Letters to the Editor: What good are laws on cellphone use while driving if no one enforces them?
To the editor: Staff writer Salvador Hernandez's piece on drivers utilizing cell maps on their phones warns us of consequences should a driver be caught holding their device ('Holding your cellphone while driving for navigation is illegal, California court rules,' June 5).
Unfortunately, many still use their cellphones while driving in lieu of Bluetooth earbuds. Others, I have witnessed, will stop at nothing to continue to text as they are driving.
Police continue to look the other way, cell maps or not. Besides, I have noticed a cop or two on their phones, so if there's no enforcement by officers, then by whose standards is anyone breaking the law?
Liz Brown, West Hills
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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: What good are laws on cellphone use while driving if no one enforces them?
To the editor: Staff writer Salvador Hernandez's piece on drivers utilizing cell maps on their phones warns us of consequences should a driver be caught holding their device ('Holding your cellphone while driving for navigation is illegal, California court rules,' June 5). Unfortunately, many still use their cellphones while driving in lieu of Bluetooth earbuds. Others, I have witnessed, will stop at nothing to continue to text as they are driving. Police continue to look the other way, cell maps or not. Besides, I have noticed a cop or two on their phones, so if there's no enforcement by officers, then by whose standards is anyone breaking the law? Liz Brown, West Hills
Axios
19-06-2025
- Axios
1 big thing: 🛥️ Let's go boating
Welcome to Tuesday. It's Katie. 🚘Axios Charlotte members are the driving force behind our newsroom. Join them today. ⛈️ Weather: Low 90s with scattered thunderstorms. 🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Charlotte member Elizabeth Baker. Situational awareness: Today marks 10 years since a white supremacist murdered nine Black parishioners at a Bible study at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, the oldest Black congregation in the South. Alexis Clinton It's boat season, and local companies recommend you book in advance if you want to spend time on the water this summer. Why it matters: Charlotte may be landlocked, but that doesn't mean a day on the water is out of reach — whether it's a pool, lake or river. We've rounded up a few boat rental companies offering ways for you to keep cool and entertained this summer. Tiki Time Boat Rentals — A company with a tiki-themed boat cruising on Lake Norman with room for 19 passengers. The hourly tiki boat ride starts at $200 and comes with a Bluetooth speaker, grill, seated bar, bathroom, karaoke, water mat, paddleboards and a cooler. Black Boat Club — This company, which operates on Lake Norman and Lake Wylie, sells out every weekend. Reservations are typically needed a month in advance. The operator has a tritoon, pontoon and sports boats. Tega Cay Marina — Rent a 10-passenger pontoon on Lake Wylie starting at $425, including the first full tank of gas. 2. Black Boat Weekend on Lake Norman Alexis Clinton While we're on the topic of boating: More than 100 boats will be on Lake Norman for Black Boat Weekend on Saturday, July 19. Why it matters: The organized boat party is almost sold out but there are still a few ways to experience some of the festivities during the three-day event. Context: Entrepreneur Charisme Dhanani was inspired to start Black Boat Weekend after seeing large boat parties in Florida and Chicago. This year will be the first year at Lake Norman. Dhanani hopes to make it an annual event here. "We're throwing a full-on floating party and this event is open to everyone," Dhanani tells Axios. Details: Black Boat Weekend has a list of scheduled events from July 18-20. Festivities will kick off on Friday with a free meet-and-greet day party at Medusa Lounge in NoDa from 3-9pm. Saturday is the main event with boats and DJs on Lake Norman from 11am-7pm. An after-party at Explicit Bistro and Lounge will be held from 9pm-2am. Tickets are $20-40. On Sunday there will be a brunch at RSVP South End from 1-8pm. It's free to attend and food is available for an additional price. If you go: Bring your own boat and pay a $125 tie-up fee for full access to all water activities at the party. A full weekend VIP ticke t is $2,850 for 10 people. 3. 🍌 The Bananas' Uptown boost Ashley Mahoney Charlotte went bananas earlier this month when a wacky baseball team packed out Bank of America Stadium two nights in a row. The Savannah Bananas drew 148,000 people in Charlotte, a team record. Why it matters: Mecklenburg County hotels were near record capacity when the Bananas came to Charlotte, which is a win for Charlotte's visitor economy, according to Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) CEO Steve Bagwell. Zoom in: While post-pandemic business travel was slow to recover, leisure travel in Uptown has boomed in recent years, bolstering center city's recovery. Major events like the 2023 Beyoncé concert have drawn thousands of visitors Uptown, where they patronize hotels, restaurants and bars. By the numbers: Mecklenburg County hotels had 81.5% occupancy for Friday, June 6, and 90% for Saturday, June 7, according to the CRVA. The average hotel rate was $146.17 for June 6 and $159.03 for June 7. Go deeper 4. A Duke Energy bill and other speed reads 💡 A major energy bill being debated by the Republican-led General Assembly would eliminate an interim goal that mandates Duke Energy reach a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, while keeping in place a longer-term goal of being carbon neutral in 2050. (Axios) 💪 The Club, a new fitness-meets-co-working space in South End, will open its second floor on Saturday, June 21. In addition to the fitness rooms that opened earlier this year, The Club will soon offer a co-working space with 30 seats and a full-service coffee bar featuring drinks from Pertinacious Coffee Co., according to a press release. 