Sometimes the only way to spread awareness about how to schedule VIN inspections is to Make. VIN. Inspections. Great. Again.
That’s the punchline behind the Sunday-morning video release by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, in which a deputy who could almost-kinda (with some beer goggles) pass for President Donald Trump gives locals a speech on how to arrange vehicle identification number (VIN) inspections with sheriff’s personnel.
“My fellow Laramie County citizens, I need to talk to you about something very important today. VIN Inspections. Very important, very important,” begins Trump, who is actually Laramie County Sheriff’s Deputy Drew Harrison. But don’t tell the MAVA crowd that.
“I’ve bought millions and millions of vehicles, so I know a thing or two about VIN inspections,” Harrison continues. Vehicle owners need to have VIN inspections done by sheriff’s deputies or “posse” volunteers when the vehicle changes hands or when it’s registered for the first time, he says.
While Trump speaks, other breaking news headlines run as splash text under the broadcast, announcing that Sheriff Brian Kozak is actually an alien (probably of the Martian, not Mexican variety), and that the sheriff’s deputies who have served as U.S. Marines are furious that they can no longer find crayons to eat. Another splash text announces that due to recent power outages, the local firefighters’ “Call of Duty” scores have dropped; but the firefighters are happy they have sheriff’s deputies to look up to, to get them through the difficult time.
“So when John Q public walks in to get a VIN inspection, or one of those greenies,” continues Trump, using a Wyoming pejorative term for Coloradans, “You know what I’m talkin’ about, one o’ those greenies – comes up to our big, big, beautiful state here in Wyoming and wants to register a vehicle, they need to have a VIN inspection done.”
People can call a deputy out to their homes to have the inspection done. “Or if you’re a great American like me,” says Trump, people can bring their vehicles to the sheriff’s office for the inspection.
“Our deputies and volunteer posse do millions and millions of the VIN inspections every year for you, the public,” says Trump.
The “president’s” claim may be overblown: Laramie County’s population is just over 100,000.
It is “fake news, Russia-Russia-Russia, not gonna happen” that sheriff’s deputies will hunt down people’s oddly located VINs without their help. People also need to be present when deputies come out to check their vehicles.
In “Chyna,” they don’t even do VIN inspections, Trump notes. “We don’t like stolen vehicles here in Laramie County.”
Under Trump and Kozak’s administrations, they’re going to make. VIN inspections. Great. again, says Trump, adding that Kozak is a “great guy” and a “great golfer.”
Explain Yourself
In a Monday interview with Cowboy State Daily, Kozak said the department wanted to educate people on how best to obtain VIN inspections, but knew people wouldn’t watch the video unless it was funny.
Harrison has an Army background and the video editor, Cpl. Steve Neisen, has an Air Force background. So of course they poked fun at the multiple Marines on staff, Kozak noted, adding that the video edit was not done on county time.
They made fun of firefighters because they had to. It’s within them, the sheriff added.
The video is part of a new periodical video series the sheriff’s office posts to its Facebook page called “Statute Sundays,” aimed at educating people about the law.
OK, Trump
Harrison told Cowboy State Daily that he performed the Trump segment because he’s “kinda” known for impersonating the president.
The video came about by team effort: Deputies brought together the wig, the Band-aid for Trump’s bullet-grazed ear, a jacket, tie, flag pin, and orange makeup.
The orange makeup “wasn’t as orange as we’d hoped,” said Harrison.
The decision to troll the Marines now working as deputies was “a collective effort, ma’am,” said Harrison with a laugh.
He hasn’t yet heard from the local firefighters about their “Call of Duty” scores, surprisingly, said Harrison.
For law enforcement agents, the burst of humor isn’t out of character, he said. “In this line of work, absolutely (it’s) a coping mechanism of sorts.”
As it turns out, it’s also a way to get a statewide news outlet to write about VIN inspections.
“I hope you like it,” said Harrison with a laugh.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
