Silence the Distractions, Turn Off Phones While Driving

No text, call, or social media update is worth a crash. “It’s Not Worth It!” is the call for Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April

To save lives and educate all Californians, especially young drivers, about the dangers of distracted driving, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Impact Teen Drivers, the Monterey Park Police Department and more than 200 other law enforcement agencies statewide are working together on increased education and enforcement efforts for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April and California Teen Safe Driving Week, the first week of April.

“Driving takes one’s full attention and any distraction can have deadly, dangerous consequences,” said Chief Jim Smith of the Monterey Park Police Department. “Imagine driving for four or five seconds while blindfolded. That can be the effect of looking down to send a text message. In the average time it takes to check a text message – less than 5 seconds – a car travelling 60 mph will travel more than the length of a football field.”

Throughout the month of April, Police, Sheriff and the CHP will focus on educating the public about the dangers of driving distracted through local media interviews, visits to schools, and traffic safety presentations. In addition, two dates, April 1 and April 15, have been earmarked for special statewide high visibility enforcement days for all law enforcement agencies that are participating in the national traffic safety campaign.

The urge to read and answer an incoming message when we hear the text sound can be almost overwhelming. The Office of Traffic Safety is using a message of “Silence the Distraction” in new public service announcements aimed at getting drivers to turn off their phones while driving so they won’t be tempted.

“No text, call, or social media update is worth a crash,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “With an average of less than a second to react to an urgent situation, drivers need to have all their attention on the roadway.”

While distracted driving can take on many forms and affects all road users, young drivers are at a greater risk. During “California Teen Safe Driving Week,” April 1-7, Impact Teen Drivers will focus on educating teens that their number one killer – reckless and distracted driving – is 100% preventable. “People are realizing that everyday behaviors, such as texting or reaching for a dropped item, can be lethal when done behind the wheel,” Kelly Browning, Ph.D., Executive Director of Impact Teen Drivers, said.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Field Enforcement of Pet Licenses Begins April 29

Officers from the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) will be conducting field licensing enforcement in the City of Monterey Park beginning on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Field enforcement efforts are designed to ensure that residents’ dogs (mandatory) and cats (voluntary) are in compliance with licensing requirements. California State law requires that all dogs over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies and be licensed. Beginning January 1, 2014, puppies may be vaccinated at three months old, but still are not required to be vaccinated until four months of age. Securing a dog or cat license is essential to assisting animal control agencies if a pet becomes lost.

The licensing fees for Monterey Park residents are as follows:
• Unaltered dog: $40
• Altered dog: $20
• Altered dog belonging to a senior citizen (60+): $0 (one altered dog per household) City Police Department will assist with the registration of altered dogs belonging to senior citizens.
• Unaltered cat: $10 (Voluntary registration)
• Altered cat: $5 (Voluntary registration)
• Penalty fee: Equal to the license fee.

Pet owners are advised to be in compliance with the licensing ordinance. Residents not in compliance will be subject to license fees and delinquency charges, including a $40 field enforcement fee, to offset the cost of the Department’s field services. In order to avoid penalties, be sure to license your dog. You can secure a new dog license by printing the application online at http://animalcare.lacounty.gov, or visiting your local County animal care center. If your license is not delinquent, you can also renew it through the Internet.

There are six Los Angeles County Animal Care Centers with locations in Downey, Baldwin Park, Carson, Castaic, Lancaster and Agoura Hills, plus the Antelope Valley Adoption Center, located in Lancaster. For many Monterey Park residents, the closest center is Downey at 11258 South Garfield Avenue, Downey, CA 90242.

For more information about LA County animal control field enforcement please call their general information line at 562-728-4882; visit www.animalcare.lacounty.gov or www.facebook.com/CountyofLosAngelesAnimalCare; or contact Monterey Park Police Lt. Steve Coday at 626-307-1243.