16th annual Kid’s Christmas Special enables local needy children to Christmas shop with a local public safety officer. $100 per child sponsorships appreciated.

DECEMBER 13: GEORGIA HALL OF FAMERS:  The 2013 Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Induction banquet will be held on Dec. 13, 2013 at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, located inside the Dawsonville Municipal Complex in Dawsonville, Georgia.  A limited number of seats for the banquet will be available. For more information, call the Hall of Fame at (706) 216-RACE (7223) or go online to www.georgiaracinghof.com.

Please use the Captain’s 3 Cs..Courtesy, Caution and Common Sense….

TEAM Georgia and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety are teaming up this year to remind drivers not use the holidays as an excuse to drive drunk.TEAM Georgia works to save lives and reduce injuries on Georgia’s roads and waterways. The organization is committed to its mission of encouraging safe and sober driving choices as a means of reducing transportation crashes, injuries and fatalities.
The Safe Holiday campaign brings together members of the hospitality industry, restaurants and bars to encourage safe and responsible holiday celebrations.

 TEAM Georgia, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Georgia State Patrol, MADD Georgia and inspiring words from the victim of a tragic DUI crash.During last year’s holiday season (Nov. 20 – Dec. 31), there were 1,119 alcohol-related traffic crashes in Georgia. That’s 122 more than in 2011 and 283 more than in 2010.  Twenty people lost their lives in alcohol-related crashes over the same period in 2012.Drivers were reminded to use GOHS’s Drive Sober, Georgia app, which connects those in need of a ride home with inexpensive or free options to get home safely. The app, available for download on both Apple and Android smartphones, provides listings of cab companies, tow companies and other organizations committed to keeping drunk drivers off the road. For A Safe and Free Ride Home call a CHECKER CAB: 404-351-1111, or AAA/Budweiser Tow to Go, 1-800-AAA-HELP  http://www.teamgeorgia.net/content/safeholidays.asp

Top 10 Holiday Driving Safety Tips From The Shepard Center in Atlanta..

1.Distracted driving is even more pronounced during the holidays because of increased travel and busy schedules. When you get behind the wheel, make driving your priority. Avoid using cell phones, adjusting the radio or changing CDs, reading maps, and eating and drinking while driving.

2.Stay alert, keeping your eyes focused on searching and scanning the driving environment. Drive defensively. Wear your seat belt and always expect the unexpected.

3.With additional holiday activities and increased stress, changes in sleep schedules and shorter days, drivers are vulnerable to drowsiness. Fight fatigue by getting enough rest, allowing extra travel time, taking frequent breaks, sharing the driving, asking passengers to stay alert and limiting driving to times to when you are normally awake. Drowsy driving impairs judgment, slows reaction time and increases stopping distance.

4.With all the holiday festivities, impaired driving occurs more frequently, and police increase the number of checkpoints and patrols. Use good judgment and drink responsibly. If traveling by car, always have a designated driver. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair your driving ability. Be extra cautious on the road at night and report any driver you believe to be driving impaired.

5.Winter weather can bring rain, snow, sleet and ice. Check the forecast and road reports in advance of traveling and make contingency plans for bad weather, even for short trips. Increase your following distance an extra 2 seconds for poor weather conditions. If you break down or are caught in bad weather, look for shelter and wait out the storm instead of trying to drive through it. Avoid sitting in a running car to keep warm because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

6.Keep your vehicle well maintained, including tires that are properly pressurized and road worthy. Carry an emergency kit that includes flashlights, blankets and jumper cables. Communicate your travel plans to another person and advise them of any changes.

7.With increased traffic during the holidays, there is also an increase in commercial vehicles on the road. When driving near large trucks, do not linger in the danger zones behind, in front and to the sides of these vehicles because it is difficult for the truck driver to see you.

8.When shopping, be sure to park in an appropriate-sized spot. Position the vehicle in the center of the parking space to keep your vehicle free from scratches and dings. Pull through the space, if possible, to avoid having to back up. Watch out for small children who may have strayed from their parents. Return shopping carts to stores or corrals to avoid obstruction for other drivers.

9.Crime increases during the holidays. To increase safety, park in well-lit areas close to the business you will be visiting. Place any valuables and packages in the trunk or out of sight. When you leave your vehicle, double check that it is locked and have your keys out and ready upon returning. Be alert. If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts and avoid the situation.

10.Holidays often mean spending more time behind the wheel. Consider postponing driving instruction for new drivers until the stresses of the season have subsided. Limit a newly licensed driver’s travels, especially at night.

