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Tag: car

  • California police saw an illegal U-turn. But they couldn’t issue a ticket to the self-driving Waymo

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    Police in Northern California were understandably perplexed when they pulled over a Waymo taxi after it made an illegal U-turn, only to find no driver behind the wheel and therefore, no one to ticket.The San Bruno Police Department wrote in now viral weekend social media posts that officers were conducting a DUI operation early Saturday morning when a self-driving Waymo made the illegal turn in front of them.Officers stopped the vehicle, but declined to write a ticket as their “citation books don’t have a box for ‘robot’.”“That’s right … no driver, no hands, no clue,” read the post, which was accompanied by photos of an officer peering into the car.Officers contacted Waymo to report what they called a “glitch,” and in the post, they said they hope reprogramming will deter more illegal moves.The department’s Facebook post has generated more than 500 comments, with many people outraged that police didn’t ticket the company. People also wanted to know how police got the car to pull over.But San Bruno Sgt. Scott Smithmatungol said they can only ticket a human driver or operator for a moving violation, unlike parking tickets that can be left with the vehicle.A new state law that kicks in next year will allow police to report moving violations to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is figuring out the specifics, including potential penalties, the Los Angeles Times reports.Waymo spokesperson Julia Ilina told the LA Times that the company’s autonomous driving system is closely monitored by regulators. “We are looking into this situation and are committed to improving road safety through our ongoing learnings and experience,” Ilina said.Waymos currently operate in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco and in areas south of the city, including the suburb of San Bruno.“It blew up a lot bigger than we thought,” Smithmatungol said of the viral post to The Associated Press on Tuesday. “We’re not a large agency like San Francisco.”San Bruno has about 40,000 residents and a sworn police force of 50 officers, he said.Waymo is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SAN FRANCISCO —

    Police in Northern California were understandably perplexed when they pulled over a Waymo taxi after it made an illegal U-turn, only to find no driver behind the wheel and therefore, no one to ticket.

    The San Bruno Police Department wrote in now viral weekend social media posts that officers were conducting a DUI operation early Saturday morning when a self-driving Waymo made the illegal turn in front of them.

    Officers stopped the vehicle, but declined to write a ticket as their “citation books don’t have a box for ‘robot’.”

    “That’s right … no driver, no hands, no clue,” read the post, which was accompanied by photos of an officer peering into the car.

    Officers contacted Waymo to report what they called a “glitch,” and in the post, they said they hope reprogramming will deter more illegal moves.

    The department’s Facebook post has generated more than 500 comments, with many people outraged that police didn’t ticket the company. People also wanted to know how police got the car to pull over.

    But San Bruno Sgt. Scott Smithmatungol said they can only ticket a human driver or operator for a moving violation, unlike parking tickets that can be left with the vehicle.

    A new state law that kicks in next year will allow police to report moving violations to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is figuring out the specifics, including potential penalties, the Los Angeles Times reports.

    Waymo spokesperson Julia Ilina told the LA Times that the company’s autonomous driving system is closely monitored by regulators. “We are looking into this situation and are committed to improving road safety through our ongoing learnings and experience,” Ilina said.

    Waymos currently operate in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco and in areas south of the city, including the suburb of San Bruno.

    “It blew up a lot bigger than we thought,” Smithmatungol said of the viral post to The Associated Press on Tuesday. “We’re not a large agency like San Francisco.”

    San Bruno has about 40,000 residents and a sworn police force of 50 officers, he said.

    Waymo is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • A U.S. veteran spoke out against his wrongful arrest by ICE. Now he’s being accused of assault

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    George Retes Jr. grew up in Southern California, and when he turned 18, he decided to serve in the U.S. Army, he said, because he wanted to be part of something bigger than himself.

    After a tour of duty in Iraq, Retes moved back to Ventura County this year to find a job and spend more time with his wife and two young children. In February, he began working as a contracted security guard for Glass House Farms at its cannabis greenhouses in Camarillo. Then, on July 10, everything changed as ICE raided Glass House — one of its largest immigration raids ever — while he was trying to get to work.

    Federal officers surrounded Retes and pushed him to the ground. He could hardly breathe, he said, as officers knelt on his back and neck. He was arrested, jailed for three days and was not allowed to make a phone call or see an attorney, according to the Institute for Justice, a public-interest law firm that is representing him.

    President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security never charged Retes with a crime. But after he wrote an op-ed about his experience this month, DHS started issuing new accusations against him — saying he was arrested for assault during the raid, which the 25-year-old veteran has denied. Retes said he never resisted, and now is being targeted for retaliation because he spoke out about an arrest he sees as unlawful.

    “My whole point in sharing my story, I’m trying to warn as many people as possible,” he said in an interview this week. “It doesn’t matter if you’re [politically] left, right, if you voted for Trump, hate him, love him, it doesn’t matter. This affects all of us.”

    On July 10, Retes was headed to work around 2 p.m., and the narrow road leading to the farm was logjammed, he said. He weaved his compact white Hyundai forward, past parked cars and protesters, determined to make it to his shift.

    He stopped short when he came upon a line of federal officers who blocked his path to the farm. Retes, 25, wearing shorts and a hoodie, got out of his car and tried to tell the federal agents that he worked at the farm.

    Agents ignored him, he said, and instead told him to get out of the way. So he got back in his car, and as he tried to back up, agents began lobbing tear gas canisters toward the crowd to disperse them. Retes began hacking and coughing as the gas seeped into his car and federal officers began pounding on his car door. He said they gave him instructions to move that were contradictory.

    The agents smashed his car window, pepper sprayed him, pulled him out of the car and arrested him, he said. He was handcuffed, and after his three days in jail, he was released without any explanation.

    In his Sept. 16 opinion piece for the San Francisco Chronicle — entitled “I’m a U.S. citizen who was wrongly arrested and held by ICE. Here’s why you could be next” — Retes detailed his ordeal. He has begun to take legal action to sue the U.S. government under the Federal Tort Claims Act. More than 360 people were arrested in the raid, including numerous undocumented immigrants, and one person died.

