the head of the state agency
under fire. His step down. We
know this paper plate problem
is a public safety issue that
is important to you.
>> It is why KPRC 2 investigator Amy Davis is
investigator Amy Davis is
pressing for answers and
continuing today to let you
know with state and local leaders are doing about it.
leaders are doing about it.
>> hard to tell in one hour
this on expired. Was it your
vehicle on the morning? Right
along? With Harris County
Precinct, One deputy constables. There’s one right
constables. There’s one right
there hit after hit. You have
a driver’s license, ma’am,
after Pitt. So this is a Texas
dealer tag and she’s not a dealer and doesn’t work for a
dealer and doesn’t work for a
dealer. Deputy constables
confiscated fraudulent
temporary tags. And impounded
vehicles. This stash of fake tax was collected in just 2
tax was collected in just 2
weeks and 158 traffic stops.
>> I found 10 other tags that
we’re behind. That one time. But these constables know they
But these constables know they
can do this day every day and
barely make a dent in Texas
temporary tag problem. It has
to start with the Department
of Motor Vehicles. If they fix all the new polls, then the
all the new polls, then the
criminals will be able to.
>> Access the DMV and file these illegal zone.
these illegal zone.
>> Take a look at this hall
120 KPRC. 2 investigates
explains how the loophole
works 3 months ago. License
car dealers in Texas can issue
temporary paper tax to customers who buy vehicle
customers who buy vehicle
while they wait for their
permanent metal plate. But the
Texas DMV doesn’t require car
dealers to prove they are who they say they are when they
they say they are when they
apply for a license.
>> It’s resulted in licensed
dealer selling millions of
these paper plates. But not a
single vehicle. >> The Texas DMV system just
>> The Texas DMV system just
come from PD. Sergeant Ed
Martin is one of a handful of
officers in Texas teaching
others in law enforcement how
to spot fraudulent tags and
how to crack down on the crime. It’s making victims out
crime. It’s making victims out
of citizens. But it’s also
allowing a criminal enterprise
to prosper.
>> And it’s time to shut it
down. I want to I welcome those who are with us for
those who are with us for
today’s board meeting.
>> At a recent DMV board
meeting in January, members
voted to cut dealers off from
the temporary tag portal
immediately when they’re
caught selling tags. Fraudulently used to take up
Fraudulently used to take up
to 10 days.
>> The removal of access for
bad players is his affective
immediately. >> It’s both too little and
>> It’s both too little and
too late for 18 year-old
break.
>> people more aware that this
is not just about told tax not
getting pay. This is not about
inspection fee not getting
paid this. can happen to
anybody. Their son Teran died
instantly when he was hit by a
truck driving on the wrong
side of the road. have a Texas
driver’s license. No insurance, you know, no state
insurance, you know, no state
inspection on the vehicle.
What the driver did have was a
fraudulent, temporary tag from
these guys charged with issuing nearly 600,000 paper
issuing nearly 600,000 paper
plates in 2 years from
fictitious car dealerships.
And this guy is still on the
run. And a federal
investigator tells me they’re even sure they have his real
even sure they have his real
identity because the DMV
doesn’t require car dealers to
submit fingerprints. Right
now. You can cut somebody off, but you still don’t know who
but you still don’t know who
they are. Without that year.
Your son, they’re spending
your tires. While executive
director Whitney Brewster did
direct staff to draft a policy
for possibly finger printing
dealer applicants. She admitted that if it happens,
admitted that if it happens,
it is still months away. We
anticipate that we would bring
it back in June. For consideration for adoption by
consideration for adoption by
the board. So you have and
officers hope it means the
state can kick the phony
dealers out of the DMV system
and take Texas roads back. want to find the it. I want
want to find the it. I want
cooperation. That’s all I
want. And the general public
deserves that.
>> Just this week, executive director Brewster resigned
director Brewster resigned
from the DMV 2 days later the
department’s general counsel
resigned as well. And in the
last 2 weeks, the DMV says it
has cut off back access to the
temporary tag system to 6 car dealers. It believes were
dealers. It believes were
abusing the system. We’ve got
more on what local leaders are
doing and you can read all