Attorney Salt Lake City

Police hope tips by text will be new tool to fight crime

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Attorney General's Office has a new weapon in the fight against crime — a cell phone.

Surrounded by chiefs and officers from police departments across the state, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff on Wednesday announced a new initiative that will allow residents statewide to anonymously give police tips via texts or their computer browser. The tips can be in text form or videos and pictures.

"This is a tool to help law enforcement better do their jobs," Shurtleff said. "This is the technological weapon of choice for many law enforcement agencies."

Shurtleff called it "digital crime fighting." Because criminals are utilizing this technology, he said it's up to law enforcers to use it also.

Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said law enforcement agencies would "miss the boat" if they didn't adapt to new technologies.

Using the company TipSoft, 51 law enforcement agencies throughout the state now have the ability to take tips using smart phones, computers or iPads. The system is set up in such a way that all tips are completely anonymous and cannot be traced.

"We cannot go back and figure out who submitted the tip. It is absolutely secure," promised TipSoft founder and CEO Greg Whisenant.

Yet the software being used by police still allows them to contact the person who submitted the tip if they need to collect any follow-up information, Whisenant said.

People who have a tip about a crime can send a text message to "CRIMES" (274637) and add an agency-specific keyword. On a computer, residents can send a tip via www.tipsubmit.com or by downloading the TipSoft app on their iPhone or Android.

Shurtleff recommended residents have their local police agency saved in their "contacts" on their phone.

The Salt Lake City Police Department has already embraced social media, including having its own Facebook and Twitter pages. Chief Chris Burbank said there are multiple people in his department monitoring those sites daily for tips.

Having a tip line doesn't mean much, Burbank said, if the tips just sit in a computer file and are rarely looked at.

Salt Lake City Motorcycle Accident Attorneys and Motorbike Mishaps ...

As gas costs are continuing to climb up, many individuals now favor motorbikes as their mode of transportation, as per a motorcycle accident attorney. A primary reason is that these 2-wheeled motor vehicles are probably the most inexpensive and most common forms of motorized transport. But, as the sales of motorbikes increase, the number of motorcycle accidents also escalates. It is documented that the rate of motorbike accidents are greater than car accidents. Research suggests there are 75.19 fatal accidents for each 100,000 registered motorbikes. This is four times greater than passenger cars at 18.62 per 100,000 registered cars.

There are numerous types of motorcycle accidents that a motorcycle rider can be in. Motorcycle accidents are usually very upsetting and tragic incidents. These accidents usually cause very severe injury or even death. Next are some of the various kinds of motorbike accident: Unsafe Lane Change Accident – Under California law, a driver may not switch lanes on any road unless the lane change can be completed with reasonable safety and only right after giving an appropriate signal to other drivers who may be affected by the lane change (California Vehicle Code, Section 22107). The signal must be provided constantly for the last 100 feet before turning (California Vehicle Code, Section 22108). Sadly, these laws are often broken and cars often change lanes and strike motorcycle drivers they negligently and carelessly failed to notice.

Drunken driving accident – Driving a vehicle while either intoxicated or drunk is hazardous and motorists with high blood alcohol content or concentration (BAC) are at a significantly increased chance of vehicle accidents, highway injuries and vehicular deaths. Possible prevention steps reviewed here include establishing DWI courts, suspending or revoking driver licenses, confiscating or impounding vehicle plates, immobilizing or impounding cars, enforcing open container restrictions, increasing penalties such as fines or jail for drunk driving, and requiring alcohol education. Safety seat belts, air bags, designated drivers, and effective practical methods to remain sober are also mentioned.

Rear-end collisions – Severe injuries can result when a car rear ends a motorbike, bike or scooter simply because they misjudged distance or didn’t see the biker on the road. Even minor rear end collisions can be lethal if the force pushes the motorcyclist directly into oncoming traffic.

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