Weekly Activity Highlights for August 20 - 26, 2017

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=11444

Weekly Tip - Avoid a Parking Ticket

With school back in session, there is certainly no shortage of parking violations near our school campuses. Some of the most common complaints and requests for police service near the schools are related to parking violations. In the rush to drop off a child, it is not uncommon to find parents double parking, stopping in a lane of traffic to drop off or pick up a child, parking or stopping in a red zone, parking well away from the curb because "the trash can" was in the way, blocking or impeding a resident's driveway...you name it, we see it.

Here are a few suggestions to help alleviate the congestion and avoid a parking or moving citation:

•Leave a few minutes earlier and avoid the rush.

•Park a little further away and walk your child to school.

•Obey all parking regulations.

•Follow the school's traffic plan.

•Be patient.

•Keep off the phone and pay attention.

•Set the example, don't encourage unsafe or illegal behavior.

•Be courteous to the school neighbors. It is NOT OK to impede a driveway, even if only for a few minutes.

Save the Date - Coffee with a Cop

Arrest / Crime Trends - Third Row Seat Theft

This past week, we have had reports of at least four, third row seat thefts from SUV's.  The majority of these thefts have occurred in restaurant or shopping center parking lots, afternoon and evening hours.  It only takes seconds for a thief to break a window, enter the vehicle, and make off with the third row seat.  The seats are often then sold on the Internet, to salvage yards, and at flea markets.  If your third row seat is not bolted down to the floor of the SUV, here are some tips to help prevent this type of theft:

• Park in visible, well-lighted areas
• Back into the stall against a wall or tree, making access more difficult
• If not in use, remove the third row seat and store it at home
• Park in the garage or behind a gate, when possible
• Use a cable or other lock to secure the seat when in the vehicle
• Etch your VIN (vehicle identification number) on the seat frame
• Report suspicious persons and vehicles. If you See Something, Say Something! 

Weekly Activity Highlights for August 13 - 19, 2017

https://www.arcadiaca.gov:15013/home/showdocument?id=10362

Weekly Tip - "Grandparent Scam"

An old scam that preys primarily on the elderly, sometimes called the "Grandparent Scam", has found its way back to the area.  Last week, the Arcadia Police Department has took a report from a victim of this type of scam, one of which involved the purchase of gift cards.

The typical scenario begins with a phone call to an elderly victim.  The suspect caller will identity themselves as the victim's grandchild or perhaps ask the victim, "Don't you know who this is?"  The suspect will play on the victim's emotions, they may cry or apologize for not calling more often.  The suspect will then enter into a sad tale of hardship or say that they have been arrested and are in need of bail.  The scammer usually will instruct the victim to go to a local money transfer location and wire or overnight the funds to another location and ask them to keep the event secret from other family members.  In some cases, the scammer may have accomplices that will join the suspect during the phone call in attempts to legitimize the request by representing themselves as a police officer or bail agent.

We hope to help prevent this type of crime by providing education and bringing awareness to the topic.  No different than in person, always be certain of who you are dealing with when on the telephone.  Always verify information and identity.  Ask questions that only your actual relative should know.  Don't volunteer names or other personal information unless you have initiated the contact.  Take the time to verify a legitimate need through other sources such as other relatives or by making independent inquiries yourself, not to a phone number provided by the suspect.  Never rush to wire money or send checks via courier.  You are likely to lose your cash before you even realize that you have been victimized.  These suspects are predators hoping for an emotional response.  Let good judgment and reason guide you.  Your legitimate loved one would understand and welcome your concern. Please share this information with your older relatives, friends, or neighbors.

Here is a good prevention video on the topic presented by the Redlands Police Department:

DUI Checkpoint, August 18 from 6PM-2AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                           

CONTACT:  Sgt. Kollin Cieadlo – 626-574-5475

This Labor Day, The Arcadia Police Department

Reminds Citizens to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

In Effort to End Impaired Driving

The end of summer is traditionally marked by the Labor Day holiday, a time for our country to reflect on the hard work of our fellow Americans. The long weekend is celebrated through picnics, pool parties, and barbecues, as families and friends enjoy the last few days of summer before fall and winter approach. Sadly, the Labor Day holiday is also one of the deadliest, with alcohol and drug impaired drivers endangering themselves and others on America’s roadways.

This year, the Arcadia Police Department is partnering with police, Sheriffs and the CHP across the state to stop impaired drivers and help save lives. The high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs from August 18 through September 4, 2017.

The Arcadia Police Department Traffic Bureau will hold a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint during the evening of August 18, 2017. The checkpoint will run between the hours of 6:00 P.M. on August 18^th through 2:00 A.M. on August 19^th. This checkpoint along with routine patrols, are aimed to drastically reduce impaired driving on our community’s roadways.

