Unlicensed taxi drivers stopped at airport
Regional law enforcement officials announced Wednesday they were engaged in an effort to crack down on illegal taxicabs at Sacramento International Airport.
“Operation Road Runner,” which concluded this week at the airport, identified two illegal taxi companies operating three unlicensed operators. It also found 19 licensing and regulatory violations, according to a press release. Cab drivers found in violation were ordered to halt operations.
“It is a public safety concern if there are unlicensed and uninsured taxi operators working within our airport or within our community,” said Captain Doug Lee of the Sacramento Sheriff’s Airport Division in a written statement.
The undercover operation was prompted by a tip from the Taxi Owners Association. The Sacramento County Sheriff, Yolo and Sacramento County District Attorneys and the Yolo and Sacramento County Weights and Measures Departments all participated in the operation.
“Consumers are protected by sealed meters not subject to tampering and posted rates required of all taxicabs wherever they operate,” said Dave Lazier, chief sealer of the Sacramento County Weights and Measures Department.
Clerk arrested in tobacco sales sting
A Rite Aid clerk was arrested Saturday after selling a pack of cigarettes to two minors in a sting operation, District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced Wednesday.
The operation used members of Youth United for Action Showing Tobacco Ain’t Right (YUFA STAR) as minor decoys. The decoys visited seven businesses that sell tobacco in Davis. The clerk at Rite Aid sold two 16-year-old decoys a single pack of cigarettes, according to a press release from the district attorney’s office.
“Despite having computerized equipment to help block the sale of tobacco to minors, this clerk mistyped the decoy’s date of birth into the computer by 84 years,” said Lieutenant Dan Stroski, who supervised the sting, in a written statement.
If the clerk is found guilty, she could be fined up to $200 and the store could be prohibited from selling tobacco for 10 days. The sting operation is funded by tobacco licensing fees from businesses in the city of Davis.
Woman goes to prison for arson
Canadian citizen Claudine Fleury, 38, will go to jail after pleading no contest to felony arson and vandalism charges related to a December 2007 incident in Woodland.
According to a press release from the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, Fleury was a drifter who started squatting in a vacant home on Pershing Avenue. After a real estate agent told her to leave, Fleury tried to burn the house down several times before being arrested. One of the fires destroyed the entire garage structure.
Babysitter training class offered
The American Red Cross of Yolo County is offering a Babysitter’s Training class on Apr. 18.
The class will teach children ages 11 to 16 the skills necessary to be a good babysitter, such as making responsible decisions and keeping kids safe. They will also learn how to react in an emergency and perform basic childcare first aid.
The class will be held at 120 Court St. in Woodland. For more information about this class and others, visit yc-arc.org.
Credit Union hosts reverse mortgage workshop
Yolo Federal Credit Union will host a free workshop on the history, myths and potential benefits of reverse mortgage next week.
The workshop, co-hosted by American Pacific Reverse Mortgage, will be held Apr. 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. at 266 West Main St. in Woodland. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Nicole Parsons at nparsons@yolofcu.org or call the Yolo FCU workshop reservation line at 669-6371.
JEREMY OGUL can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