    “I served my country. I wore the uniform, I stood watch, and I believe in the values we say make us different. And yet here, on our own soil, I was wrongfully detained,” he wrote. “Stripped of my rights, treated like I didn’t belong and locked away — all as an American citizen and a veteran … if it can happen to me, it can happen to any one of us.”

    Homeland Security officials did not respond to a request for comment or answer questions about their claim of assault.

    Previously, an unnamed spokesperson for Homeland Security said he was released without a charge, and his case was being reviewed, along with others, “for potential federal charges related to the execution of the federal search warrant in Camarillo.”

    A day after Retes’ opinion piece was published, the agency said Retes “became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement. He challenged agents and blocked their route by refusing to move his vehicle out of the road. CBP arrested Retes for assault.”

    The agency denied that U.S. citizens were being wrongfully arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The post stated that operations were “highly targeted.”

    “This kind of garbage has led to a more than 1000% increase in the assaults on enforcement officers,” the agency said.

    Retes said he was astounded to learn the agency’s latest claims about July 10 — moments that were captured on video. He says DHS officials are lying.

    “I was in shock,” he said. The agency had “an opportunity to say ‘OK, what we did was wrong, we’ll take responsibility.’ … It’s crazy that they’re willing to stand 10 toes down and die on a hill of lying and say I assaulted officers.”

    Anya Bidwell, his attorney and senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, said it is significant that the government chose to respond only after his piece was published.

    “When people in this country stand up to this government, this government responds with fury,” Bidwell said. “They’re trying to impose their own version of reality. It’s so important for people like George to say, ‘I know who I am and I know what happened to me, you can’t just frame it as something that it’s not.’”

    In an aerial video that captured the initial confrontation, Retes is seen driving up to the line of agents. He steps outside of his car and remains by the driver side as he tries to reason with the agents. About 20 seconds later, he gets back in his car as the agents press forward. Within seconds they surround his car, at the same time pressing protesters back as they begin to lob tear gas canisters.

    Inside his car, Retes starts to record on his phone. He’s backing up slowly, at an angle, until tear gas makes difficult to see where he’s going, he said.

    “I’m trying to leave!” he says as agents bang on his car. There’s a loud crack as they break his car glass window. “OK I’m sorry!”

    The agents pepper-spray him and detain him. One video posted online shows a group of agents surrounding Retes, who is face down on the road. Another agent hops in his car and drives it forward and off to the side of the road.

    Retes said one agent knelt on his neck and another on his back. He was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, and he was kept in a cell with a protester who was also arrested. While in jail, he said, he missed his daughter’s third birthday.

    After he was released, Retes said he was suspended from his job without pay for two weeks because of the arrest, and when he came back, his regular shifts were no longer available. Staying on would make it difficult to see his family, so he had to leave, he said.

    He also had to spend about $1,200 getting his car window fixed and detailed from the tear gas, he said.

    Despite the Trump administration’s actions, Retes said his faith in the government and accountability for justice remains steady. Just like when he joined the Army, he said, he still hangs on to a sense of unity to stand up for the country’s values.

    “I still believe justice can be restored — that’s why I’m standing up and speaking out,” he said. “I think it’s important now more than ever for us to be unified and standing up for our rights together. Especially when they have the audacity to try to lie, especially to the public.”

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    Melissa Gomez

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  • 911 call shows fear, concern from couple trapped in car sinking in Florida canal

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    A 911 call released Tuesday shows how frantic a couple was as they were trapped inside a car sinking in a canal in Florida.Listen to the 911 call in the video player above. Investigators said the couple was driving in a remote section of northwestern Martin County when they were hit by another car, sending them off the road where they landed upside down in the canal.The other car did not stop.The woman in the car was able to get to her phone and call 911.“Please! We need you!” she said to the dispatcher.The woman, whose name has not been released, explains the situation to the dispatcher who asks if the car is sinking.“Yes!” the woman replied. “That’s what it feels like. The car is sinking, sir.”“Where’s the water now?” the dispatcher asked.“We’re in the ditch outside,” she said.“Is the water in the car and how high is it?” the dispatcher asked.“It’s up to my stomach,” she said. “We don’t know how much time we have!”The woman explained to the dispatcher that the power in the vehicle was out, and they could not open the doors nor the windows.“How far in the water are you?” the dispatcher asked.“We’re deep in the water!”“And there’s no way to get that window down?”“No. We tried everything! We’re scared!”After about 10 minutes, the call appears to drop.“You still there, sir? Ma’am?” the dispatcher asked.There was no reply.Deputies arrived a short time later and were able to bust out the car’s windows and pull the couple to safety.Both people were injured, but investigators said both are expected to recover.The sheriff’s office said they are still looking for the other driver involved in the crash.

    MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —

    A 911 call released Tuesday shows how frantic a couple was as they were trapped inside a car sinking in a canal in Florida.

    Listen to the 911 call in the video player above.

    Investigators said the couple was driving in a remote section of northwestern Martin County when they were hit by another car, sending them off the road where they landed upside down in the canal.

    The other car did not stop.

    The woman in the car was able to get to her phone and call 911.

    “Please! We need you!” she said to the dispatcher.

    The woman, whose name has not been released, explains the situation to the dispatcher who asks if the car is sinking.

    “Yes!” the woman replied. “That’s what it feels like. The car is sinking, sir.”

    “Where’s the water now?” the dispatcher asked.

    “We’re in the ditch outside,” she said.

    “Is the water in the car and how high is it?” the dispatcher asked.

    “It’s up to my stomach,” she said. “We don’t know how much time we have!”

    The woman explained to the dispatcher that the power in the vehicle was out, and they could not open the doors nor the windows.

    “How far in the water are you?” the dispatcher asked.

    “We’re deep in the water!”

    “And there’s no way to get that window down?”

    “No. We tried everything! We’re scared!”

    After about 10 minutes, the call appears to drop.

    “You still there, sir? Ma’am?” the dispatcher asked.

    There was no reply.

    Deputies arrived a short time later and were able to bust out the car’s windows and pull the couple to safety.

    Both people were injured, but investigators said both are expected to recover.

