Sequoias, stolen meters and tailgating: Ramping up, September 10

Sequoias threatened?: Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey warn that climate change could make it harder for the giant trees to reproduce because their root systems don't work as well when it's warm, reports AP via Yahoo News. As recently as 2006, transportation was the leading sector in the U.S. when it comes to producing CO2 emissions (a prime greenhouse gas) so says the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

This very striking photo was taken in 2006 and shows a sequoia that had recently toppled in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. In this case, a conservationist alleged that an old clearcut made the tree vulnerable to wind.

Parking meter arrest: A man was arrested early Monday after L.A. County Sheriff's Deputies found three parking meters in his car. Poles and signs were still attached and the meters had coins in them. What sealed their case? The industrial sized pipe cutter, deputies found in the man's vehicle. The meters were from Santa Monica. Don't know about you, but I'm not feeling too sorry for the Republic. Full release from the Sheriff's Department after the jump. It's funny, in an unintentional way.

The worst tailgaters?: Denizens of the Garden State, so says Tom Vanderbilt on his "How We Drive" blog. He's the author of the critically-acclaimed book "Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and what it says about us)." Vanderbilt's observation is part of a longer entry on the problems cars and trucks have with one another on the freeway.

--Steve Hymon

photo: Ricardo DeAratanha / LAT

The following is a press release from the Sheriff's Department:

Stolen Parking Meters Found in Santa Clarita

Monday, September 8, 2008 - 4:00 a.m. - City of Santa Clarita- Canyon Country

Deputy Manskar was patrolling a Sierra Highway business area in Canyon Country at 4:00 a.m., this morning.  He saw a man and woman near the Salvation Army, 17657 Sierra Highway, going through the bags of clothes that someone had left to be donated.  He stopped to investigate.  During this investigation, Deputy Manskar found three parking meters inside their vehicle.  These parking meters still contained coins and two were attached to their poles.  The poles, which still had the parking signs attached, looked like they had been cut.   Rick Day, M/ 44, resident of Canyon Country, also had an industrial size pipe cutter in the vehicle.  He was arrested for Grand Theft.

The parking meters were believed to be from Santa Monica, based on statements by Day.  Once contacted, the City of Santa Monica reported that three parking meters had been stolen recently, two from the 1400 block of 23rd Street and one from the 2100 block of Arizona Street.

Day, was booked at Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station and in addition to the theft charge, is being held with no bail on a parole violation.  The female at the scene was released after the investigation.

While the community sleeps, the deputies from Santa Clarita Valley Station are out there looking for crime.   

The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time. 

Comments

[Dan]

Canyon Country to Santa Monica is 70 miles round trip. Long way to go to steal three parking meters. It would probably have barely paid for the gas.