Okay, the title of this post is a little bit sarcastic.  I am, in fact, a huge proponent of seatbelts and if you are not wearing them at this point you are just an absolute idiot.

Daily News writes:

The California Highway Patrol citation helped launch the annual Click It or Ticket campaign across the state on Monday to strap motorists into their seats.

More than 150 law enforcement agencies – including Los Angeles police and Sheriff’s deputies – took to the roads on the prowl for unbelted drivers.

The annual Click It campaign runs through June 6 and resumes before Thanksgiving. And fines and fees for failing to buckle up have never been higher.

The penalty for first-time offenders who ignore their seatbelt rose this year from $132 to $142. Not buckling up a child under 16 can set a motorist back $445.

“Seat belt usage is the No. 1 most important thing a driver can do to save their lives in case of a crash,” said Chris Cochran, a spokesman for the California Office of Traffic Safety.

The Click It or Ticket campaign began five years ago with signs posted across the state.

Please read the full article on the Daily News’ website.

LAPD Topanga Station sends traffic advisory:

Traffic Message has been issued by the LAPD – Topanga.

Sunday March 14, 2010 22:44 PM PDT

AVOID **S/B Topanga Cyn all lanes between Victory/Erwin and only one lane N/B Topanga Cyn open** Due to sink hole

Topanga Station advising to Avoid UFN S/B Topanga Cyn all lanes btwn Victory/Erwin and only 1 lane N/B Topanga Cyn open due to large sink hole (Water main break) Possible repair time is late Monday afternoon or evening.

For full details, go to http://local.nixle.com/alert/1498533/

Site of January 10th fire on Burbank Blvd.

In an effort to get more details about yesterday’s fire in Woodland Hills, I sent an e-mail to Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the LAFD, who works out of Woodland Hills’ Fire Station 84.  He pointed me to a Google Group called LAFD_Alert, where LAFD members post “timely notification of newsworthy Fire Department incidents throughout the City of Los Angeles.”

There, Brian had posted the following updates about the event which happened at 22107 Burbank Blvd:

10:39AM: *Structure Fire* 22107 Burbank Bl; MAP 559-J2; FS 84; PRELIM: Fire in (1 unit?) of multistory condominium; NFD; Ch:8,17 @ 10:32 AM -Brian Humphrey###

10:45AM *UPDATE: 22107 Burbank Bl* KNOCKDOWN; 20 FF’s took just 11 min; No injury; Confined to 1 two-story unit; NFD – Brian Humphrey###

11:30AM *UPDATE: 22107 Burbank Bl* FINAL: Man & Woman safely escaped w/1 dog, another dog rescued by LAFD w/chance of survival; NFD – Brian Humphrey###

I was sad to see that there was perhaps an injury to one of the occupants’ dogs, maybe Brian will have more info for me if there is any.  I’ll keep you posted.

I’m guessing this was at on of the condo complexes between Canoga Ave and Topanga Canyon Blvd on Burbank Blvd.  Just a stone’s throw away from Fire Station 84.

CBS2 writes:

Los Angeles Firefighters Sunday put out a blaze at a condominium in Woodland Hills, a fire department spokesman said.

The fire, which was reported at around 10:30 a.m., took place on Burbank Boulevard, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

It took 20 firefighters just over 10 minutes to extinguish the fire, which was confined to a single unit of the two-story building, Humphrey said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, he said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. A damage estimate was not immediately available.

LAPD Topanga Station, Canoga Park

Yesterday I took the time to call up the LAPD’s Topanga Division (located in a brand spanking new facility in Canoga Park) and try to get a little more information about Monday morning’s shooting.  I was directed to Detective Bill Speer and had a pleasant conversation with him for a few minutes.  As he put it, he is “the supervisor of the detectives in the division working on the case.”

He tells me that the victim knew the assailant, and that they are waiting for the victim to recover from his wounds before questioning him further.   Detective Speer also confirmed that the man will recover. Names of the suspect and victim are not being released at this time.

Interestingly, I asked Speer about reports that someone was arrested at the scene, possibly in connection with a marijuana growing facility at the home.  He said that there was no marijuana growing facility at the location, and no arrest was made there either.  He also seemed to be unaware of these reports.

I will do my best to keep you informed on this case.

Extra fact, the Topanga Division LAPD station opened last year and services Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, Winnetka, and West Hills.  I believe until then, these areas were also handled by the West Valley Division.  Which made filing reports very inconvenient for Woodland Hills residents being that  their station was way up in Northridge.

The official LAPD press release about the incident is after the jump. PS: I don’t necessarily believe everything the LAPD says on this one, they may be holding their cards close to the vest.  And check out that eco-friendly xeriscaping.

LAPD Press Release:

Armed Robbery Leads to Shooting, Victim Survives NR09488cj

Los Angeles: A man was shot inside of his home by two suspects inside of his residence in Woodland Hills.

On October 5, 2009 at around 12:30 a.m., the victim confronted two suspects inside of his home in the 4900 block of Alatar Drive and started arguing with them.  During the argument, one of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the upper torso.  The suspects then ran away from the scene.  The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where he is expected to fully recover from his wounds.

Detectives are looking for two suspects described only as males in a white vehicle.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Los Angeles Police Department Topanga Area Robbery Homicide Detectives Jeff Briscoe and Pam Pitcher at 818-756-3523.  After hours or on weekends, calls may directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org.  All tips will remain anonymous.

Serrania Avenue Elementary School

A quite timely and relevant piece in the Daily News encourages parents and other drivers to be cautious, courteous, and respectful of children and crossing guards at our area schools.

Prominently featured in the article is Chatsworth retiree Ernest Baysinger who helps kids cross the street to and from Serrania Avenue Elementary in Woodland Hills.

A good article, and poignant considering recent incidents in our area.

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As last night’s Daily News article points out:

Greenwalt’s death marks the first of three pedestrian tragedies involving vehicles this week in the west San Fernando Valley.

A 75-year-old man died at a local hospital Thursday after being struck by a car at 11:10 a.m. as he walked in a crosswalk at Variel Avenue and Sherman Way, said Detective Bill Bustos.

A 52-year-old La Habra man also died at a local hospital Thursday after he was struck by a 70-year-old man from Calabasas who lost consciousness behind the wheel. Authorities are investigating the medical reasons behind the crash and have not issued a citation.

The La Habra man was standing on the sidewalk at the corner of Dumez Road and Topanga Canyon Boulevard when he was struck.

But these haven’t been the only incidents in the the Valley this week. Two pedestrians were struck near Aura Ave and Roscoe Blvd. in Northridge on Friday. It’s hard not to really look closely at these incidents and see something of a societal problem. I think perhaps we all need to take a second and perhaps give counsel to some of the older people in our lives, and make sure they are exercising due caution in their lives out there on our dangerous Los Angeles roadways. Make sure they remain aware of their surroundings. We also need to put pressure on law enforcement agencies to break off pursuits when they become dangerous.