Statistics nationwide show a dangerous trend in impaired driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,265 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2015, a three percent rise in deaths over 2014. That’s roughly one person killed every 51 minutes in 2015. That’s the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing each year, with no survivors. This is why the Arcadia Police Department is working to remind drivers that impaired driving is not only illegal, it is a matter of life and death.

Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment.  When possible, specially trained officers will be available to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which now accounts for a growing number of impaired driving crashes. 

In recent years, California has seen an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes.  The Arcadia Police Department supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.”  If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI.  Marijuana use can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

Plan your sober ride home before the party begins as end of summer activities wraps up.  It is never okay to drive impaired. Even if you’ve had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get home safely.

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone.  The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more. 

Have family or a friend who is about to drive buzzed or impaired? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely. The cost of a ride home is cheap.  Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspensions and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

Funding for this DUI operation is provided to the Arcadia Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’.

Weekly Activity Highlights for August 6 - 12, 2017

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=10340

Weekly Tip - Back to School Traffic Laws

The Arcadia Police Department wants to remind our residents that students go back to school this week. Remember to allow a little extra time if your travels take you near any of the schools in Arcadia, or if you are taking your kids to school.  The Arcadia Police Department Traffic Bureau hopes this 2017-2018 school year will be exciting and successful. With that in mind, we would like to remind all students and parents of the shared responsibility they have in understanding and obeying traffic laws that help maintain safety in and around our school zones. For this purpose, we have provided a list of the most commonly violated traffic laws in our City’s school zones, allowing you to make a conscious and informed effort to create a safe environment for your fellow students, and or your children.

PARKING LAWS

California Vehicle Code section 21458(a) describes rules for curb markings.

1. RED Curb indicates no stopping, standing, or parking, whether the vehicle is attended or unattended, (No Student Drop Off or Pick Up in Red Zones)

2. YELLOW

Curb indicates stopping for the loading or unloading of passengers or freight (20 Minutes For Material & 3 Minutes For Passengers)

3. WHITE Curb indicates stopping for the loading or unloading of passengers (3 Minutes for Passengers)

4. GREEN Curb indicates time limit parking specified by local ordinance (24 & 30 Minute Zones)

5. BLUE Curb indicates parking limited exclusively to the vehicles of disabled persons

V.C. 22500(H) DOUBLE PARKING

Prohibits stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle on the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, parked or standing at the curb or edge of a highway (Often seen as parents drop off/pick up children in the lanes of traffic)

V.C. 22500(b) Park in Cross Walk

Prohibits the stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle in a crosswalk

V.C. 22500(e) Park in Front of Public Drive

Prohibits stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle in front of a public driveway

V.C. 22500(i) Bus Zone

Prohibits stopping, parking, or standing of any attended/unattended vehicle alongside a curb authorized for the loading and unloading of passengers of a bus, when indicated by a sign or red paint on the curb.

V.C. 22502 Parking Over 18” from Right Hand Side of Curb / Parking on Wrong Side of Street

Every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway…shall be stopped or parked with the right hand wheels of such vehicle parallel with and within 18 inches of the right-hand curb, except that motorcycles shall be parked with at least one wheel or fender touching the right-hand curb.

V.C. 22514 Park Near Fire Hydrant

No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. EXCEPT, If the vehicle is attended by a licensed driver who is seated in the front seat and who can immediately move such vehicle in case of necessity.

Side Note—If the curb next to the fire hydrant is painted red, the vehicle stopping or parking to facilitate student pickup or drop off could still be cited for stopping/parking in a red zone

ENFORCEMENT

Officers commonly enforce parking laws in school zones by means of video enforcement. Officers may use video cameras to record violations as they occur and then mail the registered owner of the violating vehicle a citation for the observed violation. It is important to remember that the registered owner is the person receiving the citation, not the driver of the vehicle. The registered owner is responsible to resolve the citation. If parking citations are not cleared, either by dismissal or payment, the registered owner may not be able to renew their vehicle’s registration until the citation has been cleared by the DMV. Vehicles that have five or more citations on file are subject to impound, per California Vehicle Code section 22651(i)(1). The enforcement of parking restrictions and traffic laws in our school zones helps maintain vehicle and pedestrian safety, reminds drivers and pedestrians of their responsibility to share the roadway, and hopefully serves as a deterrent to prevent persons from future rule breaking.

MOVING & NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS

V.C. 22101(d) Disobey Traffic Control Devices (No Left Turn, No Turn on Red, Yield, or No U-turn Signs at an Intersection)

When official traffic control devices are placed as required in subdivision (b) or (c), it shall be unlawful for any driver of a vehicle to disobey the directions of such official traffic control devices

V.C. 21461(a) Failure to Obey a Posted Sign (No left turn, No U-Turn, No Student Drop Off Signs, etc)

It is unlawful for a driver of a vehicle to fail to obey a sign or signal, or to fail to obey a device erected or maintained by lawful authority of a public body or official.

