The "problem" (?) isn't always numbers but as I said the sheer lack of knowledge among those responsible.
About a year ago I finished a rat-rod style A100 pick-up. Since it originally came from N.M. I had to get a "Level3" inspection from Az. MVD. This entails them putting the truck on a lift & crawling all over it looking for hidden VINs, signs of VIN tampering, and a general safety check. While they were doing that I was told to wait in a waiting area while the inspector examined my truck. After about an hour she comes in & proceeds to accuse me of swapping the chassis and re-bodying the truck. I then had to go out to their shop, point out how the truck was a uni-body so there was no frame TO switch. She then began accusing me of switching VINs until I pointed out just where the VIN was (by the driver's side) and how it matched the VIN on a piece of the uni-body. Upon seeing this she gave the truck a clean bill of health & the registration went off without a hitch.
The point being as enthusiasts we have to be responsible AND KNOWLEDGEABLE enough to be honest with "THE SYSTEM" and not try to circumvent what really is a simple process when you know it & the cars we deal with. The idea of "drive it until someone suspects it's stolen" only discredits the person and the hobby and legitimizes the push for more stringent laws.
