Retired Chief Zaremba's Column

By Chief Chester J. Zaremba, Nanticoke Police Department

"Get home before the whistle blows." Those words were always in the minds of those of us who were growing up in Nanticoke in the late 50's and early 60's. At ten o'clock each night, the fire whistle would sound and that meant that you had better be off the streets. We didn't ask the reasoning behind it, we didn't want to challenge it in court, we just did it.

I recently addressed a sixth grade class in a local school and when I asked the class if they had any questions, three or four of them wanted to know about the curfew. Mainly, why do we have it? Nanticoke's curfew which exists to this day requires all persons under the age of 18 to be off of public streets and public places (with certain noted exceptions) after the hour of 10 o'clock. Let's examine why.

The citizens of every community in the United States are looking to their local officials to ensure the safety of youth in their communities. The Nanticoke Police Department uses the curfew ordinance as a preventative program to reduce violence against, and the victimization of, juveniles. It was never intended, and is not used, as an enforcement tool. It is used to take young people out of harm's way.

A February, 2000 report by the National League of Cities states that 110 cities have established curfews in the last five years. Another 440 of 490 cities surveyed report that they have, or are in the process of implementing, a curfew. Of these, 68 are daytime curfews. There are those who question the constitutionality of curfews, however, last year the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a Charlottesville, Virginia curfew. The Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling which found that the city's curfew is a valid means of reducing juvenile violence and crime.

Our contact with juveniles as curfew violators has helped some parents identify certain problems that have been brewing at this most difficult growth stage for many children. Officers are trained to look for kids with family problems, abusive home situations, those that have run away from home, those with troubles at school, or whatever could make, or allow, them to be wandering the streets at an early morning hour. Let's remember here that we are talking about this city's youngest citizens, persons under the age of 18, whose inexperience renders them particularly vulnerable to becoming participants in unlawful activities and as was previously indicated, being victimized by older perpetrators of crime.

The curfew also helps parents enforce their own curfew rules. It also goes to foster and strengthen parental responsibility for children. Many parents that I have spoken to on the matter, particularly single mothers of teenagers, have said that the curfew helps them restrict their children's activities. Other parents have told me that they can monitor their children's activities more easily when all the other children in the neighborhood are subject to the curfew and must be home by 10:00 P.M. Parents and guardians must realize that they have to assist in the enforcement of the curfew on the family level and always know the whereabouts of their children after 10:00 P.M.

The officers of this department follow guidelines in dealing with curfew violators. They have a variety of options, such as telling the child to proceed directly home, transporting the juvenile home, or arresting and detaining the youngster. Calling a parent to come and pick up their child from the police station at 4:00 A.M. does wonders for curfew enforcement.

A few years ago this department investigated an incident where in the early morning hours, two sixteen year old girls were "picked up" by two men in their 20's. After a night of joy riding and drinking, the girls alleged that the men sexually assaulted them. The men denied this and were eventually cleared. However, the men were arrested for furnishing alcohol to minors and for corrupting the morals of a minor. This incident points to what could happen when juveniles are exposed to adult behavior before their time. For adults, it should also demonstrate what they leave themselves open for when keeping company with young juveniles. Had the curfew been followed by these young girls, they would have been home safely in their beds at 3:00 A.M. not riding around with two twenty-something adults in their van with a couple of cases of beer.

If you were their parents, where would you rather they were?

top

During the course of any busy day, you may write a check at the local grocery store, charge tickets to a concert, rent a car, mail your tax returns, call home on your cell phone, order new checks or apply for a credit card. The chances are that you don't give these everyday transactions a second thought But someone else may.

Your new credit card fails to arrive in the mail. Months later, creditors you never heard of are repeatedly calling you and demanding payment for merchandise you never bought Your credit history has always been perfect, but you are now being denied financing due to several delinquencies appearing on your credit report. Could this really be happening? Unfortunately, it could, and it has happened to thousands of victims of a crime called "Identity Theft".