V.C. 22103 No U-turn in Residential District

No person in a residential district shall make a U-turn when any other vehicle is approaching from either direction within 200 feet, except at an intersection when the approaching vehicle is controlled by an official traffic control device.

V.C. 21950(a) Drivers Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk

The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

V.C. 21950(b) Pedestrian to Exercise Due Care

This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

V.C. 21950(c) Drivers to Exercise Due Care

The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of pedestrians

V.C. 21954(a) Pedestrians Outside of Crosswalks

Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.

V.C. 21955 Jaywalking

Pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices or by police officers. (Example: Duarte Road between Santa Anita & El Monte = Jaywalking)

V.C. 21100.3 Disobey a Crossing Guard

It is unlawful for any person to disobey the traffic directions of a person appointed or authorized by local authority to regulate traffic pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 21000 when such appointee is wearing an official insignia issued by the local authority and is acting in the course of his appointed duties.

V.C. 22350 Unsafe Speed (School Zone)

When signs are posted for a “School Zone—When Children Present”, the speed limit is reduced to 25 MPH. This applies whenever children are present (Before, During & After School).

V.C. 23123(a) Talking on Cell Phone While Driving (18 + = Adult) & V.C. 23124 Cell Phone Under 18 Yrs.

Adult shall not drive a vehicle while using a wireless telephone, unless hands free. Minors may not use cell or hands free device.

V.C. 23123.5 Texting While Driving

A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communication device to write, send or read texts.

H&S 118948(a) Smoking in Vehicle

It is unlawful for a person to smoke a pipe, cigar, or cigarette in a motor vehicle, whether in motion or at rest, in which there is a minor (someone under 18 years old). For the purpose of this section, “To smoke” means to have in one’s immediate possession a lighted pipe, cigar, or cigarette containing tobacco or any other plant.

SEATBELT LAWS

The driver and all occupants of a moving vehicle must properly wear safety belts, as they were designed to be worn. The shoulder strap must be worn over shoulders, not under.

V.C. 21212(a) Helmet Laws

Persons under 18 years of age must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet for bicycles, skateboards, roller

Weekly Tip - Who's Knocking at My Door?

A topic that is important to all of us is knowing that we are safe in our homes. There are plenty of businesses, organizations and websites that offer burglary prevention tips for while you are gone, but what about some simple steps to help ensure your personal safety while at home? What do you do when someone knocks at your door? What should you do if you see someone suspicious in your neighborhood? Do you lock your front door when working in the back yard? Is the person at your door really legitimate? 

Here are some quick thoughts on staying safe while at home:

• Don’t just answer your door. Use peep holes or sidelight windows to see who is at the door. Ask, “Who’s there?” Inquire with anyone you don’t recognize as to who they are and what their business is. Take a look out your window. Is there a marked service vehicle, a police car, UPS, or vehicle you recognize?
• Always ask for work ID if you are not positive of who they are. 
• If in any doubt, don't open the door. Tell them you are calling the police to check them out.
• Keep your front door locked, especially if you are upstairs, outback, or in another portion of the house. Unlocked doors are an invitation to trouble.
• Keep garages closed. An open garage is an invitation for theft.
• Close and lock windows at night, or at least use a window stop to limit the opening.
• If you have a cordless or cell phone, keep it with you.
• Know your neighbors and your neighborhood. Be familiar with faces and cars. If you see someone in the area that is acting suspicious, on your property or someone else’s, give your local police a call right away.
• Look around as you pull into your driveway or walk outside. Be aware of who and what is around you.

There are times when utility workers, contract tree crews, and even law enforcement may need access to your yard, but rarely your home. Don't fall prey to a ruse or distraction type crime where someone knocks and asks to come inside your home. Unless you have called for service, DO NOT allow them entry and call the police.

Suspects look for victims. They look for a weakness, an opening, an easy target. Some will try and scam or trick you in to allowing them entrance to your home. Make things as difficult as possible. Do use common sense and be proactive about your own and your family’s safety.

Weekly Activity Highlights for July 23 - August 5, 2017

July 23 - 29, 2017
(https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=10219)

July 30 - August 5, 2017
(https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=10269)

Weekly Tip - Tax Debt Phone Scams Continue

The Arcadia Police Department has become aware of a recent phone scam targeting random citizens.  The suspicious call is a recorded voice saying they will "call the local cops" if you do not return their call regarding an outstanding tax debt. In the past, we have also seen calls with the phone number shown on the caller identification as 626-574-5151, which is the main phone line of the Arcadia Police Department.  Don’t fall for this scam!  The Arcadia Police Department urges the public to stay alert to these types of scam phone calls. 

The IRS, the US Treasury Department, and local police will not:

--Call to demand immediate payment over the phone or call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.

--Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

--Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.

--Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.

Visit the IRS website for additional information on scams.

https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Urges-Public-to-Stay-Alert-for-Scam-Phone-Calls