Former Tantallon Neighbor Pat Lawson Muse Surprised on 35th Anniversary on News4

(Click on  the image to see Pat's surprise)

Pat and her husband, Sen. C. Anthony Muse, were residents of Monterey Circle. Pat worked to get the first Neighborhood Watch sign on the street.

Distracted Driving Stops Are Up in Maryland

(Click on the image for Scott MacFarlane's News4 report)

Don't text and drive! Maryland State Police are stopping more people for distracted driving. State police records show that 26,000 drivers have been stopped for distraction in 2017 thus far. That's 3,000 more stops than police made this time last year.

Hooked: how slot machines are designed to be addictive

(Click on the image for the guardian.com report)

• Poker machines use a range of design features that leverage psychology to keep people playing. 
• All of these features combine to make poker machines more appealing to people. While not every player is a gambling addict, one in six people who play the pokies regularly has a serious addiction, according to Australian government statistics.
• 'I don't think most people understand how addictive these devices can be. They are essentially addictive devices, and they are designed to be so. They are designed the maximise the amount of time and money people put into them.'

Dozens of bodies buried next to MGM casino outside Washington will be moved

(Click on the image for Justin Moyer's report in The Washington Post)

• "A centuries-old cemetery yards from the MGM National Harbor casino that was the subject of a court battle is being moved.
  The Addison family cemetery, on a hill across from the MGM’s ride-sharing pickup, is the final resting place for a colonial family that settled on the banks of the Potomac in the 1600s. Amid legal wrangling, at least 36 bodies buried hundreds of years ago are being exhumed and moved to a nearby church connected with the Addisons."
• "After a family vote and approval from the Prince George’s County Office of the State’s Attorney earlier this year, the cemetery will be moved to St. John’s Episcopal Church Broad Creek in Fort Washington, a congregation about four miles from the casino that the Addison family helped found."

Why Drivers Speed and the Price of Speeding

(Click on the image for the complete Weiland Upton infographic)

Penalties for a Maryland Speeding Ticket

The consequences of a speeding violation depend on the circumstances. But generally, speeding ticket carries a fine and adds “points” to the motorist’s driving record. Here’s an overview of the penalties for different types of violations:
Violation of the basic speeding law. $90 fine and one point + the following:

• Exceeding a posted speed limit by 1 to 9 miles per hour. $80 fine and one point.
• Exceeding a posted speed limit by 10 to 19 miles per hour. $90 fine and two points.
• Exceeding a posted speed limit by 20 to 29 miles per hour. $160 fine and two points.
• Exceeding a posted speed limit by 30 to 39 miles per hour. $290 fine and five points.
• Exceeding a posted speed limit by at least 40 miles per hour. $530 fine and five points.

Generally, the fines and points are increased if a speeding violation contributed to a collision.
[A speed camera generated citation is $40 and no points]

The most important penalty is the loss of the lives of the victims of fatal crashes. For example, 5 to 6 lives were lost per year on Indian Head Highway on average over the last 10 years.

Residents Push to Make Md Route 210 Safer

(Click on the image for Jackie Benson's News4 report)

Acting District VII Commander Jim Keleti: His officers stopped 49 vehicles in 7 hours. The average speed was 78 mph and one was going 100 mph.
Most of the 2,800 traffic citations written so far this year on MD 210 were for speeding.

Also see "Calls for change along deadly stretch of road in Prince George's Co." and 

"With rising death toll, questions on how to make Indian Head Highway safer"

Why Did WTOP Call Indian Head Highway (MD 210) "The Highway of Death"?

(Click on the image for the short video)

See WTOP report: Highway of death: Why has Indian Head Highway had so many fatal crashes?

Our Police, County and State governments, several community/civic associations, and concerned citizens are working toward making Indian Head Highway the "The Lifeline of South County".
Please drive gently.

U. S. Park Police Chief Robert MacLean Visits the South County Community Roundtable

(Chief MacLean is just to the front and right of Sgt. Moss, the tall guy in the back row middle)

Chief MacLean visited the South County Community Roundtable (SCCR) on September 13.
He writes, "It is an honor to serve and be part of your community.  Attached is the awesome photo we took that really speaks to us working together."
Also in the picture is Prince George's County Sheriff Deputy Brooks (second row, left of center in brown uniform) who on September 16th received 2nd place at the @360Wholeness 5k run/walk event.

Wrong Tree, Wrong Place

To be followed by Right Tree, Right Place

PGPD takes the community fight against thefts from autos to Hollywood

(Click on the image for Chief Stawinski's video)

No cell phones were hurt in the making of this video.
Spoiler alert! Pippin was adopted.😊

Air Duct Scams

(Click on the image for the video report)

Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection is alerting consumers of a growing scam based on air duct cleaning services.

Equifax: Personal Data for 143 Million Americans Potentially Exposed

(Click on the image for the NBC Nightly News report)

"The credit reporting agency says the data breach involved the names, addresses, social security numbers, birth dates and even the driver’s license information for 143 million people."
See also:

• How to Reduce Your Risk After Equifax Breach
• Equifax finally responds to swirling concerns over consumers’ legal rights
• Don’t Take Equifax Up On Its Credit Monitoring Offer

Will You Be Able to Help Your College-Age Child in a Medical Emergency?

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

"Three forms—HIPAA authorization, medical power of attorney, and durable power of attorney—will help facilitate the involvement of a parent or other trusted adult in a medical emergency."
See also NEWS 4's "Help Your College Student in a Medical Emergency" video report.

Robocalls Are Even Worse in Area Code 202

(Click on the image for Megan Cloherty's WTOP video report)

• If you are getting more robocalls, it could indicate your phone number "was flagged as a “good number,” meaning the robocallers know there’s a person who answers the phone."
• “So if it ever asks you to press 9 to get off the list, don’t. Because pressing 9 will put you on the list. … Just the mere fact you answer will put you on the list. That’s why it’s so important not to answer these calls and to have services that try to fool robocallers,”
• "let unknown numbers roll to voicemail, use call-screening services and remain skeptical."

Elder Care and Assisted Living: Who Will Care for You?

(Click on the image for the Consumer Reports article)

See also: Long-Term-Care Insurance Gets a Makeover