Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 4, 2015

Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 4, 2015 8 AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 4, 2015 8 AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY 
GATTO’S BILL TO CREATE YELLOW ALERT, 
APPREHEND HIT-AND-RUN PERPETRATORS PASSES 


SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE 


FIRE OFFICIALS URGE EXTREME CAUTION 
AS FIREWORKS GO ON SALE 


CAL FIRE Offers Safety Tips this Fourth of July 

SACRAMENTO, CA – It was a close call. After 
surviving a “no” recommendation from the chairand some strong lobbying efforts against AB 8, theSenate Transportation and Housing Committeepassed legislation to reduce the number of hitand-
runs on an 11-0 vote. The legislation byAssemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) willinstitute the “Yellow Alert” system, allowing law-
enforcement officials to engage drivers in helpingidentify and apprehend hit-and-run drivers.
The bill was able to pass after pedestrian, cyclist,
and street-safety groups statewide rose up and letthe committee members hear about how importantthe bill is to apprehend suspects who commit hit-
and-run crimes. The committee also heard tearful 
testimony from Julie Creed, whose son was badlyinjured in a hit and run, only to lose his friend ina separate hit-and-run incident just months later.
The bill will permit law-enforcement officers touse the state’s existing network of freeway signsto broadcast information about vehicles suspectedin hit-and-run incidents. Alerts will be issued bylocal law-enforcement when there is a sufficient 
description of the offending vehicle or the identityof the suspect is known. However, this “YellowAlert” system will be limited to the area wherethe hit-and-run crime occurred and will only beused when the hit-and-run results in death or 
serious bodily injury. The legislation will also giveCalifornia Highway Patrol (CHP) the ability toprioritize the alerts if they happen to occur on thesame day.
When Denver created a similar alert system in2012, they saw a 76% arrest rate in cases where thealert was activated, compared to a previous arrestrate of around 20%. The success of the programprompted Colorado’s legislature to implement theprogram statewide.
“It’s gotten to the point to where not a single weekgoes by without seeing another hit-and-run tragedyoccurring,” said Gatto. “People flee because theyknow there’s little chance that they’ll be caught.”
Hit-and-run accidents are becoming so out ofhand that local officials and community membersare starting to take action themselves. Los AngelesCity officials are now offering a $50,000 standingreward for information in hit-and-run cases, and 
the mother of a hit-and-run victim in OrangeCounty has petitioned every city in that county tocreate a hit-and-run alert system.

L.A. Weekly reported that, in 2009, 48% of collisionsin Los Angeles were hit-and-run incidents andUSA TODAY called Los Angeles “ground zero”
for hit-and-run incidents. The Los Angeles Police 
Department reported that 80% of all hit-and-runcrimes were unsolved from 2008 to 2012. However, 
the problem goes beyond the Greater Los AngelesArea. An article by the East Bay Express revealedthat in 2014, only 3% of hit-and-run crimes inOakland involving bodily injury led to chargesbeing filed.
“California has the existing alert infrastructure inplace and it costs us next to nothing to use it,” saidGatto. “I have no doubt the Yellow Alert Systemwould help apprehend criminals and have thembrought to justice.”
In 2013, Gatto authored AB 184, which doubled 
the statute of limitations to prosecute hit-andrun 
drivers. In 2014, he authored AB 47 and AB 
1532, the latter of which would require mandatorylicense suspension for anyone convicted of a hit-
and-run involving a person. Despite the bipartisansupport and narrowly tailored language of AB 47,
Governor Brown vetoed the bill last September.
Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Consumer 
Protection and Privacy Committee, and thelongest-serving member in the State Assembly.
He represents California’s 43rd Assembly District,
which includes Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada 
Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the LosAngeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, EastHollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, LosFeliz, and Silver Lake. www.asm.ca.gov/gatto 

Sacramento – With the IndependenceSane” fireworks are allowed for use 
Day holiday rapidly approaching,in many communities; however,
CAL FIRE is reminding all 

they are not approved state-wide.
Californians and visitors to do their 

Before purchasing these types ofpart to prevent fires caused by illegal

fireworks, be sure to check yourfireworks or the misuse of “Safe 

local ordinances and follow the 
and Sane” fireworks. On Sunday,

instructions to avoid accidents and 
June 28 “Safe and Sane” Fireworks 

injuries.
went on sale in approximately 300

“Safe and Sane Fireworks are 
communities throughout California.

only as safe as they are used,” saidAlthough fireworks are a symbolic

State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover.
display of patriotism during this time

“Last year alone there were over 300of celebration, they can be dangerous

fires sparked by fireworks. We wantwhen handled incorrectly or used in

everyone to enjoy their celebrationsthe wrong environment.

in a safe and legal manner.” 
“As we head into the fourth 
summer of a severe drought, it is more

Fireworks Guidelines: 
important than ever that everyone

· First check that fireworks are 
use an abundance of caution to 

allowed in the area of use 
avoid sparking a fire,” said Chief

· Make sure the firework has the 
Ken Pimlott, director of CAL FIRE. 

State Fire Marshal “Safe and Sane” 
“Here in California we have a zero 

seal 
tolerance for the use and sale of illegal

· Purchase only from legitimatefireworks.” 

organizations authorized to sellThere are also legal ramifications· Have a bucket of water, sand or 

when it comes to certain typesof fireworks. Possession of illegalfireworks such as sky rockets, bottle rockets,
roman candles, aerial shells, firecrackers and other 
types that explode, go into the air, or move on theground in an uncontrollable manner can lead toa possible fine of up to $50,000 as well as prisontime or jail for up to one year. Even “Safe and Sane”
Fireworks taken into a city or county where theyare banned are considered illegal.

The State Fire Marshal approved “Safe and 

garden hose available at firing site

· Read all instructions before use 
· Never alter, modify or enhance fireworks – useonly in the manner intended
· Make sure fireworks have proper clearance fromflammable materials including dry grass and brush 

For a full fireworks safety guide visit www.
ReadyforWildfire.org or watch this short video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G38xe9gjzi8. 


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