PAGE 8 - June 10, 2009
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
A Win-Win Law
Dunnellon Woman Arrested on
Grand Theft Charge
By Gail A. Tierney, Citrus Co. Sheriff Public Information Officer
Now that Governor Charlie Crist has put pen to paper, supporters
of the state’s new primary seat-belt law are breathing a sigh of relief. Start-
Brandy M. Wise, 30, 11930 S.W. 232 Ct., Dunnellon, was arrested by the Levy County
ing June 30, Florida’s law enforcement officers will be allowed to pull over
Sheriff’s Office, May 29, on a charge of grand theft, after deputies investigated a complaint
motorists solely for not wearing their seat belts.
by Wise’s former roomate. The arrest report listed a co-defendent in the incident, 21-year-
Under the existing secondary seat-belt law, motorists can only be
old Valerie S. Wise.
cited for failure to wear a seat belt if they are stopped for another infraction.
According to the arrest report, the victim said, that while the two women were removing
Once the new law goes into effect, drivers and front-seat passengers not
items from her property because Brandy Wise was moving to another residence, she was
buckled up in the state of Florida may be cited for a seat belt violation, punishable by a fine.
not present, and when she returned home, she noticed that her Australian Shepherd dog that
According to the Citrus County clerk of courts office, a seat belt violation currently
she’d purchased from a breeder for $1000 was missing.
carries a fine of $101. Of that figure, 44 percent goes back to the state’s coffers, while the
Valerie Wise told deputies that she’d driven Brandy Wise to the victim’s property
remaining monies revert to local funding. It was indicated that there’s a chance this fine may
to retrieve her belongings. She said that Brandy had loaded all the victim’s dogs into the
increase at some point, but that remains to be determined.
vehicle they were driving, and she’d told her that she was not going to take the victim’s
Studies show that drivers are 13 percent more likely to fasten their seat belts if they
dogs. She said that Brandy had told her that the Australian Shepherd belonged to her and
know they can be pulled over for it. And seeing as the ultimate goal is to have more motorists
they could take it. She said that she’d dropped-off Brandy, along with her belongings and
buckling up, this could well be the motivation to do it.
the dog, to her new Dunnellon residence, then she (Valerie Wise) had returned to Tavaries,
Florida’s seat-belt usage rate is only about 79 percent, or 35th in the nation, and
Florida.
actually is lower than the national average of 85 percent.
Brandy Wise told a deputy that she had been present at the victim’s house when
The difference between being killed in a vehicle crash or saving a life often is as
the dog was taken, and that Valerie had taken the dog to Tavaries, Florida after she’d
simple as obeying traffic laws and fastening a seat belt. Too many times one reads in a news
dropped-off Brandy in Dunnellon. The deputy reported that he spoke with Brandy twice
report about someone being ejected from a vehicle on impact and dying as a result. And
on the phone, but she never showed up or called him when they had made an appointment
more than likely, all of us can agree that that’s the makings of a tragedy.
to meet, and she did not give the officer a location as to where the dog could be found. Ac-
Besides boosting seat-belt usage rates and saving lives, the new primary seat-belt
cording to the report, Brandy Wise is currently out of jail on bond from Putnam County on
law has another noteworthy advantage. The legislation makes Florida eligible to draw up to
a prostitution charge. She was charged with grand theft (the dog), and her bond was set at
$35 million in soon-to-expire federal grant monies created in 2005, as an incentive for states
$3500. No further information was available on Valerie Wise.
to pass stricter seat belt laws.
On May 29, the victim contacted the officer and told him that the dog had been
Florida is only the 28th state to enact a primary seat-belt law, while the remaining
found by her neighbor, tied to a tree, and it appeared that he’d been tied out there during
states have secondary laws. Amazingly, New Hampshire is the only state with no seat belt
the night.
law whatsoever.
Levy Teen Driver Improvement Program Set to Start
ter Sterilization
In early May, when he signed into law the primary seat-belt legislation, Gov. Crist
stated that he believes the bill ultimately will save lives. The governor was quoted as saying,
The Levy County Sheriff’s Office, Community Relations Division, is offering a no
“The most important function of government is to protect.”
cost, Teen Driver Improvement Program to all Levy County students who have a current
This statement mirrors the mission of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, which is
Operators License or Learners Permit or who are about to get their Learners Permit. In
to maintain peace and order by providing law enforcement services that are of the highest
2005, Levy County ranked second in the state in the number of teen involved crashes for
professional quality and are responsive to the needs of our community.
counties having a population of 0-50,000. This is an appalling statistic! The goal of this
Gail Tierney is public information officer for the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. She
program is to educate the teen drivers of Levy County of the dangers of aggressive driving,
has been with the agency for 19 years. Comments or suggestions may be directed to Gail at
distracted driving, impaired driving, and to reinforce the benefits of seatbelt use. These four
352-341-7460, or gtierney@sheriffcitrus.org.
issues have been found to be major causes of teen involved crashes, injuries and fatalities.
This program is free of cost and is 4 hours in duration. Yankeetown School classes will be
Inglis Man Arrested On Citrus Warrant
held June 29, July 7, and August 6. All classes begin at 9 a.m. For more information please
A 51-year-old Inglis man was arrested by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, June
contact Lt. Sean Mullins or Sgt. Max Long at 352-486-5111 ext 278.
4, on a writ of bodily attachment for non payment of child support in the amount of $4800.
Coastal
Wayne Moore, 18831 S.E. 74 Ave., Inglis, was arrested on the Citrus County warrant, after
Hair Port
the Inglis police officer assisting the deputy saw Mr. Moore through a window. The officers
at Plaza 40
entered through a back door and found Moore in a closet. Moore was transported to the
Carting
Levy County Jail.
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