February 12, 2012

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A new twist on an old scam

September 14, 2009 By

State Consumer Protection officials are used to receiving reports about sellers being ripped-off by fake checks. However, Division Administrator Janet Jenkins says they’ve received several reports of someone trying to drag the state Department of Revenue into the scam.

DATCP has received at least a dozen complaints since last week of someone trying to pay for items off of Craigslist, a popular online marketplace, using checks from DOR.

Jenkins says this version of the scam plays out the same as most of them, with the seller receiving a check for over the amount of the item. They’re asked to cash the check, and then wire back the extra money to the buyer. In a few days, the check bounces, and the seller is on the hook for the extra cash.

Jenkins says this type of scam is becoming more common, and sellers need to be careful when someone wants to pay for an online purchase using a check for over the amount. Jenkins says you should also avoid using a wire service to send money to someone you don’t know.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:11)

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

Promoting booster seat safety for kids

September 14, 2009 By

Wisconsin has primary enforcement for seatbelt use, but are your kids properly buckled up?

Advocates want you to know the importance of properly securing all children in appropriate child safety seats, booster seats, or seat belts.

“The vast majority of child safety seats, they’re often not used correctly.”

Nick Jarmusz with the AAA says it’s not only important to strap the kids in their seat, but make sure it’s secured to the car seat. Also, Jarmusz says even attentive parents make common errors without realizing it.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 2 – 14, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. But, the agency is quick to point out that 244 lives of kids under age five were saved in 2008 crashes because they were safely secured.

For proper instruction, find a Safety Seat Technician near you at www.seatcheck.org.

NOTE: This is National Child Passenger Safety Week. Safety seat technicians go to a special 40-hour training course to learn how to operate and safely use every type of seat in every type of car. SeatCheck.org lists technicians located near you — often police departments, fire departments, hospitals, and AAA offices.

Most common mistakes:

1. Not using a safety seat.
2. Not reading safety seat instructions.
3. Using restraints for older children too soon.
4. Installing safety seats too loosely.
5. Adjusting seat harnesses incorrectly.
6. Keeping loose items in vehicle.

Jackie Johnson report (1:27 mp3)

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Politics & Government, Transportation

Governor cautious on payday loan bill

September 14, 2009 By

The Governor says he supports efforts to regulate the payday loan industry, although he’s unclear if capping interest rates is the right move.

Work continues at the Capitol on legislation that would cap interest rates on payday loans at 36-percent. Doyle says he’s encouraged that the Legislature is focused on the issue and he “hopes to get a good bill on his desk.”

Still, the Governor is not saying if he’ll support the rate cap, which the industry strongly opposes. He says any bill that makes it to his desk though should focus on limiting how many times payday loans can be rolled over by borrowers. Doyle says he wants to end the cycle of people getting deeper and deeper into debt on short term loans.

The bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 :39)

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Fixing aging billboards

September 14, 2009 By

A state lawmaker wants to make it easier for billboard owners to make repairs.

State Representative Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis) say there’s a growing problem billboard owners face when repairs are needed, now that nearly half of the signs in the state no longer comply with state and federal regulations. Many of them are too close to roads that have expanded since they were built, but are allowed to stay in place as long as no major repairs or improvements are made to them.

As a result, the West Allis Democrat says owners are often afraid to make repairs to damaged signs, because the improvements could allow the DOT to remove them. Staskunas is sponsoring a bill that would give them time a 36 month period to fix problems, but still requires repairs to cost no more than half the value of the sign.

DOT Director of Highway Operation Dave Veith says the agency opposes the measure because it would “frusturate” their ability to effectively control billboard placement. Veith says the DOT is obligated under federal law to remove signs that violate regulations.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 :57)

Filed Under: Transportation

Questions over sobriety checkpoints

September 14, 2009 By

As state legislators prepare to pass tougher laws on drunk driving in their fall session, there’s apparently one controversy they’ll steer away from.

That would be legalizing sobriety checkpoints, where cops pull over drivers at random to see if they’ve been drinking. Governor Doyle and a coalition fighting OWI are pushing for the change in law.

However, state Representative Kelda Helen Roys appears to be among many in the Legislature who are reluctant to pursue the issue. She says there needs to be more evidence that they are effective, and that the high cost of conducting them is worthwhile.

Roys says there’s also the issue of intruding on individual liberties and the fact that checkpoints could violate a driver’s Fourth Amendment rights.

Wisconsin is one of only about a dozen states that don’t allow the random OWI checks.

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (MP3 :35)

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With: ,