Cops and Courts: May 15, 2008 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

[Redwood Girl]

HELLO!!! Why do you think I said that??? The only thing I don't see coming are the speeding bikes!!!

[browncoat]

i think you meant crotch rocket, not rice rocket ;)

[Delighted reader]

" It was a motorcycle ACCIDENT,"

I think that the proper term is collision. Accident just isn't the correct term here!

[Jimbo]

Why does it seem like everyone continues to drive on a suspended license? The penalty for doing it should be jail time not a slap on the wrist.

[john doe]

It isn't just those rice rockets. Another idiot killed himself riding his American made Harley-Davidson like fool on the freeway near Scotts Valley several months ago...

[the dog]

Saintpatty said ACCIDENT,

Nobody has much in the way of feelings for this goof that fell. You don't feel bad about what you call an ACCIDENT when the guy drives like a jerk on public roads. He could have hurt me that was driving safe and normal. He didn't care, he was to busy looking good. He ate pavement. Jerk.
What do you say about all the people that were inconvenanced, late, etc. because the Jerk crashed. You did mention anything about that. How about the CHP that had to go out in the traffic to take care of this putz, he put his or her life on the line to take care of the Jerk.
Saintpatty, and friend, all you think about is Me Me Me, poor Me

[Ride the BUS]

I wonder if I can sue him for impeding the flow of traffic and causing me to have to cancel my appointment. Oh ya its not an accident to know your on a suspended licence, or to know your splitting lanes, speeding, it was crash determined to happen LOL.

[Friend]

I think the dialog is proving my point. There is a danger of stereotyping on a large scale.

I agree that MC Shane was over his limit in driving. However, he is not the only one. It is by grace that more folks are not killed with cars who's drivers are not driving within their skill set. It just happens a whole lot faster with a MC.

I would prefer to hear a screaming MC over an over amped base stereo any day!

Here is to safe riding!

[SC Driver]

Since when did the Sentinel's reporting become so perfect? Tell me this - are any of you traffic investigators? Were you on that bike with Shane? Were you in the cars behind him and saw what happened? What if he simply lost control and skidded? What if he realized how fast he was going and was in the processs of slowing down and couldn't in time? We all know that this newspaper is flawed and really only take what they want from each story. Just something to keep in mind. Peace and prayers Shane. Lets all think about this when we drive home tonight and see those splittered peices of the plastic barrells across the road, when we see the skid marks. Just thank goodness that its not us and slow down on 17!

[Ya think]

The bottom line is, he shouldn't been driving or riding in the first place his driving privilage is suspended,I do hope he recovers...but riding like the witness's say he was, spliting traffic, while driving over his head, AND on suspended license, not sharpest tool in the shed. NAW sorry Friend it was no accident just a act of stupid!! He put himself in this spot

[Stephen A]

Motorcyclists do not endanger drivers even remotely as much as vice-versa. Vast majority of outspoken critics hate the fact that we are having more fun on our commute than you, and getting way ahead of you every day.

And saving gas, polluting less, reducing congestion, cleansing our souls, and yeah... Getting ahead of YOU.

Passing you doesn't put you in danger, it just irritates the narrow minded.

Envy bites, huh?

[Barry Willingham]

How come all you brave people behind your keyboards never use your real names?

[Nuikane]

