Give the Gift of Warmth

Have a gently worn coat taking up space in your closet?
It can keep someone warm this winter.

Donated coats can be placed in the wooden barrel outside of the District VII Community room.
Contacts:

• Cpl. Rannacher, 240-507-8110, sdrannacher@co.pg.md.us
• Cpl. Blackwell, 240-481-5871, vablackwell@co.pg.md.us

Amazon-recommended IP cameras with huge security risks

(Click on the image for the video)

• Which? has carried out tests on six wireless cameras and found serious security flaws - despite all of them having thousands of apparently positive reviews and earning a coveted “Amazon’s Choice” recommendation, which ensures they are prominently displayed on the tech giant’s website. 
• Many of these devices are marketed as being suitable for use as baby monitors.
• The report is on cameras sold by Amazon in the UK but many of the same brands are sold in the U.S.
• If you’re shopping for a wireless camera, do your research.
• Don’t just consider price, but also look at the company. Have you heard of the brand? Does it have a reputable-looking website with a customer service team you can contact if something goes wrong? Don’t just rely on apparently positive customer reviews. These cameras tend to have hundreds of positive reviews, but always check the negative reviews too, on sites such as Amazon. See if any issues sound worrying, such as the ones we’ve highlighted above.
• Ultimately, consider whether it’s worth saving on a product that’s designed to keep you or your family safe and secure.

Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) Fatal Crash Map

(Click on the image for the live map)

• This data set shows all fatal crashes and their investigative outcomes from PPD's Accident Investigation Unit (AID) from 1/1/19 to the present. The whole dataset gets refreshed nightly. This means the dataset will show new records the day after the source data has updated.
• The Fatal Crash Database includes crash locations, investigative outcomes, the age and sex of the victim (or victims), information on how each crash occurred and which types of vehicles were involved.
• It appears that a similar capability is not presently available in Maryland nor in Prince George's County.

Dispose Unused or Expired Prescription Medications in the District VII Lobby - Oct 26

If you don’t properly dispose of the unused or expired prescription drugs in your home, they might find a new one. 
The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America. The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends—and the home medicine cabinet.

Here’s a Look at the New State Laws Taking Effect on October 1, 2019

(Click on the image for the Maryland Matters/ Capital News Service article)

Among the new public safety related laws:

• Pedestrian safety: SB 460 — Drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians will face a maximum fine of $1,000, up from $500. The fines will contribute to a Pedestrian Safety Fund, which will be used for traffic calming, enforcement and education.
• Driving under the influence: HB 707 — The penalties for drunk and drugged driving offenses are becoming more severe. If you have prior convictions for operating either a vehicle or vessel under the influence, or if you commit a homicide in the process, there are now longer sentences and more costly fines.
  The bill increases the maximum penalties for a person convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol or under the influence of alcohol per se, while impaired by alcohol, while impaired by drugs or drugs and alcohol, or while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) when that person has certain prior convictions. A person who has two prior convictions for any of the above-mentioned offenses is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to five years imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine. The penalties are more stringent when that person (1) has three or more prior convictions for any of those offenses or (2) was previously convicted of a single specified homicide or life-threatening injury by motor vehicle or vessel offense. Such a violator is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to 10 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine. 

String of Violent Crimes Caught by Doorbell Cameras

(Click on the image for the Nightly News report)

Here She Is, the Safest Driver in Los Angeles [and $20,000 richer!]

(Click on the image for the New York Times article)

Deborra Sarei, 46, a resident of Downey, Calif., who takes the 105 to the 605 to Lakewood each morning to drop off her daughter at school, knew she was up to the two-month challenge. She faced off against 11,500 other entrants who reside in, or drive in and near, the city of Los Angeles. They participated by letting a mobile app spy on them behind the wheel to track phone distraction, speed, braking, acceleration and cornering.
With constant monitoring, Ms. Sarei quickly realized she’d need to recalibrate her driving habits. But driving “safer” sometimes got her into trouble on busy freeways.
“There were moments on the freeway where people would literally cut you off to go to the next lane,” Ms. Sarei said. “It was hard to prevent causing an accident because you had to brake and then accelerate to get out of the situation.”
Still, Ms. Sarei made sure to never creep past speed limits. To make up for the extra time spent on the road, she told her daughter to be ready to leave for school 10 minutes earlier than usual.
“When we were in the slow lane, we’d be going at a certain speed limit and people would be whizzing by us,” she said. “We started saying, ‘Well, you’re not going to be L.A.’s safest driver.’”
Ms. Sarei is now known as L.A.’s safest driver. The $20,000 purse and the bragging rights are all hers.