Locate/skip trace investigations are a staple for most private investigators. This is great news, as locate investigations can be fun, challenging, and rewarding. Your success is limited only by your creativity!
When proprietary data aggregators, USPS change of address records, social media research, etc. all come up with empty leads, here is an idea to consider: research your target’s traffic citation history.
There is a plethora of information that can be obtained from traffic citations.
- Previously undisclosed addresses
- Associated vehicles
- Areas frequented
- Associated individuals
- Upcoming court dates
Obviously, there is more information that may be available than this list. The point is this information can provide new leads.
Here is a real-world example.
Last month I needed to locate an individual involved in a civil insurance case. Many of the routine sources of information resulted in stale information as to the individual’s current whereabouts. Upon checking the target’s traffic history, I noticed that there was a citation from several months ago. I obtained the citation, which listed a vehicle that did not belong to the target. A quick MVD check showed who the vehicle was registered to. From there, a social media account was located for the registered owner, and the account contained information to suggest that the target of my investigation was their girlfriend. Follow up public records and LPR research provided a current address for the registered vehicle owner. Spot check surveillance at the new address confirmed that the target was residing with the boyfriend.
Traffic citations can provide a pivot point for a multitude of investigations. While court record research may not seem sexy and can be tedious, many of the toughest cases can be resolved using these public records.