An ex-Department of Motor Vehicles investigator was due in court Thursday on charges of illegally trying to get out of a traffic violation.

Dennis Allan Svet, 51, of Murrieta, was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail. Placentia police arrested him Wednesday.

La Palma who made a traffic stop last April 27 determined that Svet’s Honda Civic had a false registration tag, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Svet handed the officer who pulled him over a business card from when he used to work for the DMV to help him avoid getting a citation, prosecutors allege.

The officer gave Svet a ticket anyway and made a report to the DMV, which started an investigation.

After getting the ticket, Svet allegedly forged an officer’s signature on the back of the citation to indicate he obtained the correct registration in order to have the infraction dismissed. A judge dismissed the citation based on the forgery, prosecutors allege.

Svet is charged with one count each of offering false documentary evidence and falsifying documents, both felonies, and a misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property. He could face up to three years and eight months in prison if convicted.

— City News Service

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