Hi Guys;
Before everyone goes off speculating too much, here is a little info on the
old APC thing. I was a manager of a part of the DOD Surplus Prop program
for a while and can elighten this situation possibly.
Basically all the common mil surplus gear that is provided to cerified DLEA
(Drug Control Law Enforcement Agencies) is broken down into 4 classes.
Demil Yes or No, and Major Inventory or Minor. Examples: Binoculars=Demil
No, Invent. Minor., Chev M1008= Demil No, Invent. Major, Ammo=Demil yes,
Invent Minor, Weapons=Demil Yes Invent Major.
Anything classed as a minor inventory item can be legally disposed of after
offering it to other Project Northstar or 1208 Agencies immediately upon
determination of Non-need.
Any item that is a major inventory item must be held for 2 years and then
may be legally disposed of by donation or sale.
Any Demil Item that is un-needed MUST be returned to the DRMO or the DLA
must be notified in writing of the case upon which they will determine what
to do with the item. Many times there is another agency looking for such a
thing. Right now there is a waiting list for the V100-150 rubber tired
Armored vehicles for example. M113's ARE NOT released intact to non mil or
police entities. Some demilled M113 vehicles that were obtained by private
citizens from Canada ????? and restored brought over 75,000.00 recently in a
public sale.
An example of Demil Yes Inventory Minor would be PVS7B NVGs.
An example of Demil Yes Inventory Major would be a M113 APC.
A few years ago the agency was giving away hundreds of almost new M113 for
free. They were being turned in and the units were drawing Bradley AFV's.
Agencies had to provide their own shipping from Fort Hood TX. The case in
CA is possibly one of these as although there were few takers on the deal,
the Feds including the Marshals took a ton of them away. That M113 would be
on the SME (Significant Military Equipment) list, the Major End Item
Inventory List, and The Demil List. They were given away with NO strings
EXCEPT for one easy to follow one; upon desire to dispose of the item, the
DLA had to be contacted for instructions. Failure to do so is a 10 year
Federal crime. The original agency that drew it from the program would have
to still be carrying it on its inventory to this day, including where it was
donated, as well as the Sheriff that received it through the program as an
Interagency Donation. The DLA in Battle Creek will have the vehicle SN and
transaction paperwork on file and it can be obtained with 1 phone call. In
conclusion the people in possession of it today just don't know what they
are doing and should make a few calls. They will find themselves in
considerable legal jeopardy if the law is not followed on a significant
item. They can scrap it but DLA would supervise the Demilling and scrapping
and the CA county may keep the proceeds from this 20K pound aluminum vehicle
after it is sold. Anyway hope that this clears up a little of the
questions.
Glenn
PS. Law Enforcement agencies do have to have a title in most states as well
as registration on motor vehicles including CA. But it is fee exempt.
M113's ARE NOT considered a "motor vehicle" under the title law anyway, and
the agency would never get a form 97 for this piece of equipment obtained
through the Northstar program.
So a Sheriff's Department in the state of california does not need a vehicle
title and registration?
Bet there is a law that says they do.
Fifteen years and no papers.
A person would think they would need the paperwork to sell or scrap it too.
Wonder who held the Form 97? Was there an End Use Agreement?