    The sheriff’s office said they are still looking for the other driver involved in the crash.

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  • 1 dead, 1 injured, restaurant closed after car crash in Detroit’s east side

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    A woman died, a man is in critical condition and Avenue Grill on Gratiot Avenue is closed until further notice after a car crash around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6.

    After two cars got in a crash— one driven by the woman, the other by the man— the woman’s car struck the outside of a business’s building, Detroit Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Daron Zhou said.

    In a story on it’s Facebook page, Avenue Grill said the the resturant will be closed until further notice.

    “Due to an unfortunate car accident that occured outside our restuarant and caused significant damage, Avenue Grill has taken a massive hit,” according to the post.

    More: Dearborn officer suspended after mishandling man’s concerns before alleged attack

    People looking to support Avenue Grill as the restaurant undergoes reparations can keep the business in their prayers and stay connected via social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, for updates on reopening, according to a statement by Avenue Grill sent to the Free Press.

    “We are heartbroken over what happened this morning, and our prayers are with everyone involved in the crash,” according to the business. “We are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community.”

    The victims’s ages and places of residence are unknown as of Saturday afternoon, Zhou said.

    More: Man gets 15-50 years in prison in 2021 crash death after stealing Jeep, fleeing cops

    Detroit Police Department Fatal Squad is investigating the incident, Zhou said.

    Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.

    This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit’s Avenue Grill closed after car crash into building kills 1

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  • Iconic LAX airport sign is being removed letter by letter. Here’s why

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    The giant “LAX” sign that has welcomed travelers to Los Angeles International Airport for the last 25 years is temporarily coming down to make way for major roadway projects.

    Crews began taking down the 32-foot-tall sign Thursday night, starting with the “X,” as part of an upcoming reconfiguration of the surrounding roads.

    Reconstruction will include pedestrian enhancements, improved signage and more direct access to airport economy parking on a 4.4-mile-stretch of reconfigured roadway, according to Los Angeles World Airports.

    The project is expected to remove hundreds of vehicles from Sepulveda Boulevard traffic at any given time once it is completed.

    In a statement, Michael Christensen, chief airport development officer for Los Angeles World Airports, said the reconstruction project is a significant milestone for LAX as the airport authority is working to make it more efficient and accessible for travelers as both the World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in 2028 loom large for the region.

    This is just one part of LAX’s Airfield and Terminal Modernization Program, which aims to reduce cars and traffic buildup by taking cars previously queued along Sepulveda Boulevard onto dedicated, elevated roadways separate from local traffic.

    “While the LAX sign will be taking a break from the spotlight, our teams and contracting partners will be hard at work on roadway improvements that will provide long-term benefits to employees, travelers and our surrounding communities, creating a world-class airport experience for years to come,” Christensen said.

    The letters will be taken down one by one starting with “X” and ending with “L,” and will be stored at the LAWA yard across the street from its current site.

    When the reconstruction project is complete, the sign will be relocated to ensure “compatibility with the new road designs and integrated into the broader improvements planned for the area,” according to airport officials.

    There isn’t a set timeline for a return of the iconic letters.

    Officials project that the elevated roadways entering the central terminal area of LAX will be completed before the 2028 Olympics. Completion of the entire project is set for the year 2030.

    The three-dimensional sign was installed as part of an $80-million facelift of the airport’s main entrance ahead of the Democratic National Convention in 2000.

    At the time, it was LAX’s first major beautification project since the 1984 Olympics, with an aim of it becoming “as much a symbol of Los Angeles as the Hollywood sign.”

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    Karen Garcia

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  • Colorado sheriff’s deputy who alerted ICE to Utah student resigns; AG drops lawsuit

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    A Mesa County sheriff’s deputy resigned Tuesday, almost three months after he was accused of violating state law by sharing information with federal officials that led to a Utah college student’s immigration arrest, according to court records.

    Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on Thursday dropped the lawsuit he filed against Investigator Alexander Zwinck over the incident because of the deputy’s resignation, according to court records. Weiser agreed to dismiss the case because the law no longer applies to Zwinck after his resignation, according to a motion filed last week.

    A larger investigation into whether other state law enforcement officers in the region collaborated with federal officials in a Signal group chat for the purposes of federal immigration enforcement will continue, said Lawrence Pacheco, spokesman for the attorney general’s office.

    “Because the laws he is accused of violating apply only to state and local employees, the attorney general’s office is dismissing the lawsuit against Mr. Zwinck but retaining the right to re-file the case if Mr. Zwinck becomes a state or local employee in the future,” Pacheco said.

    Weiser alleged in the lawsuit that Zwinck knowingly assisted in federal immigration enforcement by sharing information about 19-year-old Caroline Dias Goncalves in the Signal group chat during a June 5 traffic stop on Interstate 70 near Loma.

    Colorado law prohibits local law enforcement officers from carrying out civil immigration enforcement and largely blocks local police agencies from working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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    Shelly Bradbury

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  • Bicyclist fatally hit by car in Elk Grove, officials ay

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    A 39-year-old Sacramento man was fatally hit by a car Friday morning in Elk Grove, officials said. The Elk Grove Police Department was dispatched around 2:33 a.m. to a reported crash on Calvine Road between Bader Road and Bradshaw Road.A man was sitting on his bicycle in the road when he was hit by a White Toyota traveling eastbound on Calvine Road. The driver then stopped and remained on scene. Upon arrival, officers found the man deceased, the police department said. The driver is cooperating with investigators and did not show any signs of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Speed was not a factor in the crash, police said. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    ELK GROVE, Calif. —

    A 39-year-old Sacramento man was fatally hit by a car Friday morning in Elk Grove, officials said.

    The Elk Grove Police Department was dispatched around 2:33 a.m. to a reported crash on Calvine Road between Bader Road and Bradshaw Road.

    A man was sitting on his bicycle in the road when he was hit by a White Toyota traveling eastbound on Calvine Road. The driver then stopped and remained on scene. Upon arrival, officers found the man deceased, the police department said.

