DMV Law Enforcement Division

Organization

The DMV Law Enforcement Division is composed of four sections:

Field Investigations

Field Investigations' primary role is to protect the integrity of credentials issued by DMV to the public through enforcement of laws and regulations specific to motor vehicle titling and driver licensing. Field Investigations special agents are charged with investigating crimes associated with identity and DMV credentials. These investigations can involve lone offenders or complex criminal organizations. Field Investigations law enforcement officers often partner with local and federal agencies, participating in task forces created to combat identity fraud, vehicle theft and public corruption.

This unit is also responsible for working with the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board (MVDB) to regulate activities of automobile vehicle dealers of both new and used vehicles. DMV special agents often partner with MVDB representatives to identify and address instances of individuals and businesses operating without the required license.

Field Investigations special agents also conduct internal investigations involving agency personnel.

DMV special agents have offices inside the customer service centers where they respond immediately to concerns, such as individuals who attempt to pass counterfeit documents. Their presence serves not only to deter attempts of criminal activity, but also to facilitate partnerships with DMV customer service representatives as a first line defense in the detection of fraudulent documents and apprehension of offenders.

Field Investigations agents also are charged with enforcing the Virginia Code section intended to protect Virginia consumers from unsafe vehicles and vehicle fraud arising from the illegal sale of vehicles without the required business and motor vehicle dealer licenses, safety inspections, warranties, titling, or taxes. This statute also protects licensed motor vehicle dealers from unfair and illegal competition and ensures that the state and localities collect appropriate revenues.

Field Investigation activities include investigations into:

  • Driver license and title fraud
  • Odometer fraud
  • Misuse of dealer plates and temporary tags
  • Curbstoning
  • Sales and use tax evasion
  • Motor vehicle theft

Field Operations

Field Operations is responsible for compliance with and enforcement of DMV laws that pertain to commercial transportation, motor fuels tax, the automobile salvage industry, and the integrity of titles produced through the sale or transfer of motor vehicles under special circumstances (i.e. those reported as salvage or abandoned). This workgroup has a threefold mission:

  • To protect Virginia consumers
  • To maintain a level playing field among Virginia businesses having a connection to the transportation, auto recycling, and motor fuel industries
  • To ensure transportation revenues are collected in a fair and efficient manner

Commercial Carrier and Tax Enforcement Unit

Commercial Carrier and Tax Enforcement (CC&TE) is responsible for compliance with laws governing commercial passenger and property carriers as well as taxation of motor fuels. In addition, CC&TE supports DMV's mobile weigh crews and the Virginia State Police commercial vehicle safety program.

This group includes special agents strategically deployed over three geographic regions. Examples of tasks performed by CC&TE are:

  • Investigation of complaints lodged against carriers
  • Inspection of for-hire transportation concerns
  • Addressing unlicensed operators
  • Enforcing laws prohibiting use of untaxed motor fuels in highway vehicles
  • Inspection of businesses that hold a motor fuels tax license
  • Investigation into fuels tax evasion and avoidance
  • Enforcing road tax surcharges imposed on commercial carriers
  • Supporting DMV mobile weigh crews in the field
  • Performing safety inspections of commercial motor vehicles under guidelines mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Special Inspections Group

The Special Inspections Group (SIG) is primarily responsible for the oversight of businesses that focus on recycling motor vehicles and/or motor vehicle parts. SIG also is responsible for ensuring the integrity of titles issued by DMV for salvage, abandoned, and demolished motor vehicles. In addition, SIG is frequently called upon to assist other law enforcement agencies to identify motor vehicles without an assigned vehicle identification number (VIN) or a VIN that has been altered.

This group includes special agents strategically deployed throughout Virginia. Examples of tasks performed by SIG are:

  • Examination of vehicles acquired as salvage that are repaired or rebuilt to ensure that stolen parts were not used
  • Verification of vehicle identification numbers as required by law
  • Enforcement of laws pertaining to motor vehicle salvage and recycling
  • Investigation into complaints lodged against salvage dealers, salvage pools, demolishers, and vehicle removal operators
  • Inspection of licensed businesses referred to in the preceding bullet
  • Investigation into complaint about title integrity
  • Addressing unlicensed businesses

Special Operations, Training and Security

Special Operations, Training and Security (SpOTS) is the Law Enforcement Division (LED) work unit responsible for providing special security and protection, as needed, and coordinating responses to internal and external threats. SpOTS also manages all training for DMV Law Enforcement agents, including requisite firearms qualification and training, and contributes to agency-wide training as it relates to the security of DMV facilities and the protection of DMV employees and customers.

In addition, SpOTS maintains the LED firearms inventory, investigates incidents occurring at DMV Headquarters, performs required background investigations of prospective Office of Enforcement and Compliance employees, and administers the participation by the Office of Enforcement and Compliance in the integrated voice and data radio network known as STARS (Statewide Agencies Radio System).

SpOTS oversees the contractors who provide physical security throughout the DMV headquarters building and at 34 Customer Service Centers. All security personnel maintain training in advanced life saving measures, such as first aid and CPR, to ensure that they are able to protect and assist the more than 1800 DMV employees and more than 100,000 customers who visit DVM facilities during the 63 hours that CSCs are open each week. Security is present at DMV HQ 24 hours per day, every day of the year.

Law Enforcement Operations Support Unit

Law Enforcement Operations Support Unit serves as the central hub of the DMV Law Enforcement Division, and includes two areas: Intake and Analysis and Law Enforcement Information Services (LEIS).

  • Intake and Analysis performs first line analysis of complaints and requests from DMV employees, customers, and internal and external law enforcement. This team's responsibilities include:
    • Receiving, researching, and analyzing complaints
    • Dispatching cases for investigation by DMV's law enforcement staff
    • Performing data analysis and producing reports
    • Administering and procuring vehicle, equipment, and uniforms and
    • Administering external law enforcement resources and tools necessary to complete investigations.
  • LEIS provides support to internal and external law enforcement. This team's responsibilities include:
    • Administering DMV's Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) program
    • Conducting DMV research related to internal and external law enforcement investigations
    • Administering ad hoc report requests (e.g., partial plate searches, identifying wanted vehicles, etc.) and
    • Complying with expungement orders.

Contact Information

DMV Law Enforcement may be contacted by phone at (804) 367-1678 and (804) 367-1997, by email at enforcement@dmv.virginia.gov, or by submitting a completed DMV Law Enforcement Investigation Request (LE-22).

Upload Online

The fastest and easiest way to have your request reviewed is by submitting it online.

If you are unable to upload your documents online, DMV can still accept them by one of the following methods:

Mail

Department of Motor Vehicles 
Law Enforcement Division 
P.O. Box 26407, Room 629 
Richmond, Virginia 23261-6407

For issues unrelated to Law-Enforcement matters, refer to the agency Contact Information.

For more information, visit: Compliment or report misconduct of a Virginia DMV law enforcement officer or a non-sworn employee of the DMV Law Enforcement Division