Alerts: Scooter Theft, Texting While Driving
I thought I should share with you two important alerts: one on the recent rise in scooter thefts and another a warning against texting while driving.
Police community officer POFC J. Black is saying that there has been a recent increase in the number of motor scooter thefts in the area of College Park.
Here are some helpful tips to prevent you from becoming a victim:
- Please remember to properly secure your scooter and utilize any and all anti theft devices including wheel locks, scooter alarms, and armored cables.
- All of these items can be picked up at your local bike shop.
- Remember to park your scooter in a lighted area.
- Report any suspicious activity to the County Police at 911 or 301-352-1200.
- Please record the serial number of your scooter.
In case you have more questions, please contact Officer J. Black #3014 COPS-B, District I (5000 Rhode Island Avenue Hyattsville, MD 20781) at 301-699-2631 (W) and 240-695-7508 (C).
Please note that this is a primary offense law and a misdemeanor crime. A first offense carries a fine of $70 and a second offense fine is $110. This law does not apply to texting 9-1-1 or using a GPS.
According to the US Department of Transportation, an estimated 800,000 vehicles nationally were driven by someone who used a hand-held cell phone during their drive last year.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that 67 percent of drivers admitted to talking on their cell phones within the last 30 days, and 21 percent of drivers indicated they had read or sent a text or e-mail message. That figure rose to 40 percent for drivers under the age of 35.
Public Safety | Fazlul Kabir October 5, 2011