    The driver is cooperating with investigators and did not show any signs of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Speed was not a factor in the crash, police said.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Man steals car with three children inside, crashes in Malibu after pursuit, authorities say

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    A man was arrested after stealing a car in East Los Angeles with three children inside, then crashing it in Malibu during a police pursuit Friday evening, officials confirmed.

    The car, a light-colored sedan, was left running with three children inside at a 7-Eleven on East Olympic Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A stranger jumped inside the idling vehicle and took off at around 6:38 p.m.

    The California Highway Patrol began pursuing the vehicle minutes later, traveling westbound on the 10 Freeway at Maple Avenue in Los Angeles, the agency confirmed.

    The chase continued until roughly 7:34 p.m., when the sedan appeared to T-bone a light-colored SUV at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Kanan Dume Road in Malibu.

    Following the crash, live footage broadcast from a news helicopter showed the suspect fleeing the scene barefoot and shedding layers of clothes. The man ran through a residential area into a field before being arrested.

    Four people at the scene were taken to a hospital — three by helicopter and one by ambulance, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Three were listed with minor-to-moderate injuries, but no condition was available for the fourth person.

    It is unclear how seriously injured the children were, but they were conscious and breathing after the crash as paramedics removed them from the vehicle, KTLA-TV reported.

    The suspect’s name was not immediately released.

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    Sandra McDonald

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  • Driver Identified In Deadly Columbia River Crash – KXL

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    Photo Courtesy Portland Police

    PORTLAND, Ore. – The driver killed in a single-vehicle crash Saturday has been identified as 43-year-old Guillermo Soto Briceno of Portland, authorities confirmed.

    Briceno’s body was recovered from the Columbia River following the crash near Northeast Marine Drive and Northeast 122nd Avenue. The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office made the identification, and his family has been notified.

    Emergency crews responded around 8:01 a.m. on Aug. 2 after reports of a damaged guardrail and a vehicle overturned in a shallow part of the river. When officers arrived, the vehicle was found empty.

    Portland Fire & Rescue, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office River Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard assisted in the search for the missing driver. The Major Crash Team with the Portland Police Bureau later joined the investigation due to the likelihood of a fatality.

    The vehicle was eventually removed from the water. No other occupants were found.

    Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Investigations Unit at [email protected] and reference case number 25-207638.

    Traffic in the area was temporarily restricted but has since reopened.

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    Grant McHill

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  • Volusia County sheriff visits e-bike crash victim, warns parents of young riders

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    The sheriff of Volusia County has a warning for drivers and parents of young e-bike riders: vigilance is needed now more than ever.The rise of e-bike popularity means a slew of children have begun riding them to school, said Sheriff Mike Chitwood.Chitwood recently went to visit a 14-year-old named Hunter who was hit by a car while riding an e-bike on the first day of school in Deltona.”We’re lucky that he’s alive,” Chitwood said.Hunter had to be airlifted to a hospital and is now recovering after he was hit while crossing an intersection on Roble Lane and Howland.Chitwood said the young rider had stopped at the intersection as a car was stopped. When he began riding forward, the driver hit the gas and struck him.”I think he’s having a hard time understanding why the person who hit him never got out of the car, never turned the engine off and never responded to his replies,” Chitwood said.Now, he’s reinforcing a message of e-bike safety, and he said Hunter wants to help by creating a personal PSA to riders and drivers.”His father, when they bought him the e-bike, they had made the trek back and forth to school: here’s where the stop signs are. How many parents do that? Before he left for school, they had a little bit of an argument, he said, ‘You’re not taking that e-bike without a helmet,’” said Chitwood.The helmet very likely saved his life, he added.Chitwood said, with the speed of e-bikes, drivers should be hypervigilant of their surroundings.Riders of e-bikes should always wear a helmet and should obey the rules of the road to a tee.”Never assume the driver sees you. Never.””Sooner or later, the government’s going to have to get around to regulating these things,” Chitwood said.

    DELTONA, Fla. —

    The sheriff of Volusia County has a warning for drivers and parents of young e-bike riders: vigilance is needed now more than ever.

    The rise of e-bike popularity means a slew of children have begun riding them to school, said Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

    Chitwood recently went to visit a 14-year-old named Hunter who was hit by a car while riding an e-bike on the first day of school in Deltona.

    “We’re lucky that he’s alive,” Chitwood said.

    Hunter had to be airlifted to a hospital and is now recovering after he was hit while crossing an intersection on Roble Lane and Howland.

    Chitwood said the young rider had stopped at the intersection as a car was stopped. When he began riding forward, the driver hit the gas and struck him.

    “I think he’s having a hard time understanding why the person who hit him never got out of the car, never turned the engine off and never responded to his replies,” Chitwood said.

    Now, he’s reinforcing a message of e-bike safety, and he said Hunter wants to help by creating a personal PSA to riders and drivers.

    “His father, when they bought him the e-bike, they had made the trek back and forth to school: here’s where the stop signs are. How many parents do that? Before he left for school, they had a little bit of an argument, he said, ‘You’re not taking that e-bike without a helmet,’” said Chitwood.

    The helmet very likely saved his life, he added.

    Chitwood said, with the speed of e-bikes, drivers should be hypervigilant of their surroundings.

    Riders of e-bikes should always wear a helmet and should obey the rules of the road to a tee.

    “Never assume the driver sees you. Never.”

    “Sooner or later, the government’s going to have to get around to regulating these things,” Chitwood said.

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  • Sixt: Q2 Revenue Up Despite ‘Highly Volatile’ Market

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    Germany-based car rental company Sixt reported record second-quarter revenue of nearly €1.1 billion, up 7.4 percent year over year, and credited “significant growth in the core business of short-term rentals.” 

    The company also cited in a Wednesday earnings report “a market environment that remains politically challenging and highly volatile in macroeconomic terms, especially in the U.S.A.”

    North American second-quarter revenue was €334.6 million, an increase of 4.8 percent year over year. The Germany segment revenue increased 1.2 percent to €289.2 million. Revenue for the Europe segment excluding Germany increased the most during the second quarter to €456 million from €400.9 million a year prior.

    The company’s consolidated profit for the quarter was more than €78.4 million, compared with nearly €48.3 million reported in Q2 2024.

