The Chief's Corner
 

Watch out for Identity Theft

By Chief of Police Hank Tobin
 Town of Middletown PD

 

 

Deter identity thieves
by safeguarding your information.

■ Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.

■ Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.

■ Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact and know who you are dealing with.

■ Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a Web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.

■ Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

■ Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

 If you think your identity
has been compromised:
■ File a police report. File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime. If you live in Middletown, call the Middletown PD at 376-9950.
■ Report your complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.
Online: ftc.gov/idtheft
 By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261
By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580

Thank you to the FTC for identity theft tips. For more, visit www.ftc.gov

Did you know?

    Did you know that you cannot leave a disabled vehicle on a public roadway or on private property? All vehicles on any town roadway or on private property must be operable and have current registration. If not, it is subject to being tagged and towed.

§ 4401. Purpose; abandoned vehicles on private property or public highways; definition.

(a) The purpose of this chapter is to eliminate abandoned vehicles which tend to impede traffic in the streets or interfere with the enjoyment of, and reduce the value of, private property, to invite plundering, to create fire hazards and other safety and health hazards to children as well as to adults, to interfere with the comfort and well being of the public and to create, extend and aggravate urban blight.

(b) Any vehicle that is either (1) inoperable, dismantled, wrecked, or which displays expired registration plates which are at least 30 days expired, or which displays no registration plates, or from which major components have been removed, is in such a state of disrepair as to be incapable of being operated in the manner for which it is designed and is situated on private property appearing to have been abandoned; or (2) which is inoperable, dismantled, wrecked, or which displays expired registration plates which are at least 30 days expired, or which displays no registration plates, or from which the major components have been removed and which shall have been placed upon any State or public highway or property or the property or roads of any political subdivision or the State or public highways within a municipality or upon any express highway in the State for a period in excess of 12 hours without being removed, shall be considered to be abandoned for the purpose of this chapter, except:

(1) That vehicles and equipment used or to be used in the construction, operation or maintenance of public utility facilities and which are left in a manner which does not interfere with the normal movement of traffic shall not be considered abandoned vehicles for the purposes of this chapter;

(2) Those vehicles whose owners have properly parked and locked them and have notified the State Police, county police or municipal police, as the case may be, as designated in § 4402 of this title, that the owner desires to leave the vehicle so parked and secured for a period not to exceed 30 days, except that if during such period the vehicle is no longer secured, or, in the opinion of the State Police, county police or municipal police, has become a danger to the public, then the vehicle shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.

 

    Delaware law states that you cannot operate an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV), for example a dirtbike or four-wheeler, on any property unless you have permission of the property owner?

 

§ 6821. Operation of OHVs -- On property.

(a) A person shall not operate an OHV upon any property in either public or private ownership without the express permission of the person in control of the property or knowingly in violation of any restrictions imposed on such use by the person in control of the property.
    (b) Penalties. --
(1) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to the following penalties:
        a. For the first offense, a fine of $100 and an impoundment of the OHV at time of conviction for up to 30 days, which may be suspended by the court.
        b. For each subsequent offense, the OHV owner shall be fined $1,000 and the OHV will be impounded for a minimum of 60 days from date of conviction. A subsequent offense, before being punishable as such, shall have been committed within 24 months after commission of the first offense.
        c. Under this section, the OHV will be returned to the owner once the fine and impoundment costs have been paid by the OHV owner or, if the fine is appealed, once the owner has complied with the court's decision or the court decides the owner and/or operator is not guilty of the offense under subsection (a) of this section. The owner will not be responsible for impoundment costs if found not guilty by the court.
(2) In addition, restitution shall be made for value of damage to real or personal property which results from a violation of this section. (61 Del. Laws, c. 142, § 6; 73 Del. Laws, c. 305, § 1.)

Also, did you know at no time can you operate an OHV on a public roadway or sidewalk?

 

§ 6814. Operation of OHVs -- Upon public highways, streets, sidewalks or rights-of-way; penalties for violation.

(a) OHVs shall not be operated upon a public highway or street or sidewalk or right-of-way thereof located within this State except under the following conditions:
(1) An OHV may be pushed across or along such public way provided such OHV is in neutral or that the power train is otherwise disengaged, and further provided that such use shall be in conformance with Chapter 41 of this title.
(2) An OHV may be operated on a street or highway located within this State for a special event of limited duration, conducted according to a prearranged schedule only under permit from the governmental unit having jurisdiction.
    (b) A person convicted of a violation of any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be punished by the penalties in § 6831 of this title. (61 Del. Laws, c. 142, § 6; 65 Del. Laws, c. 112, §§ 1, 2; 65 Del. Laws, c. 398, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 2.)

