So.... This guy's selling VINs on craigslist

[Pistol Gripper]

http://dayton.craigslist.org/pts/2176531219.html

I've contacted the local Police,  the Highway Patrol and the Sheriff.  Any other ideas ?   

I've refraind from posting or calling so that the authorities can do their thing.

P.G.

[hpe600rt]

thats a good way to go to jail

[sprecks]

Wow, I just searched for "VIN" in the Dayton Ohio area and the guy you refered to probably has 10 of these tags for sale as "collectible" items. Some of them even come with a title. Seems like they are all chevys and fords.

[Alaskan_TA]

I did get your email about another one this guy had a week or so ago, but it said soming about needing an encripted ID number to reply, so I could not get back to you.

I did pass it on to some pals, this one too. One of them has a LEO contact in OH.

[priderocks]

Is it against the law to sell just a car title?

[Super Blue 72]

Is it against the law to sell just a car title?

  

[beekppr]

I think the actual crime will be when someone installs this VIN plate and tries to register a car that is not real.

I'm not so sure that selling the stuff is illegal. You can buy license plates for any state and they will stamp them with anything you want but they warn you it is a novelty plate (even though it is correct in every way and costs far more than a novelty item should).  Point is that stuff is out there and the energy is put into VIN verifications by officials before the care is allowed to be registered.

[Alaskan_TA]

Guy buys title. Steals similar car, uses 'clean' title to sell it.

In some cases they even make counterfiet VIN tags to match the paperwork.   

[beekppr]

At some point, the clean title (which has probably not been registered in years and is out of the system) will have to undergo new registration and in California, a VIN verification is required.

When I registered my 64 Vette, I had to trailer it to the local highway patrol office and some inspector got out his bucket of tools and found the VIN on the frame. If it don't match, they check the number found for stolen and will seize car if there are any concerns. This happened locally to a guy who bought a stolen t-bird off ebay.

Problem is that this system stops the car from being registered but it does not stop someone from unknowingly buying a car like this.

[beekppr]

If anyone can deal with it, it will probably be your highway patrol. They tend to have task force people who go after jerks like this and focus on car theft rings. If they blow you off though, I'd pretend to be a buyer, get his address, and if you're comfortable it's correct, let him know you plan to deliver bricks through his window until he stops this behavior.

You're absolutley right that this guy is up to no good.

[Super Blue 72]

Guy buys title. Steals similar car, uses 'clean' title to sell it.

In some cases they even make counterfiet VIN tags to match the paperwork.   

This reminds me of the original Gone in 60 Seconds VIN swap deal at the beginning of the movie... 

[Pistol Gripper]

Barry,

I must have sent the email from my .mil account.  I'll use my Yahoo account from now on.

P.G.

I hear Benny the Torch is back in town, may have him pay a visit to the guy.  LoL

[Pistol Gripper]

Results so far...............
P.G.

[priderocks]

So, all you self-appointed law enforcement types, again- Is it legal to sell a title?

[alphabuck]

im not sure how one could legally hold just a car title.  if you sell the car the title goes with it.  if you junk the car the title goes with it.  even if you " part out " a car the remains has to end up somewhere and that somewhere is where the title should be.

id imagine theres some means to hold a car title as a collectible or something but undoubtedly that varies from state to state.