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In North Carolina, all children under five
(5) and under 40 pounds must use an approved child restraint system. Note
that children over 40 pounds are exempt, even if they are under five. New
seats are being manufactured that will hold children up to as much as 80
pounds with a harness. We recommend that children stay in a child seat or
booster seat until they are about 80 pounds because a regular seat belt
system is not designed for such young children.
Children under 80 lbs and under age eight (8) must use an approved child
restraint or booster seat system. While children that are still under
age eight, but over 80 lbs may be exempt from the law, the Garner Police
Department recommends that you evaluate if the child is ready to ride
without a booster seat. Please visit
www.buckleupnc.org for more
information.
For more info on child passenger safety,
please call us at 919-772-8810 or email
chagwood@garnernc.gov.
Yes, Garner requires that all dogs and cats
be under physical control with a leash while off the owner's property. For
more info on Animal Control Ordinances, please call us at 919-772-8810 or
email jlowry@garnernc.gov.
Our first concern is your health and safety.
If you are involved in an accident, determine if anyone is hurt. If anyone
is injured, call 911 and request an ambulance. Also, if anyone is injured,
or the damage in the collision is greater than $1000, then a police report
is mandatory. If no one is hurt, or the damage is not greater than $1000,
then the two parties may settle any claims among themselves without legally
being required to file a report with the police. However, the law states a
driver involved in collisions "shall give his name, address, driver's
license number and the license plate number of his vehicle to the driver or
occupants of any other vehicle involved in the accident or collision or to
any person whose property is damaged in the accident or collision. If the
damaged property is a parked and unattended vehicle and the name and
location of the owner is not known to or readily ascertainable by the driver
of the responsible vehicle, the said driver shall furnish the information
required by this subsection to the nearest available peace officer, or, in
the alternative, and provided he thereafter within 48 hours fully complies
with G.S. 20-166.1(c), shall immediately place a paper-writing containing
said information in a conspicuous place upon or in the damaged vehicle. If
the damaged property is a guardrail, utility pole, or other fixed object
owned by the Department of Transportation, a public utility, or other public
service corporation to which report cannot readily be made at the scene, it
shall be sufficient if the responsible driver shall furnish the information
required to the nearest peace officer or make written report thereof
containing said information by U.S. certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles within five days
following said collision."
If your vehicle is in the middle of a busy
travel lane, and the damage is minimal and there are no injuries, it is best
to move both vehicles out of the travel lanes. Although it is easier for
the investigating officer if the vehicles are not moved prior to his
arrival, there is a risk of further damage and injury when you remain in
traffic.
Our officers have been instructed by the Wake
County District Attorney NOT to issue citations at minor crashes. If
no one is injured, it is unlikely that the "at fault" driver will receive a
citation.
In approximately three working days after the
accident, you may request a copy of the police report at no charge. You can
request a copy via email at
records@garnernc.gov. Please provide your full name and address, the
date of the accident, the case number (if known), and location. If you have
a fax number, provide that so we make fax you the report.
I have had several phone calls from people
representing themselves as police officers calling and asking for donations
for this and that! Are the callers really police officers? I would like to
help, but it sounds "fishy" to me.
Local police and sheriffs departments
generally do not solicit for donations over the telephone, however, some
private organizations which have police officers as members do. If you have
any questions about solicitations, call the Police Department prior to
committing to any donations.
The Police Department's 9-1-1 system
automatically displays the phone number and address to the dispatcher on any
incoming 9-1-1 calls. The dispatcher will still ask your phone number and
address to verify the information. All 9-1-1 calls on a cellular phone are
directly connected to the Raleigh Emergency Communications Center. If
calling from a cellular phone, you would need to advise the dispatcher of
the city where the emergency is occurring so they can connect you with the
proper law enforcement agency.
Sometimes in my neighborhood, I see things
that are out of place, or unusual, or people who are "suspicious". I don't
really feel comfortable with calling the police.
Can you tell me about the
procedure?
At any given time there are officers on the
street. The Garner Police Department counts on the thousand of eyes from our
citizens to alert us to unusual situations. Anytime someone calls, a
dispatcher will take the information, ask questions, decide on what/whom to
send, and the urgency of the call. We will respond to every call for
service, though obviously, the less important calls may take some time to
get to. The Police Department appreciates your calls and we rely on you to
assist us by calling us whenever you see anything that is suspicious or
unusual. There is no "non emergency" number to request the police. If you
think you need a police officer, please call 911.
Having an alarm system is a matter of
personal choice. Some people consider an alarm to be a deterrent to
would-be thieves. Others feel that the alarm gives them added security when
they are home or away. Alarm systems vary in cost, depending on what type
of detection system is employed. Some components are readily available at
home improvement centers for "do it yourself" installation. Many licensed
alarm companies are listed in the phone book. We recommend that alarm
buyers get at least two bids for the work, ask for references, and make sure
there is training provided to everyone who will use the alarm system. False
alarms waste police resources.
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