Delaware law states that when you have your windshield wipers on, you must turn your headlights on.

   Delaware Traffic Code, Title 21, Chapter 43, Subchapter II, Section 4331.

§ 4331. When lighted lamps are required.

(a) Every vehicle upon a highway within this State at any time from sunset to sunrise, or during fog, smoke, rain or when windshield wipers are in use because of weather conditions or at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet ahead shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices, exclusive of parking lamps, as hereinafter respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles.

(b) The portion of subsection (a) of this section criminalizing the failure to display lighted lamps and illuminating devices when windshield wipers are in use because of weather conditions shall constitute a secondary offense in that no person shall be stopped by a police officer for that failure alone. (36 Del. Laws, c. 10, §§ 128, 130; Code 1935, §§ 5666, 5668; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 4331; 50 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 504, § 1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 417, §§ 1-3.)

 

    Delaware law states that residents have 60 days to get their driver's licenses changed with a new address.

 

Delaware Code Title 21, Chapter 27:

§ 2704. Licenses of new residents; penalty.

(a) Every person desiring to operate a motor vehicle shall, within 60 days after taking up residence in this State, apply to the Secretary and obtain the proper license.

(b) Whoever violates subsection (a) of this section shall for the first offense be fined not less than $25 nor more than $100. For each subsequent like offense, the violator shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $200, or imprisoned not less than 10 nor more than 30 days, or both.

(c) The Division of Motor Vehicles shall provide notice of the obligation to register pursuant to § 4120 of Title 11 to each new resident applicant for a license to operate a motor vehicle. Every applicant for a driver's license shall sign an acknowledgment provided by the Division that the applicant has received notice that registration in compliance with § 4120 of Title 11 is mandatory for any person who has been convicted in any other state of any offense which, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as 1 or more of the offenses referenced in § 4120(a) of Title 11, and that such registration must occur within 7 days of coming into any county, city or town in which the applicant temporarily resides or is domiciled for that length of time.

All such signed acknowledgments shall be kept as permanent records by the Division in a format approved by the Director of Historical and Cultural Affairs, which may include storage on microfiche or other non-paper forms of permanent retention. (Code 1935, § 5546A; 48 Del. Laws, c. 293, § 1; 21 Del. C. 1953, § 2703; 57 Del. Laws, c. 670, § 11A; 62 Del. Laws, c. 237, § 4; 64 Del. Laws, c. 466, § 6; 65 Del. Laws, c. 503, § 12; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 397, §§ 20, 21.)

   As summer arrives, residents will be outside of their homes more often – out in their yards gardening, cutting the grass, playing with the kids …

    It’s important this time of year to remember to always keep the house locked, even when you’re “just right outside.”

    Unfortunately, we live in a day and age when you have to be on guard and wary of everyone. If a potential thief sees you outside in the garden, they might attempt the doors outside of your view to get into your home and see if there’s anything for the “taking.”

    This theory applies to your vehicles as well. Always keep the doors locked in your vehicle – even when it’s in your own driveway. Warm weather will bring you, your kids and neighbors outside, and it will also bring out the people looking to make a quick dollar. Don’t make it easy for them. Don’t leave expensive items like cameras, mp3 players, laptops, GPS systems or other gadgets in your car.

    Or, if you want to leave them in the car, at least cover them up and hide them under your seat, in the trunk or glovebox – someplace in your vehicle so they can’t be seen by passersby.

    Also, make sure to re-lock your home’s windows if you’ve had them open “airing out the house” when the weather is nice. Again, don’t make getting into your house an easy thing for thieves!

 

Be a good neighbor

    This time of year is also the time when residents are beginning to start traveling and taking vacations. Get to know your neighbors and work together to keep your neighborhood as safe as possible.

    When you take a vacation, if you have a neighbor you trust, tell them you’re leaving and ask them to watch your house for you. Make sure you have someone picking up your mail and newspapers, so it’s not obvious to the rest of the world that you’re not home.

    Tell your trusted neighbor to call police if they see anything suspicious at all while you’re gone.

    For example, if you’re going to have someone check on the house, pick up the mail, etc., let your neighbors know what that person looks like. However, if they see anyone around your house except that person, ask them to call 9-1-1.

    And, please always call us if you see something you think is suspicious. We will never, ever think you are wasting our time. It’s better to be safe than sorry and we are happy to check out something that’s making you uneasy. It’s what we’re here for!

 

Call us for a home safety review

    Middletown residents should feel free to give our office a call to have us come out and do a free home security review of your home. We’ll analyze your current situation, indoor and outdoor lighting, your locks, and show you where your home’s security could be vulnerable.

 

    As always, if you are concerned about any police issues in our community, give me a call at 376-9950.