LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division arrested an accused counterfeiter last week who was allegedly selling fake temporary license plates.
Officers with Nevada DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division, backed up by North Las Vegas police, moved in to arrest the suspect in a North Las Vegas strip mall parking lot. The arrest was done simultaneously as North Las Vegas’s SWAT team executed a search at a home where the accused counterfeiter lived. Officers found a gun the former felon was not allowed to have.
“We’re seeing more serious crimes kind of all over town being enabled by the fact that the vehicle being used is not identifiable,” said J.D. Decker, chief of Nevada DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division.
Craigslist ad led to arrest
Decker said an advertisement on Craigslist advertising fake tags for $50 each with a 702 phone number to call to pick them up led them to the suspect.
“We’re kind of shocked that the public thinks it’s acceptable enough to not even hide the advertisement,” Decker said.
A member of the public saw the Craigslist ad and reported it to the division. Officers did three buys from the suspect before making the arrest to build the case.
AMPLIFIED: Public outcry over expired tags, unregistered cars leads to crackdown across Nevada
“This person was counterfeiting Nevada tags, which we take very seriously because while we can’t stop someone from counterfeiting another state’s tag, we definitely want to protect the integrity of our state system,” Decker said.
The Compliance Enforcement Division is a team of officers making sure vehicles on Nevada roadways follow the laws.
“You could literally print them out for two cents yourself. You could write it down on a cocktail napkin. It’s just as legal,” Decker said of the fake tags people paid $50 for.
“It’s a waste of money, and you’re going to get a ticket, you’re going to get your car impounded,” Decker added.
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