The 1990's spawned a new variety of crooks called identity thieves. Their stock in trade are your everyday transactions. Each transaction requires you to share personal information:

Your bank and credit card numbers, your social security number, and your name, address, and phone numbers. An identity thief co-opts some piece of your personal information and appropriates it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. An all-too-common example is when an identity thief uses your personal information to open a credit card account in your name.

Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information or to keep it to yourself, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods, low-tech and high-tech, to gain access to your data. Here are some of the ways impostors can get your personal information and take over your identity.

They steal wallets and purses containing your information.

They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit card offers, telephone calling cards, and tax information.

They complete a "change of address" form to divert your mail to another location. They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data in a practice known as "dumpster diving".

They fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who may have a legitimate need for - and a legal right to - the information.

They get your business or personal records at work. They find personal information in your home. They use personal information you share on the Internet.

Here is how identity thieves use your personal information.

They call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, ask to change the mailing address on your credit card account. The impostor then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are now being sent to a new address, it may take some time before you realize that there is a problem.

They open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth, and social security number. When they use the credit card and don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.

They establish telephone or wireless service in your name.

They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account. They file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred under your name.

They counterfeit checks or debit cards, and drain your bank account. They buy cars by taking out auto loans in your name.

MINIMIZE YOUR RISK

While you probably can't prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk. By managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against theft:

Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your information, can you choose to have it kept confidential.

Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks. Guard your mail from theft. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been delivered. Consider installing a locking mailbox.

Put passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information such as your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your social security number, your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. Change you passwords regularly.

Minimize the identification information and the number of cards your carry to what you'll actually need.

Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know who you're dealing with. Keep items with personal information in a safe place. To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, bank checks and statements, expired charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail.

Be cautious about where you leave personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service work done in your home.

You can also order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies every year. Make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized. The law allows credit bureaus to charge you up to $8.50 for a copy of your credit report. Your credit report contains information on where you work and live, the credit accounts that have been opened in your name, and whether you've been sued, arrested or filed bankruptcy. Checking your report on a regular basis can help you catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances.

CREDIT BUREAUS

Equifax - www.equifax.com

To order your report call: 800-685-1111 or write:

P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 and write:

P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian - www.experian.com

To order your report call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write:

P.O. Box 949, Allen, TX 750 13-0949

To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write:

P.O. Box 949, Allen, TX 75013-0949

Trans Union - www.tuc.com

To order your report, call: 800-916-8800 or write:

760 Sproul Road, P.O. Box 390, Springfield, PA 19064-0390

To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 and write

Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634

A Special word about Social Security Numbers

Your employer and financial institution will need your SSN for wage and tax reporting purposes. Other private businesses may ask you for your SSN to do a credit check, such as when you apply for a car loan. Sometimes, however, they simply want your SSN for general record keeping. You don't have to give a business your SSN just because they ask for it. If someone asks for your SSN, ask the following questions:

Why do you need my SSN?

How will my SSN be used?

What law requires me to give you my SSN?

What will happen if I don't give you my SSN?

Sometimes a business may not provide you with the service or benefit you're seeking if you don't provide your SSN. Getting answers to these questions will help you decide whether you want to share your SSN with the business. Remember, though, that the decision is yours.

CHOOSING TO SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION - OR NOT

What happens to the personal information you provide to companies, marketers and government agencies? They may use your information just to process your order. They may use it to create a profile about you and then let you know about products, services or promotions. Or they may share your information with others, more organizations are offering consumers choices about how their personal information is used. For example, may let you "Opt Out" of having your information shared with others or used for promotional purposes.

If you receive prescreened credit card offers in the mail, but don't tear them up after you decide not to accept the offer, identity thieves may retrieve the offers for their own use without your knowledge. To opt out of receiving prescreened credit card offers, call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). The three major credit bureaus use the same toll-free number to let consumers choose not to receive prescreened credit offers.