    Average fleet size for the second quarter was 197,800 vehicles, up 5.7 percent year over year, with “a high premium share of 54 percent,” Sixt CFO Franz Weinberger said in a statement.

    RELATED: Sixt Q1 performance

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    dairoldi@thebtngroup.com (Donna M. Airoldi)

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  • Woman allegedly kidnapped by ex-boyfriend released after slow-speed pursuit

    Woman allegedly kidnapped by ex-boyfriend released after slow-speed pursuit

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    A woman who was allegedly kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend in El Monte was released after a 21-mile freeway pursuit through Los Angeles and Orange counties that at one point slowed to a crawl.

    According to the El Monte Police Department, the man showed up at the woman’s place of work in the 10300 block of Lower Azusa Road just before 6 p.m. Saturday. The two argued before the man allegedly forced the woman into her car, police said, and drove off without allowing her to exit. The woman called a friend, who tracked the car via the Find My iPhone app and contacted law enforcement.

    A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopter located the car on the 5 Freeway in the area of Commerce and notified California Highway Patrol.

    CHP attempted a traffic stop, but the man continued to drive, leading law enforcement on a chase for more than 20 miles.

    “Spike strips were utilized to puncture the vehicle’s tires which caused it to become inoperable and yield” near the 405 Freeway and Westminster Avenue, police said in a statement.

    But first, multiple law enforcement vehicles slowly tailed the vehicle as it inched onward in a slow-speed pursuit, KCAL News footage showed, until the car finally came to a stop.

    The suspect and a woman in the passenger’s seat got out of the car, video showed. The man walked over to the woman and hugged her while she spoke into her phone. He then slowly walked backward toward law enforcement with raised arms and surrendered. The woman was not injured, police said.

    The suspect is at a processing facility on $100,000 bail, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

    El Monte police said that charges of kidnapping and felony evading would be submitted to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department at (626) 580-2100.

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    Colleen Shalby

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  • Enterprise Mobility Reports Record FY24 Revenue

    Enterprise Mobility Reports Record FY24 Revenue

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    Privately owned company Enterprise Mobility—which owns the Enterprise, National and Alamo car rental brands—reported record annual revenue of more than $38 billion for its 2024 fiscal year, the company announced Thursday. That figure is inclusive of its subsidiaries and affiliate Enterprise Fleet Management and surpasses the record $35 billion reported in FY23.

    Enterprise Mobility’s 2024 fiscal year ended July 31.

    During the fiscal year, the company grew its international footprint, with all European subsidiaries reporting revenue growth, and the U.K. business growing to more than 480 branches. In addition, the Enterprise, National and Alamo brands were introduced in Chile, Thailand and the U.S. Virgin Islands during FY24, bringing the brands’ global reach to more than 9,500 locations across more than 90 countries and territories, according to the company. 

    Earlier this month, National and Enterprise came in first and second in J.D. Power’s 2024 North American Rental Car Satisfaction Study. 

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    dairoldi@thebtngroup.com (Donna M. Airoldi)

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  • Car smashes into roof of Rancho Palos Verdes home

    Car smashes into roof of Rancho Palos Verdes home

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    A car careened off the road and crashed into the roof of a Rancho Palos Verdes home on Sunday evening, resulting in one person being taken to a nearby hospital.

    The collision occurred around 5:50 p.m. at 28036 Santona Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

    “It sounded like the whole house exploded,” homeowner Joann Killeen told KTLA.

    The driver was an older person who lost control of their vehicle on a nearby embankment and had minor injuries, said watch commander Lt. Rony Del Pinto of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

    A photo from NBC Los Angeles showed the car embedded in the roof of the home. Images shared by Killeen with KTLA showed that an interior room was trashed, and a gaping hole was left in the ceiling.

    Del Pinto said no one else in the home was injured and no arrest was made, calling it a “complete accident.”

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    Emily Alpert Reyes

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  • Two arrested on sex-trafficking charges after advertising brothel on fliers, Irvine police say

    Two arrested on sex-trafficking charges after advertising brothel on fliers, Irvine police say

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    Irvine police arrested two men this week on pimping and pandering charges after they advertised a brothel on fliers that were placed on neighbors’ cars, a department spokesperson said.

    The fliers included contact information that led officers a home in the city’s Cypress Village neighborhood, Sgt. Karie Davies said.

    The fliers, in essence, said, “Call for a good time,” she said.

    “They were super original and very discreet,” Davies said.

    Qiyin Jiaqiyin, 51, of Irvine and Xiaoming Ding, 36, of Whittier were arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail, Davies said, where they’re each being held on $500,000 bail.

    Three victims, women in their 20s and 30s, were offered assistance and left the location after the arrests, Davies said.

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    Liam Dillon

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  • What You Should Do When You Get a New Car – Aha!NOW

    What You Should Do When You Get a New Car – Aha!NOW

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    With the purchase of a new car, come many responsibilities. Be it the paperwork, safety checks, and testing the car for its performance, you’ve to ensure that you got the best deal. Here’s all the info you need that can also serve as a check list of things to do when you buy a new car. ~ Ed.

    Whether you have just purchased your very first car or you are on your fourth, there are a number of things that you should do after you have signed the contract and exchanged money. These tasks may vary depending on whether you have purchased:

    • a second-hand car
    • an older car
    • a brand new car.

    It will also depend on whether you have purchased the vehicle from:

    • a reputable dealer, or
    • an individual on social media.

    When you buy from someone on social media, you aren’t always going to know what you are going to get. It is always best to do more research if this is the case, as well as more safety checks and cleaning once you have taken the car home. If you have purchased a second-hand car from a business, there is a higher chance of the car being cleaner and safer, so there may be less for you to do when you take it home.

    Most cars that come from a business, providing it is reputable and trustworthy, will be cleaned before the sale and come with a warranty and a folder of the relevant paperwork. If you buy a brand new car, then all the safety checks should have been done and it should be spotless. The only thing you really need to do is drive a little carefully to wear in the brakes.

    With any car that you buy, it is important to get all the paperwork organized and make sure you have all the relevant insurance and tax. There are voluntary things you can do as well, such as customizing your new vehicle to make it your own.

