Brockport PD schedules additional VIN etching days

Brockport PD schedules additional VIN etching days

Residents in the Village of Brockport will have a chance to not only save money on their car insurance but be offered that opportunity for free, when the police department schedules an additional day of Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching appointments.

"The first time out, 23 people came to have their cars etched," Police Chief Dan Varrenti said at a recent village board meeting. "We're hoping to get more people out and we'll try to schedule appointments to meet the demand."

VIN etching is a proven deterrent to vehicle theft and may also save drivers money on their insurance and Sergeant Mark Cuzzupoli, the officer in charge of the program, said the equipment for the VIN etching program is on loan from the division of criminal justice to provide the service for the residents.

"I thought we had a pretty good turnout the first time around," Cuzzupoli said. "We etched 23 cars and tagged 16 of those for the 'Watch Your Car' program."

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles in conjunction with the New York State Motor Vehicle & Insurance Fraud Prevention Board, Division of Criminal Justice Services and United States Department of Justice is sponsoring a crime prevention program. The "Watch Your Car" auto theft prevention program is part of a national campaign designed to deter auto theft and assist in the apprehension of auto thieves.

The VIN etching is done with an "acid" process and takes about 20 minutes from start to finish, Cuzzupoli said, and it involves verification of data of the vehicle owner and insurance.

This works as a deterrent against auto theft because "chop shops" do not wish to deal with etched windows since the etched VIN can not be changed or altered without damaging the window. The owner of the vehicle may also receive a 2 to 5 percent discount on their auto insurance premiums.

During the etching process anywhere from four to six windows are etched, Cuzzupoli said. "The program is a deterrent to thieves as they will see that the windows are etched and it makes it harder to dispose of the vehicle."

In addition to the VIN etching, Cuzzupoli said the department will also be administering a "Watch Your Car" program that is also aimed at auto theft prevention.

The "Watch Your Car" program offers two methods to aid deterring the theft of a vehicle. The first method is a voluntary vehicle registration program where the owners sign a document stating that their vehicles are not normally used between the hours of 1 and 5 a.m. and allow for a stop if the vehicle is seen being operated between those hours. Decals are affixed to the front and rear windows identifying the vehicle as participating in the program. If law enforcement officers observe the vehicle being driven anywhere in the U.S. during these hours, they may stop the vehicle and verify ownership. An owner also grants additional authority, at the time of registration in the program, to have the vehicle stopped any time it is being driven across the border into Mexico or Canada or it is observed within the general proximity of an international port.

"If you think that your vehicle won't and shouldn't be driven during those early morning hours, then having the sticker would be a deterrent to a would-be car thief," he said. "It's been proven to be a deterrent. Also, if people might be able to save money on their car insurance, it's a worthwhile and free program for them."

The training and equipment were offered free of charge to the department and no overtime is used during the VIN etching appointments, Varrenti said.

Both programs were initially offered in September and Cuzzupoli is offering appointments for 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday, October 24. Individuals who want to participate must call Cuzzupoli at 637-1020 ext. 41 to make an appointment.