Of the three major credit bureaus, only Experian offers consumers the opportunity to have their names removed from lists that are used for marketing and promotional purposes. To have your name removed from Experian's marketing lists, call 1-800-407-1088.

The Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail, E-mail and Telephone Preference Services allow consumers to opt out of direct mail marketing, e-mail marketing and/or telemarketing solicitations from many national companies. Because your name will not be on their lists, it also means that these companies can't rent or sell your name to other companies. To remove your name from many national direct mail lists, write:

DMA Mail Preference Service

P.O. Box 9008

Farmingdale, NY 11735-9088

To remove your e-mail address from many national direct e-mail lists, visit

WWW.E-MPS.ORG

To avoid unwanted phone calls from many national marketers, send your name, address, and

telephone number to:

DMA Telephone Preference Service

P.O. Box 9014

Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014

For more information visit: WWW.THE-DMA.ORG

WHAT IF IT HAPPENS TO ME?

If you should become a victim, you will need to take action quickly:

Notify the police, banks, and creditors immediately. Obtain documentation from your police department as evidence of the fraud having been perpetrated. Cancel all existing credit cards, accounts, passwords and Pin's, and replace them with entirely new ones. Call the credit bureaus and ask each to attach a fraud alert and victim's statement to your report. Ask creditors to call you prior to adding any new items to your report. Have all corrections to anyone who has received your credit report within the past two years. Contact the post office if you suspect that an identity thief has filed a change of address form for your name, and is diverting your mail to another address.

Alert all utility companies that someone has been using your identity fraudulently and inform the appropriate authorities that someone may be using your SSN and driver's license number.

Take action to have any criminal or civil judgments against you that may have resulted from your identity thief s actions, permanently removed.

Keep a log of all your contacts and make copies of all documents. You may also wish to contact a privacy or consumer advocacy group.

In some cases, it may be advisable to seek the assistance of a lawyer.

Can you completely prevent identity theft from occurring? Probably not, especially if someone is determined to commit the crime. But you can minimize your risk by managing your personal information wisely, cautiously and with heightened sensitivity. The Congress of the United States asked the Federal Trade Commission to provide information to consumers about identity theft and to take complaints from those whose identities have been stolen. If you have been a victim of identity theft, you can call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338). The FTC puts your information into a secure consumer fraud database and may, in appropriate instances, share it with other law enforcement agencies.

The theft of your identity can pose a serious threat to your privacy and has the potential to make your life very difficult. This article has provided a brief look at some of the ways identity theft takes place and some of the ways it can be prevented. Identity theft must be fought on all fronts.

top

Chester J. Zaremba

During a recent Abandoned Vehicle sweep in Nanticoke, the police department tagged 93 cars as abandoned. Most of these were on the premises of auto body shops or auto repair shops, and had been there for some time. Procedure requires the police department to determine the vehicle identification number or VIN of the vehicle and send a notice to the last registered owner that the vehicle must be removed or will be towed. The last registered owner is determined by checking Penn DOT records of the VIN. After the VIN was checked and notices were sent, many recipients of those notices called the police department and stated that they had sold those cars years before. It was explained that Penn DOT records still showed them as the registered owner. Most stated that when they sold their vehicle, they just handed the title to the new owner. Some even said that they left the registration or license plate on the car. Some people were upset that the records still showed them as the owner and stated that they really didn't know what was required by state law when a vehicle is bought or sold.

In order to clarify the "rules", I am presenting here the proper and legal manner which you must follow when buying or selling a car in Pennsylvania according to Penn DOT publication #179.

Arrangements for the seller and buyer to meet at the office of a notary public, tag service, or motor vehicle dealer will ensure that the application is completed with correct information which will result in the vehicle transfer being processed promptly and properly by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

TRANSFERRING A PENNSYLVANIA TITLE

If you are buying or selling a car that is already titled in Pennsylvania, the seller must sign and hand print his or her name in Section A on the back of the title. The purchaser's name and address must be listed in Section A on the back of the title. In addition, the purchaser must sign and hand print his or her name in the spaces provided. Section D on the front of the title must be completed by the purchaser. If the vehicle is to be financed, the lien information must be included in Section D. When Sections A and D are signed and notarized, the title has been "transferred". If the vehicle is being titled in more than one name, all owners must sign the title.