Santa Cruz : Take Notice
Sell fruit, go to jail
City: Vendors without permits pose health risk
By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer
Related
On the prowl for illegal sales
You see them on street corners, parks, and near schools; basically all over town — illegal street vendors.
But if Napa city has its way, the peddlers will soon be history.
The Napa Police Department has launched an aggressive effort to rid the city of those who are illegally hawking strawberries, oranges, tamales, fried pork rinds, corn on the cob, Slurpee-type drinks, ice cream and other edibles.
“For the next five to six weeks we are going to be leaning on these guys. If they don’t have the proper permits, they will be gone. It’s zero tolerance,” said Napa Police Sgt. Debbie Peecook.
“It’s not only matter of permits, it’s also a huge public health issue. We don’t know how or where these foods are being prepared and stored. We are especially concerned about the hot food that’s being sold,” Peecook said.“Some of this food is being prepared in backyards, home kitchens and who knows where else. It’s not being stored in a safe manner. I have seen condiments such as mayonnaise kept in a jar for hours, unrefrigerated in the warm weather. Food like that can become rancid and make people sick.”
Peecook said strawberries recently were confiscated from a vendor on the corner of Imola Avenue and Foster Road.“I was looking through the fruit and found some buck shot. The berries also had been in heat for some time, so the vendor turned them over. The down side was getting black, but the side the public saw looked good.”
All of the confiscated food is turned over to the Napa County health department for inspection.
Peecook said the police department gets five to 10 calls a day about street vendors.
“We have got tons of complaints, but so far, no one has reported getting sick from any of the food,” she said.
Getting it in writing
All street vendors are required to have a city business license and peddlers permit. Mobile food vendors are required to have a Napa County heath permit, and if the vendors are working on private property they are required to obtain a use permit from the city community development department.
“They have to carry proof of a business license with them,” Peecook said.
All devices used to transport food — whether it be a push cart, dolly or basket — need to be inspected by the county health department.
The majority of street vendors do not live in Napa. They come from Richmond, Hayward and other Bay Area locations, according to Peecook.
“The vendors, who are primarily Hispanic, are driven to Napa by their bosses in vans and dumped for the day to sell their stuff,” Peecook said.“When we contact them, they usually don’t give us their real names. They’ve been trained to lie about their identity. Most of them don’t have any ID. They all have cell phones, but no ID.”
Vendors violating the law can be cited, fined and even arrested.
In addition to the city code violations pertaining to licenses, those violating the health and safety code by not getting the required health department permits can be arrested for a misdemeanor, which could mean county jail time.
Although Peecook acknowledges many of these vendors are just trying to earn a living, they are not above the law.
“Just like any other business person in Napa, they need to have the required permits. They can’t be selling food that could make people sick,” she said.“We hope by putting the pressure on them in the next few weeks, they will quit coming to Napa or if they decide to stay here, they will get the needed permits and licenses.”

[Stephen A]

Barry Willingham wrote:

How come all you brave people behind your keyboards never use your real names?

Hey Barry, Stephen Arnold. Nice to meet you.

[Barry Willingham]

Hey Stephen, Barry Willingham (aka Pat Skittle, John Doe, Stephen Arnold, Al Sharpton, Dr. Ruth et al). Nice to meet you, too.

[mountain mama]

Look I am his wife and I don't even know what happened for sure. My question is between the interchange of highway 1 and 17 how many lanes can you split? How much trffic can you cut off? How long is that stretch of freeway?
And what about the eyewitness who said the bike just all the sudden turned and it looked like a bike malfunction?

Shane is healing I have my hands full with 3 boys and an elderly father, so, lets start the love, lets pray for healing lets find some balance and get on with our lives

[Friend]

Barry Willingham wrote:

How come all you brave people behind your keyboards never use your real names?

I used to use my real name... however, it is a safety issue since there are stalkers/haters/and others who threaten and cross the lines of healthy dialog and discourse.
Unfortunately, we do live in a dangerous world.

[Friend]

mountain mama wrote:

Look I am his wife and I don't even know what happened for sure. My question is between the interchange of highway 1 and 17 how many lanes can you split? How much trffic can you cut off? How long is that stretch of freeway?
And what about the eyewitness who said the bike just all the sudden turned and it looked like a bike malfunction?
Shane is healing I have my hands full with 3 boys and an elderly father, so, lets start the love, lets pray for healing lets find some balance and get on with our lives

I hope Shane is doing better.

[to my friend Friend]

Friend wrote:

<quoted text>
I used to use my real name... however, it is a safety issue since there are stalkers/haters/and others who threaten and cross the lines of healthy dialog and discourse.
Unfortunately, we do live in a dangerous world.

Agree....and hey Friend could be considered a name too...like "hey Friend, how's it going?" or "what's up Friend?" etc

[Friend]

to my friend Friend wrote:

<quoted text>
Agree....and hey Friend could be considered a name too...like "hey Friend, how's it going?" or "what's up Friend?" etc

Thank you for your understanding.

Is there an update on Shane? I say a prayer for him and his family every day on my way to and from work as I pass the spot.

Hope he is healing well.