🍔 Mooyah Burgers, Fries, and Shakes — a Texas-based fast-casual restaurant known for its hand-cut fries, ice cream shakes and burgers — will open in Uptown at 210 E Trade St. on June 30, a representative confirmed to Axios. 🛍️ CAMP, an immersive store with kid-friendly activities and toys, will open soon at SouthPark mall. (Instagram) 5. 🚲 Welcome to the Jungle Jungle Cycle + Strength Studio is now open in west Charlotte's Lower Tuck Development. Why it matters: The locally owned studio is the newest project by local fitness entrepreneur Liv Morgan, who owns the Dilworth cycling studio, SkyCycle. What to expect: Two types of fitness classes — Power Synthesis and cycling. Each is a rhythm-based workout, taught in a low-light room with energizing music. Power Synthesis is a heated mat workout that combines Pilates movements with strength exercises. It holds about 20 people. Mats and equipment are provided. The cycling class holds up to 32 people and often features themed playlists, like "Rihanna vs. Rufus" and "Tate McRae and Ellie Goulding." 6. 🥵 Steamy summer nights Summer nights have gotten 1.7 degrees warmer in Charlotte over the last five decades, according to a new report from Climate Central, a research and communications group. Average summer nighttime temperatures increased between 1970-2024 in 96% of 241 locations analyzed. Why it matters: Higher overnight temperatures can have health consequences for vulnerable groups, as well as increase demand for air conditioning, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick writes. Between the lines: Charlotte experienced its warmest April on record, dating back to 1878, according to the National Weather Service.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
What to do if your bike is stolen – and how to break the cycle
Whether you use your bike to commute daily, for a quick trips to the shops or long rides to keep fit, having it stolen can be a nightmare. Here's what to do if yours goes missing. Report the theft to the police and describe the bike in as much detail as possible, giving the model, make and where it was stolen. You should also include a description of any scratches, dents and marks that could help identify it, and a picture if you have one. You can go into your local police station or call 101 in the UK to file a report. Make sure you get a crime reference number. Home insurance policies will often cover your bike when it's at home but you will probably have needed to pay extra to extend this for when you're out and about, or if you have a valuable bike. Report the loss to your insurer and give it the crime reference number. Your bike will not be covered if you failed to look after it, such as not locking it securely or with a suitable lock. Declare your bike stolen on BikeRegister, a UK bike database – you can do this even if you have not registered your bike on there before. It will help improve the chances of your bike being recovered if there are pictures and descriptions of the bike, and where it was stolen. Post on bike and cycling forums, such as Cycling UK Forum, Bike Forum and CycleChat in case people come across it when looking to buy a new bike. Look on resale sites such as Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and eBay to see whether someone is trying to sell your bike. You can set up alerts for bikes that are the same make and model. If you find one that looks like yours, alert the police – they may be able to recover it. It is not advisable to set up a sting or try to deal with the case yourself. Alert the local community on neighbourhood forums such as Nextdoor or local Facebook groups and get in touch any bike shops nearby in case someone comes in to the shop and tries to sell one that matches your description. Scuff the frame up a bit using sandpaper, paint and stickers so it is less appealing to thieves. Some kitsch, drawn-on hearts might save you a lot of hassle in the future. Register it on BikeRegister and upload pictures alongside the frame number, which is usually found on the bottom bracket shell between the pedals or on the rear dropouts where the back wheel slots in. This will help the police trace it back to you if it is stolen and recovered. Invest in two high-quality locks to make your bike less of a target. At least one of these should be a good-quality D-lock. Be sure to attach the frame to the stand when locking up. Take any removable parts with you whenever you leave it. Find and apply for your nearest cycle parking. This gives another layer of protection, but be sure to still lock up securely. In cities there are also many cycle hangars, such as Cyclehoop, which are small bike stores on residential streets you can apply for at a small cost each year. Check whether there's one near you. Conceal a Bluetooth tracker on your bike to help locate it if it goes missing. The smaller and more discreet the tracker, the better. Good spots to hide them include under the seat or inside the handlebar. Apple AirTag and Tile Sticker are popular among bike owners.
