Local News
Illegal towing companies waiting for you to get into an accident – NBC Los Angeles
As hundreds of car accidents occur every day in California, scammers are trying to take advantage of drivers who are faced with a stressful situation following a collision.
For Angelina, a driver in Southern California, it was a close call. When she became a victim of a multi-vehicle, hit-and-run collision, as many as three unsolicited tow trucks showed up, insisting that they tow her car.
It first started with a man who pulled over, claiming to have seen the crash.
“The guy was like, ‘I saw the car. I wanted to get your information, so I can be a witness,’” Angelina, who declined to give her last name, described.
The driver said, within minutes, people began calling the contact number she provided, claiming to be a representative from a roadside assistance program. The car Angelina was driving was not under any roadside assistance program.
“(The caller) said, ‘We are sending an emergency tow. We’ll take it to an insurance-approved body shop,’” Angelina recalled, saying when she asked where the body shop would be located, the person could not give her an answer.
Eventually when a California Highway Patrol officer arrived at the crash site, one of the two drivers rushed off as the officer asked for license and insurance information, Angelina said.
She also said the first tow truck, whose driver insisted on taking her car, didn’t have truck insurance, according to the CHP.
“This is a tow scam,” the officer told her. “If you had let them take your car right now, you most likely wouldn’t have it anymore. It would end up in a junkyard or they would hold it for ransom.”
NBC4’s I-Team has investigated predatory towing practices where tow trucks find out about accidents, often by listening to police scanners, show up, and claim to have been dispatched by auto insurers then pressure people into allowing their cars to be towed.
Gladys, a scam victim that the I-Team spoke with in 2019, said a tow company took her car to a body shop that was 20 miles away without working with her insurance. That cost her nearly $1,000.
And the I-Team learned body shops where the cars are towed are also often in on the scam, charging drivers outrageous, even illegal fees to get their cars back.
The CHP warned that officers will always come if called to a crash on a highway. They will also link drivers to reputable tow services who will have the driver’s information when they arrive.
“If you’re involved in a crash out of nowhere, there’s a tow truck sitting behind you. And they’re offering to get you off the freeway, they want to move fast, they want to do things before anything happens, they think they could do it cheaper than anyone else. That’s possibly one of those scab toes, so make sure you beware,” the CHP said.
Local News
How to add California driver’s license to iPhone, Apple Watch – NBC Los Angeles
California driver’s license holders can now add their state ID to Apple Wallet on their IPhone and Apple Watch, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.
The digital IDs will be accepted at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check points, including Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco Airport, as well as select businesses.
“With this new integration, we’re working to better serve the people of California in the 21st Century,” Newsom said in a statement.
Here’s how to add your ID to Apple Wallet
- Go to Apple Wallet
- Click the + button on the top right-hand corner
- Under the “Add to Wallet” section, tap “Driver’s License or State ID” to select “California mDL Pilot.
- Scan the front and back sides of your California ID
- Scan your face
- Take a picture
- Wait for verification from the California DMV.
But there’s a catch
The mobile driver’s license (mDL) pilot program is currently only limited to 1.5 million participants.
If your license is expired or suspended, your mDL will be rejected.
Other factors that could impact your mDL applications are:
- Wearing headwear
- Not using plain background
- Lack of consistent lighting
- Other faces in the frame
- Wearing sunglasses
More tips can be found here.
Last month, the state announced the DMV addition of Google Wallet as an option to hold driver’s licenses and identification cards.
Local News
Find Riverside County Airport Fire recovery assistance – NBC Los Angeles
Residents impacted by the Airport Fire in Riverside County can visit a local assistance center in Lake Elsinore.
Residents seeking assistance with food, health care support and more are welcomed to visit the one-stop resource center located at the Lake Community Center. The center will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, Public Health, Housing & Workforce Solutions and other local agencies will be joined by representatives from the California Office of Emergency Services and several nonprofit organizations to provide information on how to get financial, medical and related aid.
Residents seeking help also can click here.
On Tuesday, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved an emergency declaration, enabling the county to seek state and federal allocations for infrastructure repairs or improvements and general recovery of expenses stemming from the blaze.
As of Thursday, the Airport Fire was 41% contained at more than 23,500 acres in Orange and Riverside counties.
For information about Orange County recovery resources, click here.
Local News
Find Orange County Airport Fire recovery resources – NBC Los Angeles
Orange County launched a website and plans to open an assistance center to provide residents with information about recovering from the Airport Fire.
Residents affected by the fire, which also burned in Riverside County, can click here to find information about wildfire assistance.
The county also will open a wildfire recovery assistance center at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. The center will be open from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday; 3 to 9 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in the second-floor lounge.
The fire, which started more than a week ago, has burned 23,519 acres with containment at 39 percent. The fire destroyed 160 structures and damaged 34 others.
Below-normal temperatures are helping firefighters make progress with helicopter water drops. Crews are working to increse the perimeter with warmer weather in the forecast.
Most evacuation orders and warnings were lifted in Orange County, but many are still in effect in Riverside County. Residents can visit this page to determine if their homes are impacted by evacuation orders or warnings.
The fire was one of three major fires that started during a week of extremely warm temperatures in Southern California.
Information about Los Angeles and San Bernardino county recovery resources can be found here.
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