    8 Things To Do When You Get a New Car

    To help you on your journey, here are some important things that you should do when you buy a new car and take it home for the first time. These tasks will help you both in the short term, as well as the long term.

    Put it in your name

    It is really important that you obtain and complete the relevant paperwork to register the new car in your name. The person or company that you buy the car from should be able to help you with this. The process may be slightly different if you are buying a brand-new car, a car from a dealer, or a private person. It will also vary depending on what country you are buying the car in. Make sure you do this right away and obtain the right proof.

    Organize the paperwork

    You will be handed some paperwork when you purchase the car. Some of this will be the purchase and the proof of sale and payment. Some of this will be about the car itself, for example, this might be a manual for the vehicle and the history of work it has had on it with the relevant invoices. You should keep a hold of this and store it in a safe place. This could be in a folder or a filing cabinet. Make sure you know where it is. This is important because if there is an issue with the car, you may need this paperwork if you go back to the dealer and claim anything on the warranty. It will also be important to set up your insurance and make any claims if you have an accident.

    Lastly, when your time ends with the vehicle and you feel it is time to move on, you will need all this paperwork when you sell your car. You will need to provide the new owners with the history of the vehicle. This means that you will also need to keep receipts and invoices for any work that you do on the car, including MOTs and services.

    Insure and tax it

    Make sure you insure and tax your vehicle. Check what the rules are in your country, and ensure you follow the instructions. You may be penalized if your car is not taxed and insured correctly. It will also cost you a lot of money if you find yourself in an accident without any insurance.

    Check over the car and check it for safety

    If you have purchased a brand-new car, then it should have been signed off for safety, but there is still no harm in doing some additional checks yourself.

    It is vital that you do these checks on any secondhand car, especially if you purchased from a private individual, regardless of what they have said. You should give your car a full safety assessment, and check things like:

    • Oil and fluid levels
    • The brakes work properly
    • Brake fluid and pads
    • Windscreen wipers work as they should
    • Doors and windows open
    • Doors lock and unlock properly
    • A spare tire is stored in the car
    • Any safety equipment you may need in an accident or breakdown is stored in the car
    • You have all the necessary mirrors
    • Tire tread is legal and safe
    • There is enough air in the tires
    • And more.

    Depending on how much knowledge you have about cars, you may choose to take this to a professional garage to get it all checked over properly and signed off. It is best to do this straight away, so you don’t put yourself at risk. It will also help if there are any issues, to address them sooner rather than later if you want to claim on any warranty that you may have.

    Drive it around and get used to it

    When you know your new car is safe to drive, you should take it for a drive. This will help you get used to how it feels and how you can drive safely. Especially if you are driving a different model, size, or type of car than you are used to, if this is your first car and you have recently passed your test, or if you have not driven for a long time. You will be able to:

    • See how the brakes work
    • Set your mirrors in the right position
    • See how the steering works
    • Figure out where all the buttons are
    • Get used to the visibility in the car
    • And much more.

    Clean the interior and exterior

    This activity might not be as necessary if you have purchased a brand-new car. But nonetheless, it is a really good idea to clean the car before you use it. You don’t know who has used it or what the car has been used for. This will ensure there are no unclean or health hazards in the car you are about to drive around in. It will also enable you to check out the interior of the car and assess for any damp or mold. This is a great way to assess any issues that need addressing sooner rather than later. It also gives you a nice clean car to drive around in and adds to the excitement of having a new car.

    Customize your new car

    Many people like to customize their cars when they get them. This is an excellent way to make it unique and make it your own. You can also add things that you like, things that will make it more comfortable for you, things that look cool, and things that make the car more practical. Many people with new cars such as Corsas, like to install dual exhaust tips to enhance the sound performance of their car. Other custom upgrades you can make are storage solutions which are ideal if you travel a lot, or even color customization to make it bold and unique.

    The great thing is, there are so many things you can do to customize your car depending on your needs, wants, and budget. You can do a lot of stuff yourself with the right tools and knowledge. There are many experts on YouTube who post helpful tips for you to follow. If you have more of a budget, you can send your car to a professional so they can customize your car how you like it, all you need to do is give them your ideas.

    Maintain it properly

    A new car can be fun and exciting, but that excitement can die off quickly if you don’t maintain your car properly. It is really important that you take time to look after your car and maintain it. This will help it last a lot longer, keep it comfortable to drive, hold its value, and save you a lot of money on repairs over time. To properly maintain your car, you should consider doing the following on a regular basis:

    • Clean the interior and exterior
    • Take it to a garage for an MOT and service
    • Conduct safety checks
    • Keep fluids topped up and clean
    • Drive it safely and carefully
    • Park it in a safe place, even cover it when it is not being used or in harsher weather

    Wrapping It Up

    Buying a new car is an investment. Make sure you treat it that way and follow all these important steps after you have made your purchase. Get the car papers in your name, make sure you complete the insurance and tax formalities, check the car for safety, test drive it, and clean it.

    Over to you

    What checks or things you do after you purchase a car? Share your experiences and tips in the comments.

    Disclaimer: Though the views expressed are of the author’s own, this article has been checked for its authenticity of information and resource links provided for a better and deeper understanding of the subject matter. However, you’re suggested to make your diligent research and consult subject experts to decide what is best for you. If you spot any factual errors, spelling, or grammatical mistakes in the article, please report at [email protected]. Thanks.

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    John J. Gilchrist

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  • Leasing a car: a practical guide for families on the go – Growing Family

    Leasing a car: a practical guide for families on the go – Growing Family

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    Collaborative post

    When it comes to family transportation, making an informed choice is crucial. Leasing a car can be an ideal solution for families who value flexibility, modern technology, and affordability without the long-term commitment of purchasing.

    Here’s a practical guide to help you navigate car leasing and find the best solution for your family’s needs.

    a man driving a car

    Understanding car leasing

    Car leasing is essentially a long-term rental agreement. Unlike buying, where you own the car outright, leasing allows you to use a vehicle for a specified period, usually between two to four years. At the end of the lease term, you simply return the car and, if you wish, lease a new one. 