OUT OF STATE VEHICLES

If you are buying a car which has a title from another state, check the back of the title carefully. There should be a place for the seller's signature, and the car's present odometer reading. The seller's signature may be required to be notarized on some out of state titles. It is a good idea to consult a dealer, tag service, notary, or the Bureau of Motor Vehicles about out of state title transfers.

The seller must indicate the mileage of the car in Section A on the back of the Pennsylvania title or in the appropriate space provided on the out of state titles.

REMOVING THE PLATE

After the title is transferred, the seller must remove the license plate from the car. The plate should never be given to the purchaser. The plate should be returned to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles unless the seller plans to transfer it to another vehicle.

REGISTRATION

In addition to establishing ownership of the vehicle by transferring the title to your name, you will need to register it in order to get a license plate and drive it on the highway. You can apply for registration on the same form used for the title application. If you already have a Pennsylvania plate, you can transfer it to the car you are buying. For vehicles already titled in Pennsylvania, you should complete Section F of form MV-4ST to indicate whether you want a new plate or are transferring a plate from another vehicle.

For a new or out of state car (not previously titled in Pennsylvania) you should complete Section G of form MV-1 to indicate whether you want a new plate or are transferring a plate from another vehicle.

TEMPORARY LICENSE PLATES

When you purchase a vehicle from an individual and you do not have a license plate to be transferred, you may obtain a temporary registration, valid for 90 days, from any dealer or authorized agent.

RECORDING THE TITLE TRANSFER

If, in purchasing or selling a used vehicle, you are using a dealer, tag service, or notary to help transfer the title, they can arrange to send the title and application forms to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Harrisburg, Unless you have obtained temporary plates from the agency handling the transfer, you may choose to mail the title and application forms to the Bureau yourself.

SALVAGE CARS

If you sell your car for salvage, sign the title over to the buyer and remove your license plate. Your signature must be notarized. Return the plate to the Bureau unless you are planning to transfer it to another vehicle.

BUYER' S ACKNOWLEDGMENT

At the time of the sale, the seller should get a receipt from the buyer which acknowledges the receipt of the transferred title and delivery of the vehicle.

Until that title is transferred in the records of Penn DOT, all inquiries of the VIN number will come back to the last registered owner.

top

By Chester J Zaremba

According to a national survey, eight percent of women and two percent of men have been stalked at some point in their lives. That report also states that most cases lasted under a year. Although the cases lasted only a year, the trauma will last for far longer. The most common type of stalker is the "Simple Obsessional" who is an individual who was a prior intimate and may have engaged in domestic violence with the victim. Victims of stalking should become familiar with the law and should be informed about the resources and procedural precautions available to help them.

First, let's review the law. The Pennsylvania Crimes Code (18 Pa.C.S.) Section 2709 is entitled "Harassment and Stalking" Paragraph "B" STALKING provides that - "A person commits the crime of stalking when he engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts toward another person, including following the person without proper authority, under circumstances which demonstrate either of the following: (1) an intent to place the person in reasonable fear of bodily injury; or (2) an intent to cause substantial emotional distress to the person." An offense under "Stalking" is a misdemeanor of the first degree, however, may be graded as a felony of the third degree for a second or subsequent offense or a first offense if the person has been convicted of certain crimes against the same victim, family, or household members.

Are you being stalked? You are if a stranger, casual acquaintance, coworker, ex-spouse or ex-partner calls you at your home or at work when you have told him or her to stop. Telling the person that the relationship is over is very important, and should be done as early as possible. You should be firm and as direct as possible. Avoid using tones or phrases that could be misconstrued as implying a second chance or playing hard to get. Many times, the victim tries to "be nice" to someone to spare their feelings. In these cases, the "ex" may perceive a mixed message. Do not worry about hurting someone's feelings, this is one time when being blunt is a virtue.

