im driving back from an event around 2am, i noticed a truck following me for about 2 miles. Sure enough is an officer, he stated the reason I was pulled over was not using my signal (bs IMO). He quickly proceeds to ask for my registration and then after ask me he wants to check the vehicle & all the vins, i agree. So he gets me to open the hood and starts saying the motor in the vehicle is stolen, I guess its missing a Vin plate. I tell him I bought it that way and have drove it exacaly like that for the last 2 1/2 years. In short he told me to find the person that sold to me or he'll be charging me with a 3rd degree theft felony. My question is can he do this? also I have tried contacting the last owner but no luck. any help to get me out of this situation would surely be appreciated tnx

  2. #2

    Default Re: Possession of Stolen Property Charge Over a Car Engine

    there isn't a "Vin Plate "... on a engine

    there will be a stamped S/N that may match the automobiles VIN

    there seems to be a bit more to this story

    P.S.

    why in the world would You agree to a search of your Vehicle ..?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    Posts
    346

    Default Re: Possession of Stolen Property Charge Over a Car Engine

    I am I the only one that finds checking the motor VIN during traffic violation stop unusual? I guess I have not been pulled over for such things all that often, but I don't recall the dashboard VIN being checked, let alone the motor VIN.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default Re: Possession of Stolen Property Charge Over a Car Engine

    Quote Quoting indybail
    View Post
    I am I the only one that finds checking the motor VIN during traffic violation stop unusual?
    Yes, you are.

    (Just kidding.)

    In some states, I understand the police are pretty diligent about checking the parts on heavily modified vehicles. I don't know if that's what was going on here, but it would be a possible explanation for the "above and beyond the norm" inspection.

    If the engine is missing its VIN, that probably does mean that it's a stolen engine but it's not proof that the engine was stolen. Also, if the officer believed the engine to have been stolen, it seems odd to me that he didn't impound the vehicle. Further, he has the VIN and so, back at the station (or perhaps from his vehicle) run the VIN against DMV records; if the prior owner also registered the vehicle in Utah it should be pretty easy for him to figure out who that person is. I don't know what the officer is thinking here, but this may be a fishing expedition.

    Is there a downside to giving the officer the seller's name and contact information?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Posts
    173

    Default Re: Possession of Stolen Property Charge Over a Car Engine

    Unfortunately, he can do this since you were actually caught with the missing VIN. Cops can charge you with any crime in which you are discovered doing. It's odd that he checked your VIN, but they can definitely do that.

    Your best bet is to try and get a hold of the previous owner. Generally though, you're supposed to get your VIN registered with the DMV as part of the sale process, so the DMV should've caught the problem at that time, too.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    OH10
    Posts
    17,019

    Default Re: Possession of Stolen Property Charge Over a Car Engine

    The burden of proof is on the officer. Unless he plans on removing the engine and subjecting it to an acid etch and special scoping to reveal the vin, if it is then visible, he will not have the vin. After obtaining it, he then needs to compare it to stolen vins for a match. I don't see this happening. I think this was possibly a potential thief looking for hints.

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