    This arrangement can be particularly beneficial for families who prefer to drive the latest models without the hassle of ownership.

    One of the significant advantages of car leasing is the ability to lease cars that are in stock. These vehicles are available immediately, which means you can avoid lengthy waiting times for custom orders. For families with busy schedules, having access to a car without delay can be a considerable convenience.

    Benefits of car leasing for families

    Lower monthly Payments: Leasing typically offers lower monthly payments compared to buying. This affordability can free up some of your family budget for other necessities or leisure activities.

    Newer Models with Advanced Features: Leasing allows families to drive newer models packed with the latest safety, efficiency, and entertainment features. This can be especially appealing for those with young children, as newer models often come equipped with enhanced safety technologies.

    Maintenance and Warranty: Lease agreements can cover routine maintenance and are usually under warranty throughout the lease term. This feature can save families unexpected repair costs, providing peace of mind.

    Flexibility to Upgrade: At the end of the lease term, families have the freedom to lease a new car. This flexibility makes it easy to adapt to changing family needs, such as requiring more space or advanced technology.

    children in the back seat of a car on a journey with parentschildren in the back seat of a car on a journey with parents

    Considerations before leasing a car

    While leasing offers numerous benefits, it’s essential to understand its implications fully.

    Mileage Limitations: Leases come with mileage restrictions. Families should carefully consider how much they drive annually and select a lease that accommodates their lifestyle to avoid excess mileage fees.

    Wear and Tear: Leases specify guidelines for acceptable wear and tear. Families with young children or pets need to be mindful of potential damages, as exceeding normal wear could incur additional charges.

    Long-term Cost: While monthly payments are lower, over time, leasing might cost more than buying due to the lack of ownership of an asset at the end. Families need to weigh the pros and cons in terms of long-term financial planning.

    a family packing things in the boot of a cara family packing things in the boot of a car

    Steps to leasing the perfect family car

    Assess Your Needs: Determine the essential features and specifications your family requires. Consider space, safety features, fuel efficiency, and any other necessities that would make daily travels more convenient.

    Research and Compare: Investigate various car models based on your needs. Compare leasing deals across different dealerships, and don’t hesitate to negotiate terms. Online tools and dealer websites often allow for quick comparisons of available inventory.

    Budget Wisely: Establish a budget that includes not just the monthly lease payments but also insurance, fuel, and any potential maintenance not covered by the lease.

    Read the Fine Print: Make sure you understand all terms and conditions. Pay close attention to mileage limits, end-of-lease responsibilities, and any associated fees.

    Inspect the Vehicle: Before finalising the lease, thoroughly inspect the car for any pre-existing damage to avoid penalties later. Ensure it meets the standards you expect for your family’s daily use.

    Leasing a car can be an excellent choice for families on the go, offering flexibility and access to modern features at a manageable cost. By understanding the leasing process and considering your family’s unique needs, you can make a decision that supports your lifestyle while keeping you on budget. Whether you’re navigating school runs, family holidays, or weekend excursions, a leased vehicle can provide the dependable and feature-rich transport your family needs.

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    Catherine

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  • Cars torched, window smashed in pair of South L.A. street takeovers. Neighbors are weary

    Cars torched, window smashed in pair of South L.A. street takeovers. Neighbors are weary

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    Two street takeovers in South Los Angeles veered into vandalism early Tuesday morning as the window of a local car dealership was smashed and cars were set on fire.

    The Los Angeles police and fire departments responded a few minutes past midnight to a call of a vehicle on fire and a possible street takeover at the intersection of Normandie and Florence avenues. The vehicle was so charred, it was not driveable and had to be impounded, according to police.

    Margaret Stewart, a public information officer with the Los Angeles Fire Department, said the large crowd and vehicles were packed tightly, and firefighters struggled to reach the flaming vehicle.

    The second call came at 3:23 a.m. from the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Figueroa Street, walking distance from the main USC campus. Los Angeles police officers and firefighters responded to another report of a rowdy takeover, with a second vehicle that had caught fire, this one containing fireworks.

    In video of the street takeover obtained by KABC7, loud popping noises can be heard in the background as crowds run past Felix Chevrolet on Figueroa Street. Glass is scattered on the ground from a shattered window at the car dealership. One individual in a ski mask appears to grab items from a gray sedan that is on fire.

    In each takeover incident, fresh black skid marks on the asphalt traced where drivers had spun “doughnuts” repeatedly in the night.

    According to the Los Angeles Police Department, there were no injuries and no arrests at either incident.

    Residents of South Los Angeles are crying foul.

    “I live in the neighborhood and I can hear it at night,” said Emma, who works at a local business. Emma, who provided only her first name out of fear for her safety, says the noise often wakes her and her neighbors in the middle of the night, with the abrupt explosion of fireworks setting off car alarms. She said these late-night rendezvous have increased to several times a week.

    The Avalon Gardens resident believes the culprits have been emboldened by law enforcement that she says remains lax in spite of neighbors’ numerous complaints to the city.

    “When [police] do arrive, it’s 15 minutes too late,” when the crowds have already dispersed and gone home, she added.

    From 2019 to 2020, the number of street takeovers nearly doubled amid the pandemic. The illegal sideshows have been deadly, as The Times has previously reported. Earlier this year, another street takeover left two sedans burning at the intersection of West 18th and Main streets.

    The L.A. City Council has attempted to curb street racing and takeovers by installing speed bumps at 20 popular meetups to prevent drivers from performing tricks.

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    Jireh Deng

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  • Men charged with murder in Johnny Wactor’s death implicated themselves in jailhouse talk, sources say

    Men charged with murder in Johnny Wactor’s death implicated themselves in jailhouse talk, sources say

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    Prosecutors on Monday charged two men with known associations to a notorious South Los Angeles street gang with murder in the death of “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor after the suspects implicated themselves during jailhouse discussions, sources told The Times.

    Two other men were also charged with lesser crimes in connection with Wactor’s death, authorities said.

