Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 6, 2024

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    Certified technicians will be on hand to assist families with the proper installation of child safety seats, check for any factory recalls on seats and vehicles, and answer questions.
    “Two out of three keiki are not buckled up correctly,” said Torey Keltner of HPD’s Traffic Services Section. “Sadly, car crashes are a leading cause of death for children nationwide, making it vitally importa

nt that parents make sure their child’s safety seat is installed correctly.”
    “With school starting up, this is a great free service for parents to check their child’s safety seat and get answers to any questions they may have.”
    According to 2022 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the most recent year for available data, an average of three children under the age of 13 were killed and 429 were injured every day in the U.S. while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans. In 2022, 68 percent of the children who were injured in vehicle crashes were unstrained.
  Hawai‘i Police Department is sponsoring the car seat clinic in collaboration with Partners for Safe Travel, the East Hawai’i Kiwanis Club, the State Judiciary’s Driver Education program, and Hawai’i Fire Department through a grant funded by State of Hawai’i Department of Transportation.
    For more information on Saturday’s child safety seat clinic, contact HPD’s Traffic Services Section at (808) 961-2226.

HPD RENEWED ITS WARNING ABOUT A PHONE SCAM after receiving reports of unknown individuals calling residents and posing as law enforcement officers and attempting to obtain money as payment for outstanding warrants of arrest. According to Hawai'i Police Department:
    In recent reports, the suspect contacts the victim by phone, identifying themselves as a law enforcement officer and informs the individual that have an outstanding warrant for their arrest. To avoid arrest they are then told that they will need to transfer money by utilizing Coinstar kiosk machines located in town.
    The suspects have been providing fictitious credentials over the phone such as their name, agency, badge number, and telephone number.
    The Hawai‘i Police Department does not ask for, nor accept payment through Coinstar machines or Bitcoin Crypto-Currency as any form of payment. The public is reminded to never provide any personal information over the phone or online to anyone whose identity they have not confirmed.
    To protect yourself from falling victim to these scams, the Hawai‘i Police Department suggests the following recommendations:
    • Verify the caller’s identity: Always request the full name, identification number, and contact information of the caller. Legitimate law enforcement officers will provide this information without hesitation. Verify their credentials by contacting the police department or the agency they claim to represent using publicly available contact information.
    • Refrain from sharing personal information: Avoid disclosing personal details, such as your Social Security number, bank account information, credit card numbers, or any other sensitive data over the phone unless you are absolutely certain about the legitimacy of the caller.
    • Be cautious of urgent or coercive tactics: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, coercing victims into immediate action. They may threaten arrest, fines, or legal consequences to pressure you into revealing personal information or making immediate payments. Take a step back, remain calm, and verify the authenticity of the call before making any decisions or taking action.
    • Educate yourself and others: Share this information with your friends, family, and vulnerable individuals within your community. By spreading awareness, we can collectively protect ourselves and prevent these scams from succeeding.
    Members of the public who receive a phone call of this nature and are unsure of the authenticity of the caller, hang up and call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.