Public Safety

The Gazette is partnering with local police departments to publish photos of suspects arrested and charged.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles warns the public to be wary of companies that call with offers of cheaper insurance rates based on information from your DMV record.
DMV does not sell insurance, solicit the sale of insurance, or release driver information for marketing purposes.
“A few of our customers have called us to let us know they have received automated messages from insurance companies saying they are entitled to a lower insurance rate based on information from their DMV records,’” said DMV spokesperson Sunni Brown.

As enrollment for “Obamacare” begins in less than two weeks, scammers are swarming around consumers hoping to take advantage of growing confusion over the new health care bill.
The Better Business Bureau Serving Western Virginia warns consumers to be alert to scammers pretending to be government officials who use enrollment into Obamacare to steal consumers’ identities.

UPDATED 9/24/13:

Virginia State Police are still investigating a series of wrecks Saturday on Interstate 77 in Carroll County that resulted in multiple injuries and one fatality.
Police blamed low visibility and weather for setting off the chain of events on the historically dangerous section of highway. A driver from Ohio died at the scene.
According to a news release, state police were called to the scene of the accidents at 10:51 a.m., in the northbound lanes of I-77 at the 9 mile marker on top of Fancy Gap Mountain.