    Robert Barceleau, 18, is accused of shooting Wactor after the actor came upon him and two other members of the Florencia 13 gang on Hope Street near Pico Boulevard and confronted them because he thought they were trying to tow his car in the wee hours of May 25. Authorities say the men were jacking up Wactor’s car to steal its catalytic converter and he was shot after accosting them.

    Johnny Wactor was shot to death after interrupting men trying to steal his car’s catalytic converter on May 25, authorities say.

    (Willy Sanjuan / Invision / Associated Press)

    Barceleau, who is also known as “Smallz,” is an identified member of the Florencia 13 gang, according to information from a search warrant filed in the Wactor investigation. His fingerprints, as well as those of Sergio Estrada and Leonel Gutierrez, matched those lifted from the floor jack left at Wactor’s car, according to the search warrant. Authorities say Estrada, a.k.a. “Prieto,” and Gutierrez, or “Tripps” — both also 18 — are affiliated with the gang.

    Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón and interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi said more than 50 search warrants were served in the case.

    Witnesses identified Gutierrez as a suspect in Wactor’s slaying because of a distinct “F” tattoo on his face — for Florencia, police said.

    The three men were arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder. A fourth person — Frank Olano, 22 — was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to murder.

    After their arrests, some of the men implicated themselves in the slaying during recorded jailhouse conversations, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation but not authorized to discuss it publicly.

    Calling Wactor’s death a “senseless shooting,” Gascón on Monday charged Barceleau and Estrada with murder.

    Barceleau was charged with special circumstances murder during an attempted robbery with personal use of a firearm, attempted robbery, grand theft and aggravated circumstances of using a firearm. If convicted, he faces life without the possibility of parole.

    Anita Joy, right, who was with Johnny Factor when he was shot, hugs Gary Hoiness following news conference.

    Anita Joy, right, who was with Johnny Factor when he was killed, hugs Gary Hoiness after Monday’s news conference where murder charges against Factor’s suspected killers were announced.

    (Al Seib/For The Times)

    Estrada was charged with murder with the use of a firearm, attempted robbery and grand theft with a firearm.

    Gutierrez was charged with attempted robbery and grand theft with allegations of a principal armed with a firearm.

    Olano was charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder, one count of receiving stolen property and three counts of being a felon with a firearm.

    “There are two that are facing life in prison, one life without the possibility,” Gascón said during a news conference Monday. “One of them fired a weapon; the other one was there. … Barceleau fired the gun.”

    Barceleau, Gutierrez and Estrada all have lengthy criminal histories, according to court and arrest documents reviewed by The Times.

    Barceleau has previously been arrested on suspicion of assault with a firearm, robbery and burglary. Gutierrez has prior arrests on suspicion of possession of a firearm, vehicle theft, grand theft, assault with great bodily injury, battery and robbery. Estrada’s priors include suspicion of assault with a firearm, robbery and burglary. Alano, a.k.a. “Little,” has been arrested on suspicion of grand theft, vandalism, possession of a firearm and assault on a police officer.

    Barceleau is being held without bail, and Estrada is being held in lieu of $2.070 million bail. Olano’s bail was set at $1.08 million and Gutierrez’s at $120,000.

    Moses Castillo, a retired LAPD detective and advocate for the Wactor family, said the failure to file special gang allegations against the men, as the district attorney has repeatedly done in prior gang cases, means the men will face far less time in prison if convicted.

    Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon at Hall of Justice.

    L.A. County Dist. Atty. George Gascón and interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi announced murder and other charges Monday against slain “General Hospital’’ actor Johnny Wactor’s suspected assailants.

    (Al Seib/For The Times)

    Neither Gascón nor Choi would discuss the evidence in the case, including any statements made by the accused. All four appeared in a downtown court Monday and were waiting to be called for their hearing.

    The charges come after friends of the actor called for the district attorney to lock up those responsible for the actor’s death.

    “I don’t think it is right that these suspects, whoever killed Johnny, ever gets freedom ever again,” fellow actor Micah Parker said Monday outside the downtown criminal courts building. “That is justice in our eyes, and we asked George Gascón to serve justice and do his job today.”

    Parker and others were asking the district attorney to commit to seeking the maximum sentence for the men — life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    Wactor’s slaying has become symbolic of growing issues related to violent robberies in Los Angeles, and particularly the rise of street violence in the city’s downtown core.

    The actor had finished a shift at the Level 8 bar about 3:20 a.m. May 25 when he and co-worker Anita Joy were walking to his car and interrupted the thieves.

    Wactor first thought his car was being towed, Joy said. After realizing that wasn’t the case, he asked the men to leave, showing his open hands to indicate he wasn’t a threat. Nevertheless, he was shot at close range, Joy said. A security guard from the bar said he found Joy and the mortally wounded Wactor and called 911.

    Joy asked Wactor whether he was OK, and he responded, “Nope. I’ve been shot,” according to the statement of probable cause in the arrests of the suspects.

    After the shooting, the men fled north on Hope Street in a stolen getaway car described as a 2018 black four-door Infiniti Q50 with a tan interior, police said.

    Given the description of the assailants and some security video from the scene, the focus of the investigation almost immediately turned to Florencia 13 gang members tied to catalytic converter thefts in the region.

    After reviewing videos and interviewing witnesses, homicide detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department identified the suspects. Barceleau had been arrested June 5 on suspicion of assault by the LAPD, but was not charged with a crime and was released the same day.

    It was not until this month that arrests were made, after repeated efforts by friends, family and politicians calling for more resources on the case and a tougher approach to crime in Los Angeles.

    After the arrests, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass thanked police “for their continued efforts to keep Angelenos safe and to bring justice to victims of violence.”

    “Now, we must ensure that those who are responsible for this brazen and heinous act are held fully accountable,” she said.

    On Monday, Choi said the “tragic, untimely death” of Wactor has left a void in the hearts of his family, friends and fans as well as the broader community.

    “To the family and loved ones of Mr. Wactor, we know that no legal action can bring back the person you have lost, but we hope that today’s announcement brings some measure of comfort in knowing that those who are responsible are no longer on the streets and not going to be able to hurt anyone again,” Choi said.

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    Richard Winton

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