Category Archives: law enforcement

Fraud Prevention and Detection in STEP Grants

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Police Traffic Services Program Manager Larry Krantz of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Floyd Sherman of the USDOT’s Office of Inspector General discuss ways to prevent and detect fraud in Select Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grants in this very informative video.

According to the Office of Inspector General they maintain “. . a Hotline for receiving allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement in U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) programs or operations. Allegations may be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week by DOT employees, contractors, or the general public.” For more information please visit U. S. DOT/OIG website.

To file a complaint with the U. S. DOT/OIG Hotline:  Call: 1.800.424.9071 Email: Hotline@oig.dot.gov or Write: U. S. DOT/OIG P.O. Box 23178 Washington, DC 20026-0178

Cop poses as homeless man to catch texting drivers

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Panhandler or police officer?

Cops in Maryland disguised an officer as a homel2015.10.27FOXNewsess man on Tuesday as part of a sting operation to nail motorists who were texting while driving, FOX5DC reported.

During the operation, an officer, dressed in jeans, sunglasses and a hoodie stood by the side of the road holding up a cardboard sign with some writing on it. Most didn’t inspect the writing too closely. Those who did would have noticed this message: “I am not homeless. I am a Montgomery County Police Officer looking for cell phone texting violations.”

If the disguised officer spotted someone texting, he’d radio to a uniformed officer nearby to pull that car over.

“Ultimately, the law is a hands free device, so it can’t even be in your hand,” Officer Brian Nave told WUSA9.

One driver who was caught, gave the cops credit for their ingenuity.

 “It’s smart,” the unidentified person told WUSA9. “It’s really dangerous. I’m not disagreeing.”

During the two-hour sting, police issued 56 traffic citations and 22 warnings for a range of infractions, according to WTOP. A texting ticket cost offenders $70 and a ticket for talking on the phone while driving is an $83 hit.

“If you’re using your thumbs texting while driving down the road, it’s totally distracting because you have to look down to see what you’re typing,” Sgt. Phillip Chapin told WTOP. “When you have your phone to your ear you’re distracted because you only have one hand on the wheel, and it’s hard to react.”

Source:  FoxNews.com

Published: October 27, 2015