Does someone leave repeated, obscene, harassing or threatening messages on your answering machine? Does someone drive by your home, school, or workplace to intimidate you? Does someone persist in sending you unwanted letters, notes, or gifts or does someone watch you from a distance or follow you? Does someone appear unexpectedly at places you usually frequent or appear "coincidentally" at places you don't normally frequent such as the movies, the ball park, or other social events? Does that person contact, follow, or threaten you, your friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers?

If you are a victim, it is not your fault. Stalking is a crime and we must do all we can to educate and protect ourselves and our families.

Every stalker is different. This makes it virtually impossible to devise a single effective strategy for victims to cope with stalkers' behavior which can then be applied to every single situation and all circumstances. This is why it is so very important for a victim to immediately seek the help of local law enforcement and to seek the advice of a local victim specialist who can work with them to devise a safety plan or an action plan unique to their circumstances. Victim specialists can be found in local domestic violence or rape crisis programs or in victim's assistance programs in local prosecutors' office and in some law enforcement agencies. Following is some practical information to assist victims of stalking:

Any person who suspects or believes that they are currently being stalked should report this to their local police department. If a victim believes that he or she may be in imminent danger, their primary goal should be to locate themselves in a safe place such as a police station, the residence of family or a friend, a domestic violence shelter, or any public area where stalkers may be less inclined toward violence or creating a disturbance in a public place. If the victim cannot depart from the current location and a telephone is available, they may dial 911 or any other law enforcement emergency number for an immediate police response.

If the stalking victim feels that he or she may be in danger, but not immediately at risk, then the victim can apply for a Protection From Abuse order if the relationship was one where this would apply. The key requirement of a PFA is that the victim and the stalker resided in the same household.

The victim may determine that the perpetrator has broken the law by entering the victim's residence without permission and has either stolen or destroyed the victim's property. The victim may also have been physically or sexually assaulted. If so, the police should be notified immediately. However, it must be remembered that the victim must testify against the perpetrator in later legal proceedings.

Documentation of stalking should be saved and given to law enforcement. This documentation of the actions of the perpetrator will be useful in future complaints or in preparation for legal proceedings. Such documentation will add to the credibility of the victim. Documentation may take the form of photographs of destroyed property or vandalism, of injuries inflicted on the victim by the perpetrator, tapes from messages left on an answering machine, and notes or letters written by the perpetrator.

The victim should keep a written log of any crimes or suspicious activities committed by the perpetrator. Discretion should be used when making entries and the log should be kept in a secured place as it may be needed for future court proceedings.

There are a number of preventive measures which should also be taken by the victim. These include installing solid core doors with dead bolts. A victim should lock the doors of their residence immediately upon entering the house. If the victim cannot account for all of the keys, then the locks should be changed. Adequate outside lighting should be installed and bushes and other vegetation the home should be trimmed back so as not to offer a hiding place for a stalker. All harassing phone calls should be logged with the date and time of the call. Travel routes of your normal routine should be varied and if you walk or jog for exercise, you should limit those activities to places and times when other persons are present. The victim should inform a trusted neighbor or colleague about the situation and provide them with a photo or description of the suspect along with a description of any vehicle which he or she is driving.

The victim should try to not travel alone when out of the home or office and if at all possible should try to stay in public areas. If assistance is ever needed, the victim should yell "FIRE" to get immediate attention as people more readily respond to this cry for assistance than to any other.

The stalking victim must discipline themselves to avoid contact with the stalker. This includes ANY and ALL contact such as calling to ask for someone's phone number, counter harassing, sending letters or gifts back as these actions could easily be misinterpreted by the stalker. When the stalker calls the victim several times in one evening until the victim either "gives in" or tries to reason with the stalker, or, offers the stalker some attention even if it is a response of fear, anger, or shock, these responses serve as reinforcement for the stalking behavior.