Compiled by Dan Allison, Occupational/Driving Therapist, Shepherd Center; Adapted from the National Safety Commission

As the winter holidays approach, Cobb County PD would like to remind everyone to stay aware of seasonal scams and cyber campaigns, which may include:

•electronic greeting cards that may contain malware

•requests for charitable contributions that may be phishing scams and may originate from illegitimate sources claiming to be charities

•screensavers or other forms of media that may contain malware

•credit card applications that may be phishing scams or identity theft attempts

•online shopping advertisements that may be phishing scams or identity theft attempts from bogus retailers

•shipping notifications that may be phishing scams or may contain malware

We encourages you to use caution when encountering these types of email messages and take the following preventative measures to protect yourselves from phishing scams and malware campaigns:

•Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages.

•Use caution when opening email attachments.

•Maintain up-to-date antivirus software.

•Review the Federal Trade Commission’s Charity Checklist.

•Verify charity authenticity through a trusted contact number. Trusted contact information can be found on the Better Business Bureau’s National Charity Report Index.

•At your workplaces be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, visits, or email messages from individuals asking about employees or other internal information. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the company.

Holiday Traveling with Personal Internet-Enabled Devices Cyber Security Tip on protecting personal mobile devices while traveling over the holidays

•Do not use public Wi-Fi networks

•Avoid using open Wi-Fi networks to conduct personal business, bank, or shop online. Open Wi-Fi networks at places such as airports, coffee shops, and other public locations present an opportunity for attackers to intercept sensitive information that you would provide to complete an online transaction.

•If you simply must check your bank balance or make an online purchase while you are traveling, turn off your device’s Wi-Fi connection and use your mobile device’s cellular data internet connection instead of making the transaction over an unsecure Wi-Fi network.

•Turn off Bluetooth when not in use•Bluetooth-enabled accessories can be helpful, such as earpieces for hands-free talking and external keyboards for ease of typing. When these devices are not in use, turn off the Bluetooth setting on your phone. Cyber criminals have the capability to pair with your phone’s open Bluetooth connection when you are not using it and steal personal information.

The holiday shopping season is upon us and shoppers are out, providing plenty of opportunity for thieves. And although the law enforcement presence will also be out in full force, there are several things you can do to help “harden the target”. The intent is not to frighten you into staying home and becoming an online shopper but merely to educate you with simple tips to avoid becoming a victim as you head to the malls and shopping centers throughout Metro Atlanta.   Thefts from your vehicle almost always increase this time of year. Thieves target the parking lots at malls and retail establishments looking for high yield with little investment. But again, a little planning goes a long way toward reducing your chances of becoming a victim.

While you are out shopping, do not place your purse in the shopping cart. At some point you will be distracted, leaving it an easy target. Carry a purse with a long strap so you can wear it across your body, virtually eliminating the chance of having it stolen and at the same time reducing shoulder fatigue. Limit the number of credit cards you carry with you, taking only the ones you know you will need. In the event your wallet is stolen, the thief will have less to work with and you will have fewer cards to cancel.

Try to choose well lit parking spaces in areas closer to the main entrances and exits, even if it means you have to circle the parking lot a couple of times. Pay attention to anyone who appears to be loitering in the parking lot and report suspicious behavior, first by calling 911, and then by notifying mall or store security where available. Limit the number of trips you make to the car in any one shopping expedition. If you have to leave packages in your car, unload them into the trunk and keep your windows up and doors locked.

When shopping for high dollar items, especially electronics, it is important to shop for these items last so that you will not need to make any stops on the way home. Once you make your purchase whether it is a flat screen television, lap top computer, or that new PS3 for your kids, take the items home and immediately unload the car. Many times thieves will sit in the parking lots of electronic and computer stores and watch you load your car with your new purchases. They follow you to your next destination and while you are inside finishing your shopping or grabbing dinner, they are outside unloading your vehicle, usually in mere seconds.

Other crimes such as purse snatching may increase this time of year. Criminals know that shoppers will likely carry numerous credit cards and often be tired and distracted. These crimes are largely opportunistic, meaning that the potential victim is in the right place at the right time. The victim has something the criminal wants such as a purse or packages and will often appear distracted or unaware of their surroundings. There are things you can do to reduce the chances of you becoming the victim of this type of crime that are quite simple and don’t require any special skills or training.

How you present yourself is of key importance. Stay aware of your surroundings as you walk to and from your car to the store and even as you return home after a long day of shopping. Look around as you are walking, and even occasionally glance behind you to send the message that you are aware of what is going on around you, and don’t be afraid to make eye contact with people. Minimize distractions such as talking on the cell phone while you are walking in parking lots and parking decks. Avoid sending the signal that you are deeply engrossed in a conversation. Walk with a purpose and exude confidence, even when you are tired and don’t feel like it. And whenever possible, shop with an adult companion.

Before you head back to your car, make sure your car keys are available so that you won’t need to dig through your purse while loaded down with packages. If your cell phone rings, ignore it. That’s what caller ID is for! You can return the call after you have unloaded your packages and sat down and locked your car doors.

A person who walks with confidence and remains aware of their surroundings and free of distractions deters criminals. The very nature of a criminal’s chosen profession indicates that they don’t want to work hard at anything, not even crime.