There’s no question, as a driver, it can be downright unnerving when you discover flashing lights behind you and it’s apparent you’re the subject of an officer’s traffic enforcement stop. 

When nearly 200,000 people were told there was an emergency arising at the Oroville Dam in Butte County and evacuating their homes was a must, you can bet many families did not have a plan.

With this winter’s many atmospheric rivers, you may have noticed you’re dodging more and more potholes on surface streets and freeways.  Potholes are caused by excessive water in the soil beneath the asphalt and vehicles passing over the fragile infrastructure.

Income tax season is upon us and while some of us dread wading through the paperwork, filling out forms, and filing – scam artists are panting at the chance to steal your hard-earned money.

It’s hard to believe this statistic – but according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, in 2015, every six and a-half minutes, a thief stole a vehicle in which the driver had left the key or FOB inside.  That amounted to 57,096 vehicles, up 31 percent from 2013.  

Winter is making its mark in many areas of California!  What better time to review the California Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Handbook?   Great rules of the road for rain, snow, ice and high winds.  

Cash, checks and credit cards have become somewhat of an old fashion way to pay for transactions – but when compared to the new forms of payment, they are tried and true.

If you’re making a purchase from someone who asks you to pay with Amazon or iTunes gift cards, PayPal, reloadable cards or by money transfers – just say, NO!

As we approach December 25th, many of us have had our live Christmas trees in our living and family rooms for nearly a month now. Now, more than ever, be sure to check that there is plenty of water in the tree's stand.  

It's the holiday season and less-than-honest people looking to gain access to your home are well aware that gifts are being purchased , wrapped, and stored inside.  So what steps can you take to better safeguard your home against burglars?

We’re all guilty of it!  When a store clerk asks us for our phone number to verify membership and reward status, we blurt out our 10-digit number.  The clerk then responds with our first and last name to verify.  The person behind you now has your name and phone number, and if you’re standing with your driver’s license or credit card in hand, the over-the-shoulder snoop has a wealth of your, otherwise, private information. 

As we approach the holiday shopping season, it doesn’t hurt to remind residents to remove their garage door openers from cars that are parked in the driveway or out in the street.   A garage door opener laying on a seat, or on the dash or visor, is an open invitation for car burglars to quickly become thieves inside your garage and your house.

There's a lot in the news regarding the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's (NHTSA) critical warning regarding certain 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles with Takata airbags, but the recall doesn't stop there, there are other makes and models involved.   

Cellphones around the country are lighting up with text messages like this one, “BofA: Your Bank Card is restricted” or “This important message from BofA” or “BofA Debit Card locked”.   Each of the messages continues with a call for you to respond by making a phone call to the number provided or visiting a website.

If you haven’t seen it already, October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, a good time to brush up on your online security measures.  There are things you can do to protect yourself from online crime

As we approach Halloween and consumers look for that perfect costume, some vendors may have cosmetic or decorative contact lenses for sale.  These lenses change the look of your eye but do not correct vision, which is why some consumers think it is harmless to buy them and wear them for a night.

If you're someone who likes the latest, greatest, newest smartphone, tablet or laptop, that likely means you're looking to get rid of a used electronic device.  Many consumers search for ways to sell their used devices and scammers see that as a perfect opportunity to reel them in with promises of big bucks.

Scammers out to take your hard earned money are using phone calls and emails to pose as representatives from utility companies.  Sometimes their caller ID will be the utility's actual 800 number.

The call comes from out of the blue.   The number is not one you recognize and when you answer, someone with a thick accent tells you that your computer system has been hacked and he needs to tap into it immediately to keep you from have any problems or breaches in security.

They are still at it!  Thieves crawling under vehicles and sawing off catalytic converters which they in turn sell for money.  The catalytic converters contain expensive metals that thieves cash in on at recycling centers.  

The Grandparent scam hits the elderly particularly hard.  Those who fall victim to this despicable ploy feel ashamed, embarrassed and usually have lost thousands of dollars.   This scam involves one to several people who pose over the phone as a grandchild, a police officer, or a lawyer.