Remember, you may become a victim, but you don't have to remain one.

top

Respect on both sides is what it's all about

TRAFFIC STOPS EXPLAINED

Traffic Stops are one of the most dangerous situations for police officers, especially at night. If there are several people in the car being stopped and only one officer, the officer will often call for back-up for everyone's safety. This is routine police procedure. Citizens who call in complaints to the police department usually give faulty or incomplete descriptions of the people causing the problem. This result is that innocent people sometimes get stopped. Stops for minor infractions such as faulty lighting, bad tires, missing or expired license plates are legal and legitimate stops. It is the job of the Police Department to enforce the Vehicle Code.

The official policy of most police departments regarding traffic stops is that police officers may stop motorists for traffic violations, reasonable suspicion of criminal activity based on personal observation, information from witnesses or citizens, information from police radio broadcasts, and information from other officers or official sources. Vehicles may also be stopped when an operator is recognized as being the subject of an active warrant.

"Pretext Stops" where the officer claims the stop is for a traffic violation but really has other motives, or "Profile Stops" based on clothing, race, etc., are not approved or condoned by most police departments. Officers are expected to document all stops and this is usually done by way of a radio transmission to the Luzerne County 911 Center.

WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES

The authority of a police officer to make a traffic stop is set forth is Section 6308 (a) of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. A reading of the complete wording of that section is necessary for a motorist to understand what the law requires. The section reads: "The operator of any vehicle or any pedestrian reasonable believed to have violated any provision of this title (PA Vehicle Code) shall stop upon request, exhibit a registration card, driver's license, and information relating to financial responsibility (insurance card), or other means of identification if a pedestrian or driver of a pedal cycle, and shall write their name in the presence of the police officer if so required for the purpose of establishing identity."

PROPER CONDUCT IS MUTUAL RESPECT

You can make choices about how you interact with the police when you are stopped. You can rant, rave, yell, and curse if you want to. However, if your conduct is excessive, you could also be arrested for obstructing an officer or hindering law enforcement. Think about how you would want to be treated if you were in the officer's place. We all want to be treated with common courtesy and respect. You'll probably get a better response from a police officer if you're respectful, than if you are tempestuous toward him or her. If the officer treats you with respect, you can assert your rights and still be respectful towards the officer.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

What you may think is "harassment" may be proper law enforcement procedure

necessary to conduct a proper traffic stop. Don't jump to conclusions.

> Pull over to the right when it is safe to do so. Come to a full stop.

> Turn off the ignition.

> Turn on the dome light if you're stopped at night.

> Roll down your window and wait inside of your car for the officer. Listen for any instructions. DO NOT get out of your car unless told to do so.

> Keep your hands on the steering wheel so the officer can see them.

> Tell an officer before reaching for any items and don't make any sudden movements, police don't know if you're trying to hide something, going for a weapon, or you are just nervous.

> If you are carrying a weapon, advise the officer of the weapon and its location.

> Don't jump to conclusions, wait and listen to the reason you are being stopped

> If you experience a problem with an officer, ask for the officer's name and or get the patrol car number. You can then call the Chief of Police.

Being stopped at night, particularly along a dark stretch of road, can heighten the tension for a motorist and an officer. Officers do not object to drivers proceeding to the nearest well lit area. The motorist should simply acknowledge the officer by turning on the interior light and the flashers and then drive at a reduced speed to a safe stopping area.

The officer may choose to issue you a citation or may decide that a warning is appropriate. The officer will ask you to sign the citation or warning. If you decide not to sign it he will just note "Refused" on the citation. Signing the citation does not mean that you are admitting guilt. Don't argue with the officer. If you feel that the citation is not justified, you have the right to appeal it in court. The law gives you certain rights but also imposes upon you certain responsibilities. Knowing these rights and responsibilities can make a difference in your contact with the police.

top
Police Department