California Crack Down

The DMV’s Investigations Division takes on unlicensed vehicle dismantlers. These rogue businesses generate about 200 million gallons of toxic liquid in the state alone. By Artemio Armenta

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nvestigators with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) since 2017 have conducted two dozen undercover enforcement operations throughout the state, aimed at unlicensed vehicle dismantlers.

The campaign to catch and fine unlicensed vehicle dismantlers is underway by a newly created multi-agency task force made up of several state departments, headed by the DMV’s Investigations Division. Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1858 in September 2016 that formed the task force to investigate tax evasion, environ- mental damage, and public harm that occurs because of unlicensed vehicle dismantling. The law also established the Vehicle Industry Disman- tler Strike Team (VDIST), which is made up of 14 DMV investigators who are sworn police officers and are charged with regulating the vehicle dismantler industry as part of their duties.

The DMV is leading the effort with representatives from the California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control, State Water

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Photos provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles in California ENFORCEMENT