Finc Car Owner from Plate or VIN

September 9, 2012 4:10 AM

I'm trying to find the owner of a car with a siren that runs all night.

Is there a quick, preferably free on-line way to find the owner from the license plate number or VIN? I've seen computers in police cars that do that. I'm in NYC.

Also, I've used a process server/skip tracer who can find anyone. What resources do they use that might get me to the car owner?

posted by KRS to technology (6 answers total)

Just call the police with a noise complaint. Repeatedly.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:54 AM on September 9, 2012 [11 favorites]

In any city other than NYC, filing a noise complaint might be a quick fix, but in our experience, it's not going to get you immediate satisfaction because noise is a "civil matter" and therefore a low-priority for the police. Do it for your records, but pursuing other avenues is not a bad idea.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:32 AM on September 9, 2012

Have you already tried leaving a note on the windshield?
posted by randomnity at 5:43 AM on September 9, 2012 [4 favorites]

Nthing note on the windshield. But I recommend printing that note on a full sheet label and sticking it to the driver's side of the windshield. Extra points if the note says something like, "I hope you lose as much time scraping this off as everyone in the neighborhood has lost sleep from your car alarm."


See also here. One thing you can do, according to that site, is file a Form MV-15 checking the box saying you want the information for "Use in matters of motor vehicle theft." Apparently they will reply with the owner's details. I'm guessing that a letter to a home address would have an effect, and it need not be signed with anything more than "an affected resident." Repeated calls to 311 can also have an effect.
posted by slkinsey at 7:37 AM on September 9, 2012 [3 favorites]

Don't leave a passive aggressive note, that's just childish. It's possible the car owner isn't even aware of the problem. Just a leave an anonymous note that says something like "Your car alarm keeps going off repeatedly, please fix it."
posted by Lobster Garden at 7:45 AM on September 9, 2012 [4 favorites]

checking the box saying you want the information for "Use in matters of motor vehicle theft."

IANAL and I don't even have a dog in this fight but that seems kinda inaccurate. Wouldn't §2721(b)(4) ("Use in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative, or arbitral proceeding … [including] investigation in anticipation of litigation") be more accurate? The proceeding being enforcement of whatever noise or nuisance ordinance.


Me, I'd start with a note on the windshield and a printout of instructions on how to adjust the sensitivity of that model of car's alarm.
posted by hattifattener at 3:03 PM on September 9, 2012 [1 favorite]