Rain Expected in LA County

Are You and Your Vehicle Ready For Wet Weather Driving?

Are you ready for some rain? The winter storms headed towards LA County this week could be the wettest in almost two years according to the National Weather Service. One thing our deputies always hear, especially during wet weather is, “people in Southern California don’t know how to drive in the rain.” Regardless of how much rain is expected to fall this week, now is great time to prepare for the wet weather.

Prepare Your Car for Rain

Wipers - Note the condition of your wipers because they are a major tool in the rainy season. Pay attention to the rubber, if found to be brittle or cracked, the rubber should be replaced immediately. Effective January 1, 2005 during daylight hours, if the windshield wipers of your vehicle are in use while you're driving the vehicle, the headlamps of the vehicle must be on.

Headlamps – Make sure both are working correctly. Use your low beam headlights at night and when it rains. Do not drive using only your parking lights.

Brakes and Tires – Arguably the most important components of any car. Preparing your car for the rain also means checking your brakes and tires.

Don’t Just Prepare Your Vehicle — Prepare Yourselves Too!

Many roads are the most slippery when it first starts to rain because oil and dust have not yet washed away. Slow down at the first sign of rain, drizzle, or snow on the road. Turn on your windshield wipers, low-beam headlights, and defroster. SLOW DOWN AND INCREASE YOUR FOLLOWING DISTANCE!

If you are involved in a collision, you must stop. Someone could be injured and need your help. If you do not stop, you may be convicted of “hit and run” and could be severely punished. Call 9-1-1 if anyone is hurt. Move your vehicle out of the traffic lane if no one is injured or killed. Show your driver license, registration card, evidence of financial responsibility, and current address to the other driver or persons involved.

California needs the rain, especially with drought conditions. (Speaking of drought – Turn off your sprinklers until the middle of next week)

Our deputies want you to remember that light rain or the first rain of the season often leads to dangerous conditions in which to operate your vehicle, however if you are aware of your surroundings and anticipate events you can avoid getting involved in a collision and safely navigate the wet roadways. It starts with being prepared, understanding your driving choices, and then making the right ones.

Burglars

Most burglars will spend no longer than 60 seconds trying to break into a home and most entries occur during daylight /work hours. 

Good locks -- and good neighbors who watch out for each other – are the most effective deterrents to burglars.

CHECK THE LOCKS
Did you know that in almost half of all completed residential burglaries thieves entered through unlocked doors or crawled through unlocked windows?
• Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well-installed dead bolt lock.
• Sliding glass doors can offer easy access if they are not properly secured. You can secure them by installing commercially available locks or putting a broomstick or dowel in the inside track to jam the door.
• Instead of hiding keys around the outside of your home, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust.
• When you move into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks.

CHECK THE DOORS
• A lock on a flimsy door is about as effective as locking your car door but leaving the window down.
• All outside doors should be metal or solid wood.

CHECK THE OUTSIDE
• Burglars hate bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on at night.
• Keep your yard clean. Prune back shrubbery so it doesn't hide doors or windows.
• Cut back tree limbs that a thief could use to climb to an upper-level window.
• If you travel, create the illusion that you're at home by getting some timers that will turn lights on and off in different areas of your house throughout the evening. Lights burning 24 hours a day signal an empty house.
• Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. And don't let your mail pile up! Call the post office to stop delivery or have a neighbor pick it up.

FBI News Release

Violent Fugitive May Be Traveling in California

This advisory was issued this evening in multiple media markets throughout California and in Mexico based on information indicating the subject described below is heading south from where he was last seen in northern California (San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland).

 

Kevin Anthony Briggs, a convicted felon and registered sex offender, is wanted for his alleged involvement in the assaults of a female and a police officer in Bozeman, Montana. He also is known as Aimee MacIntire, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Briggs, Kevin A. Briggs, Timothy McCoy, James Meismer, James Zenon Meismer. 

 

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the location and arrest of Kevin Anthony Briggs who is wanted for

state charges of aggravated assault, attempted sexual intercourse without consent, assault on a police officer and escape. Briggs is wanted on federal charges of Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP). 

 

Authorities believe Briggs purchased a one-way bus ticket to Spokane, Washington, on February 1, 2014, from Missoula, Montana. Information developed during the investigation suggests he traveled to the Bay area and may be heading south to Mexico. 

 

Briggs has a violent criminal history and should be considered armed, dangerous or possibly suicidal. 

 

Briggs is described to be a white male, 5’5” to 5’7” and 120 to 150 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has a sunburst tattoo around his right nipple, a tattoo in his armpit and a tattoo on his lower lip. He has a double "snake bite" piercing on his bottom lip. He also has a belly button piercing and pierced ears. Briggs was last wearing gray sweatpants, a dark-colored hooded jacket or parka, black shoes and a dark baseball cap. 

 

Briggs is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information as to the identity or whereabouts of this fugitive should refrain from approaching him and is urged to contact law enforcement immediately. 

 

Additional information about Briggs can be found at the links below: 

 

http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/additional/kevin-anthony-briggs/view 

 

https://twitter.com/FBIMostWanted

 

www.facebook.com/fbi

 

 

Laura Eimiller

FBI Press Relations

Los Angeles Field Office

http://losangeles.fbi.gov

www.labankrobbers.org

LADOT Mobile Ticketing

LADOT ANNOUNCES FIRST DEMONSTRATION OF MOBILE TICKETING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (February 6, 2014) – The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will become the first transit service provider in Southern California to demonstrate a mobile ticketing application that will allow riders of LADOT Transit Services to pay for their transit fares using smart phones with the signing of a demonstration agreement with Portland, Oregon-based GlobeSherpa.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti hailed the demonstration as one of the many steps by his administration to provide the highest level of customer-oriented service to the public, "The days of needing exact change for the bus are over. This technology makes the rider experience easier and more convenient and is a great example of how innovation can provide better customer service and save money for the city."

LADOT chose GlobeSherpa to demonstrate a mobile ticketing application that is simple to use while providing safe transaction processing. Riders on LADOT’s DASH and Commuter Express service will be able to purchase passes and tickets directly from their smartphones. The demonstration will begin in Summer 2014 on LADOT Commuter Express and DASH services.

The LADOT/GlobeSherpa mobile ticketing application will include the following features:

•   Ability to purchase, store, and use single or multiple LADOT fares on one mobile device
•   Customized animated ticket and QR-code support for easy authentication
•   Capability to register and save more than one credit or debit card
•   eCommerce website for online ticket purchases and account management
•   Inspector Application for LADOT personnel to verify mobile tickets
•   Future support for TAP accounts and employer benefit programs

GlobeSherpa CEO Nat Parker stated: “Mobile ticketing is the first step in the revolution of mobile payments for transit fare collection. Smartphones and smart devices will increasingly replace cash and flash and magnetic stripe passes used by transit riders today. We are thrilled to be working with LADOT on this pilot in the City of Angels.”

About LADOT
LADOT is the second largest provider of public transit services in Los Angeles County delivering more than 26,000,000 rides in fiscal year 2012-2013. LADOT provides express bus, local circulator bus services and transportation options for seniors and the mobility challenged. For further information about LADOT Transit services, riders can call the LADOT Transit Store at (213, 310, 323, 818) 808-2273 or visit www.ladottransit.com. For more information about the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, please visit www.ladot.lacity.org.

About GlobeSherpa
GlobeSherpa provides a secure mobile ticketing platform for transit agencies, parking lot operators, and event management companies with open payments, open data, and mobile fare collection solution. For more information about GlobeSherpa please visit www.globesherpa.com