May 25, 2010

Police say they are seeing a growing number of fake car inspection stickers, which they say could put drivers in danger on the highway.

Police officers' desks at the Albemarle County Police Department have no shortage of counterfeit Virginia vehicle inspection stickers sitting nearby.

Officer Randy Jamerson said he has between 30 to 40 of the dupes, and he's on a virtual crusade to find the people responsible for the bogus stickers.

Since the economy collapsed, the problem came to the surface quickly, and county officers are paying attention.

Among Jamerson's other duties is driving the county roads looking for bogus stickers, which he calls "a big problem." Not only is having one a misdemeanor -- and printing one a felony -- but it's a safety issue because drivers only need the bogus sticker if their car is too dangerous to be on the road.

Another problem for the police department is that the fake stickers are very easy to make, but officers still don't know exactly where they come from.