New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Open-Competitive Examination Open to the Public

Motor Vehicle Investigator/Trainee

† Salary Effective 3/10/2014

* Due to the size of the candidate population for this test date, you may be assigned to either Saturday, May 17, 2014, or Sunday, May 18, 2014, to take your test. Your admission notice will tell you where and when you are scheduled to appear. You cannot request a day or time in advance or change your scheduled day or time.

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

Appointees to the Motor Vehicle Investigator (G-16) positions will receive additional salary adjustments of $1,817 under Section 130.7 of the Civil Service Law in the following counties: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester.

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Minimum Qualifications

For Numbers 25-800010 and 25-801010: On or before May 17, 2014, you must have a bachelor???s degree.

For Numbers 25-807010 and 25-808010: On or before May 17, 2014, you must have a bachelor???s degree and one year of full-time paid experience in a law enforcement or investigative position primarily involving field investigations and the preparation of detailed narrative reports and evidence to be used in criminal prosecution.

The Department of Motor Vehicles is actively recruiting candidates who speak the following languages for these positions. If you speak Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, or Russian Language and you meet the minimum qualifications, you are encouraged to apply to examination Nos. 25-801010 and 25-808010 as the Department of Motor Vehicles anticipates making appointments to positions requiring language proficiency.

Examples of qualifying experience for Nos. 25-807010 and 25-808010: Investigative experience in positions such as police detective, plainclothes police officer, child protective services investigator, insurance investigator, private investigator, federal or state investigator, or an investigative position in the armed forces are examples of what might be considered as meeting the experience requirement.

Examples of non-qualifying experience for Nos. 25-807010 and 25-808010: Experience in routine police patrol work, tax collection, collection of delinquent accounts, credit checking, hotel or store detective, parole officer, correction officer, guard, inspector, or security related positions and other similar positions will NOT be considered qualifying experience for the purpose of this examination.

If you expect to meet the educational requirements by August 31, 2014, you can be admitted to the written test but you cannot be considered for appointment until you submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirement to the New York State Department of Civil Service.

Notes

1. Important: As the processing fee is non-refundable, verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.
2. If you submit an application for No. 25-801010 Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainee (Various Language Parenthetics) or No. 25-808010 Motor Vehicle Investigator (Various Language Parenthetics), an application will automatically be submitted for No. 25-800010 Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainee or No. 25-807010 Motor Vehicle Investigator, at no additional cost.
3. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
4. New York State residence is not required to participate in this exam.††
5. Your degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S1MXT.
6. A transition examination is also being held for these positions at the trainee level.
7. Although transition examinations are being held, it is expected that appointments will be made as the result of these examinations open to the public.
8. The Department of Motor Vehicles has the option of making appointments from either the list resulting from these examinations open to the public or the list resulting from the transition examination. If you meet the requirements for both examinations, you may wish to file for both. The processing fee must be paid for this examination unless you are eligible for a fee waiver.
9. Language Proficiency: If you are considered for appointment to a language parenthetic, you will be required to pass a performance test to demonstrate your proficiency in the language. Proficiency must be at a level that will ensure your ability to properly perform the duties of the position.
10. Travel Requirements: Appointment to these positions require extensive travel within a designated area of assignment. Appointees to these positions will be required to operate a motor vehicle; therefore, you must possess a driver???s license valid in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter. Field work and travel expenses are reimbursed on a fixed schedule.
11. Appointment to any title will remove your name from consideration for appointment to any other title at the same salary grade.
12. Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include distant visual acuity should be correctable to better than, or equal to 20/30 in each eye; if correction is required, binocular visual acuity must not be less than 20/70 without correction. You will be evaluated for the ability to perform job specific tasks; color vision; specified hearing level; and neurological, cardiopulmonary, and musculoskeletal health.A complete statement of the physical and medical standards is available. A medical examination will be required prior to appointment, and you are responsible for payment of the clinical laboratory test fee. Appointees to this position may be required to undergo periodic medical examinations to reassess their ability to perform the essential duties of the position. Failure to meet the standards will result in your disqualification.
13. Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in drug screening test and are responsible for the clinical lab fee. Failure to meet the standards will result in your disqualification.
14. Psychological Evaluation: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a psychological evaluation to determine your fitness to perform the essential duties of the position. Failure to meet the standards will result in your disqualification.
15. U.S. Citizenship and New York State Residence: is required at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter.
16. Firearms: Appointees will be required by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain and maintain a firearm permit from New York City, which requires an extensive background check, and to carry a firearm in the performance of their duties. You must successfully complete an assigned firearms training and annual re-qualification and display continued proficiency. Denial or loss of a firearm permit will result in removal from employment in this position.
17. Peace Officer Status: Motor Vehicle Investigators are peace officers and must be qualified to hold such office in accordance with state law. As such, they are required to attend NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services sanctioned peace officer training. Employment is dependent on continuous certification as a peace officer.
18. Background Investigation: Because of the nature of the position, there is an investigative screening that will include a thorough character investigation. All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor or any other violation of the law or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws. The Department of Motor Vehicles will verify information provided by candidates, fingerprint and conduct background investigations of all candidates hired for this title.††
19. If you are a member of a retirement system or pension plan administered by the state or any of its political subdivisions and receiving a retirement allowance for other than physical disability, and are appointed to one of these positions, you may be required to join the New York State Employees??? Retirement System and may no longer be allowed to receive your current pension. Upon retirement, you may or may not be eligible for combined benefits. For details regarding the effect on your retirement allowance, contact your retirement system or pension plan.

The Positions

These positions exist in the Department of Motor Vehicles.

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Duties

Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainees or Motor Vehicle Investigator Trainees (Various Language Parenthetics), perform the same duties as Motor Vehicle Investigators except under close supervision and they receive additional training. Evaluations are conducted at three month intervals. Successful performance in the traineeship will result in advancement to Motor Vehicle Investigator, G-16, without further examination.

Motor Vehicle Investigators or Motor Vehicle Investigators (Various Language Parenthetics), conduct a variety of field investigations and are required to make arrests. Motor Vehicle Investigators use facial recognition technology to generate and assist in cases. They investigate those engaged in stealing vehicles, including organized auto theft rings; these investigations include determining the true identity of vehicles by locating vehicle identification numbers to detect stolen vehicles and component parts, and inventorying seized properties. They conduct investigations of forged ownership and identity documents, incidents of substitution on the preliminary test or road test, and suspected fraud or deceit by registrants, licensees, or applicants. They also conduct investigations related to odometer rollback fraud. Motor Vehicle Investigators apprehend and assist in the prosecution of those involved in the perpetration of the aforementioned criminal activities and are required to work with other state and federal law enforcement agencies (sometimes as members of joint task forces). They also train law enforcement members in the detection of fraudulent documents, auto theft, and other motor vehicle related matters relative to obtaining licenses through illegal means. They also review architects??? plans for Motor Vehicle???s sites to determine whether security requirements are met. Motor Vehicle Investigators complete security evaluations of State and County offices in response to emergencies and natural disasters. Assignments may require working overtime and extensive travel. Motor Vehicle Investigators are required to attend NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services sanctioned peace officer training.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:	For Examination Numbers
	25-800010	25-801010	25-807010	25-808010
1. Evaluating information and evidence - These questions test for the ability to evaluate and draw conclusions from information and evidence. Each question consists of a set of facts and a conclusion based on the facts. The candidate must decide if the conclusion is warranted by the facts.	X	X	X	X
2. Investigative techniques - These questions test for knowledge of the fundamental concepts in the area of field investigation. The questions will cover such areas as: obtaining the cooperation of individuals involved in an investigation, preparing for the investigation and/or interview, investigative principles, interviewing principles and practices, behavior and attitudes of the investigator and others, gathering of data and evidence, and presenting the results of an investigation. Many of the questions are situational in nature and attempt to measure the candidate's ability to apply basic investigative techniques. The questions are generic rather than dealing with investigations in a particular field.			X	X
3. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.	X	X	X	X
4. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.	X	X	X	X

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

Test Guide

A Guide to the Written Test for the State and Local Investigators Series is available.

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How To Apply

If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2]. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2]. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S1/TC1 MXT-vla
Issued: 2/28/2014
† Revised: 3/10/14
†† Revised: 3/12/2014

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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