Cell phone users may be ticketed after accident

Randy Sibbett

Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 | midnight

On Aug. 7, Chief Finn and Officers Sandin, Daly, Grasso and Krumm responded to a report of an assault and battery at Burger King on Nevada Highway. The male victim told officers that two males with black bandanas and dark glasses forced their way into his residence and assaulted him. He eventually broke free and ran to Burger King. The victim believes he can identify his assailants, but does not wish to press charges at this time.

On Aug. 9, Officers Ford, Healing and Olson responded to the 1300 block of Black Mountain Court to a report of destruction of property. The victim stated that someone broke his windows and mirrors on his vehicle. There were no witnesses; however, the victim believes he knows who was responsible.

On Aug. 9, Officer Daly responded to the 800 block of Fairway Drive to a report of a grand larceny. The victim reported that an outboard motor valued at several thousand dollars was stolen from his boat.

On Aug. 10, Officers Ham, Cazett, Richner and Ashby responded to the area of Bootleg Canyon to a report of an injured bicyclist. The victim called the Police Department on his cell phone and reported that his leg was broken between the knee and the ankle. Officers and Fire Department personnel were eventually able to locate the injured male.

On Aug. 12, Officers Cazett and Ashby responded to the 600 block of Wells Road to a report of a burglary. The victim reported that someone stole a 250-foot roll of communication wire. No value was given on the wire.

On Aug. 13, Officer Ham responded to the 700 block of Wells Road to a report of a grand larceny. The victim told the officer that engines and transmissions were taken from his yard. No value given.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My driver’s license is suspended. If I’m caught driving, will I get a ticket or go to jail?

A: It depends on the circumstances. The officer will probably issue you a citation unless additional factors exist. These factors could include: Does the driver have a history of driving on a suspended driver license? Is the registration valid and current? Is there a current proof of insurance certificate in the vehicle? Has the driver ever been arrested for failure to appear in court?

Q: I saw a cop in a parking lot making someone walk a line. What were they doing?

A: The officer was probably conducting standardized field sobriety tests. These are voluntary tests officers use to help determine whether an individual is too impaired to operate a vehicle.

They consist of basically three parts: horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk and turn and one leg stand. The horizontal gaze is used to check the eyes for involuntary jerking, while the walk and turn and the one-leg stand are tests designed to divide an individual’s attention by requiring them to listen to instructions and perform a variety of walking and balancing tasks.

These tests are fairly easy for a sober individual, but can be very difficult for an individual under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The outcome of these tests, combined with other observations by the officer, will determine whether the individual will be arrested for driving under the influence.

As I mentioned earlier, these tests are voluntary. If the individual refuses to participate, the officer will make a decision to arrest or not based upon their observations up to that point.

Q: I talk on my cell phone when I drive. Can I get a ticket?

A: It’s not illegal to talk on your cell phone while you drive, but you could receive a citation for not paying attention to your driving if the cell phone were a contributing factor in a traffic violation or accident. The actual violation is Boulder City Code 10-4-1: “Full Time and Attention: A person shall, when operating a vehicle, give his full time and attention to the operation of the same.”

Weekly Statistics

Incident Reports — 27

Traffic Stops — 138

Citations Issued — 41

Adult Arrests — 20

Juvenile Arrests — 0

Animal Control Calls — 110

Randy Sibbett can be contacted at [email protected].