U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 PDQ: Tracking Down a Vehicle
NCJ Number
              211821

Author(s)
          National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
Date Published

January 2000
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              PDQ (Paint Data Query) is a database that uses records of automotive paint samples that have been analyzed to identify the subject vehicle's manufacturer, make, model, and year.
Abstract
              PDQ is a joint project of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and it is funded by the U.S. Justice Department's National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Now in its fourth year, PDQ contains more than 9,000 paint systems that encompass just over 33,000 layers in a database that can differentiate vehicles based on the paint's chemistry, color, and the number and sequence of layers. PDQ responds to paint inquiries that supply findings from microscopic examination, infrared spectroscopy, and topcoat color verification. It also uses the Munsell numbering system to assign a color to undercoats. PDQ contains paint information for most domestic and foreign manufacturers and most of the vehicles marketed in North America after 1973. In the United States, PDQ is used by city, county, and State laboratories. In exchange for use of the database, agencies are required to collect 60 street samples of vehicle paints annually. The database relies on vehicle manufacturers for samples as well; street samples provided by participating agencies help to check the information and the samples provided by the manufacturers. This article describes the procedure for enrolling in PDQ and presents a brief case history of how PDQ was instrumental in solving a hit-and-run accident in Washington State.
      
  
          Additional Details
Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2000
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Information technology
        Case histories
        Vehicles
        Royal Canadian Mounted Police
        Hit and Run



  
Similar Publications
        
                      All-Band All-Mode Radio for Public Safety
                  Michigan State Police Tests 1995 Patrol Vehicles
                  El Libro de Referencia de las Huellas Dactilares - Apendice B: El Origen del Grupo de Trabajo Cientifico sobre el Analisis, Estudio y Tecnologia de las Crestas de Fricción (SWGFAST)
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov