Driver safety classes can aid seniors

I found some interesting information this week about senior drivers and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

While the DMV transitions to requiring residents 64 or younger to renew their license every eight years, those 65 or older must continue to renew their license every four years. Motorists 71 or older can renew their license by mail only if they provide an evaluation form signed by a doctor affirming they have no physical limitations.

The No. 1 way seniors are involved in accidents is by making left turns against oncoming traffic. Seniors are vulnerable because their depth perception is affected by age, so sometimes they have trouble determining how fast a vehicle is coming.

One way to reduce the possibility of a problem is to plot a course that makes only right turns. AARP hosts driver safety classes throughout the area and information is available at tinyurl.com/aarpdrivingcourse or dmvnv.com.

Feb. 26. Threats: A man comes into the lobby regarding his son and live-in girlfriend fighting and eviction issues. He states that although his son is an adult, he wants to be the contact person and was advised on each person’s responsibilities to report at 10:22 p.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

See person: A woman in the lobby wants to talk to an officer about her 4-year old daughter who had a nightmare about police officers at 2:50 p.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Traffic: A man is enjoying a long conversation on his cellphone, but not enjoying the price of driving during that long conversation.

Thought for the day: A majority of the tickets written during the week are for hands-free driving, folks.

Feb. 27. Suspect: An elderly subject calls to report suspicious activity. The person received numerous calls during the past month for similar issues at 1:46 a.m. in the 800 block of Judi Place.

Attempt to locate: A person wants to report an ex-boyfriend has a warrant and is now at the bus stop. The man was located and detained at 1:22 p.m. in the area of Utah Street and Northridge Boulevard.

Threats: A man reports a neighbor doesn’t like him and left a threatening note on the door. Both parties are advised that calling each other names is not nice (and not a crime) and to avoid contact in the future at 7:21 p.m. in the 800 block of Avenue B.

Thought for the day: After the love is gone you can bet we hear all sorts of information revealed during “pillow talk.”

Feb. 28. Vagrant: A caller is concerned about a residentially challenged individual in the area. The subject was directed to the bus stop at 6:57 a.m. in the area of 512 Nevada Way.

Disturbance: A subject was beating on the door and yelling. A woman left the area on foot at 6:38 p.m. in the 1100 block of Mariposa Way.

Noise: Officers receive a complaint about loud noise from a party next door. The officer warned partygoers about the disturbance at 10:21 p.m. in the 500 Avenue K.

Thought for the day: Homelessness is not a crime. Subjects are given courtesy rides to the bus as a general rule.

March 1. Family disturbance: Subjects are intoxicated and fighting. One individual has left the scene and the other is being belligerent at 12:06 a.m. in the 1500 block of Bermuda Dunes Drive.

Domestic: A woman reports that she was knocked down by her boyfriend for the third time. The boyfriend will be relaxing in the clink for at least 12 hours at 1:18 p.m. in the 1500 block of Fifth Street.

Trespass: A man is in the lobby about trespassing at his adult son’s apartment. He was advised this is a custody issue and the mother has parental rights to the children at 9:36 p.m. in the 800 block of Utah Street.

Thought for the day: Civil situations require the expertise of family court, and we will not be put in the middle of situations best handled by their rulings.

March 2. Traffic: Officers make a traffic stop when a vehicle fails to dim its high beams. The unlicensed driver is cited for many violations and the vehicle owner is cited for allowing an unlicensed subject to operate a motor vehicle at 1:48 a.m. in the area of Temple Rock Road and U.S. Highway 93.

See person: A subject called to have officers check all parking lots and roadways for a vehicle with an unknown plate or color. The subject was not happy that we do not offer this service at 1:04 p.m. in the 1000 Arizona Street.

Attempt to locate: The Federal Aviation Administration reports a laser light ‘hit’ on a commercial airline. They are locating it through their system and will follow with a warrant of arrest at 10:45 p.m. in the 1300 block of Airport Road.

Thought for the day: Harmless pranks can result in a federal crime. If you have the urge to see what happens, be prepared.

March 3. Solicitor: There are reports of a van of well-dressed salespeople going door to door offering carpet cleaning. The subjects were rounded up and sent back to Las Vegas until they could secure permits at 9:47 a.m. in the 600 block of Avenue I.

Theft: A purse and money were reported taken from a shopping basket. Information was taken and the subject was advised on leaving it unattended at 1:59 p.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Avenue.

Welfare: A woman requests a welfare check on her cousin who may be staying in a motel in Boulder City. The woman he is with is saying mean things and she thinks her relative must be drunk to allow it at 6:47 p.m. in the 1000 block of Arizona Street.

Thought for the day: Our mind-reading skills are not good and we are unable to envision where someone may be staying or if they may be drunk.

March 4. Parking: A semitruck is parked in a residential neighborhood for several days. The driver was warned about this at 10:27 a.m. in the area of Valencia Drive and Malaga Boulevard.

Disabled vehicle: A white older motorhome is broken down on side of the road. The owners appear to have taken their license plates and supply of “happy” grass and left on foot at 12:15 p.m. in the area of mile marker 11 on U.S. Highway 93.

Suspicious: A caller reports seeing “spoons” taped together in the roadway and thinks this may be drug paraphernalia and dangerous for kids. Plastic spoons are not much use to narcotic users and will be disposed of at 4:41 p.m. in the area of Joy Road and Elsa Boulevard.

Thought for the day: Older Minnie Winnies sometimes make better planters than road-trip transportation.

Call of the week: A caller reports that the next-door neighbor still has a Christmas tree up and would like us to go tell that person it is against the law. The caller is dismayed to find out that her mother’s seventh ex-husband told her a fib and it really is a personal choice as long as it is not a fire hazard at 5:41 p.m. in the 1000 block of Nevada Way.

Have a great week.

Tina Ransom is a dispatcher with Boulder City Police Department. She is coordinator of the Boulder City Citizen’s Academy.