Lawmakers are concerned over security lapses that are aiding auto thieves.
The Orange County Register A group of state senators called Tuesday for an investigation into security lapses at the Department of Motor Vehicles that allow auto thieves to secure fraudulent license plates and car titles that belong to unsuspecting motorists. The probe was called in response to an Orange County Register investigation that showed the thieves easily obtain plates and titles for cars they don't own and then use them to mask the identity of stolen cars. The senators said these new revelations about the ruse, called subplating, will lead to the expansion of a Nov. 16 Senate Transportation Committee hearing already scheduled to investigate other security lapses at the DMV that were reported by the Register. The problems are numerous and serious, and believe me, we will follow up on all of them. DMV Director Steven Gourley said the numbers are far lower, but he has failed to provide the Register or senators with a different set of figures.