12-15-2014, 10:40 AM
FYI: (*Snipped - Much more at link)
Some Crimes in Puna Shrink as Lava Expands
Burglaries, car break-ins and stolen vehicles all fell in November in Hawaii island's Puna district after invading lava prompted Mayor Billy Kenoi to declare a state of emergency that includes increased penalties for some crimes committed there.
Opinions differ on what's responsible for the declines. But police statistics show that burglaries in Puna plummeted by more than half in November — from 43 in 2013 to 20 this November.
Car break-ins, known as unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, dropped from 11 in November 2013 to just three this November. And car thefts went from 14 in November 2013 to four this November.
On Sept. 4, Kenoi proclaimed a state of emergency for the lower Puna district under Act 111 of the 2014 state Legislature. The declaration means that penalties increase for a variety of crimes.
A burglary, for example, increases from a Class B felony to a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison with no possibility of parole. A petty misdemeanor criminal property damage conviction goes from 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 to a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
There haven't been dramatic decreases in all crimes in Puna since the enhanced penalties went into effect.
The number of thefts, for instance, remained stagnant. There were 70 in November 2013, compared with 69 last month.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20141...=285796541
Some Crimes in Puna Shrink as Lava Expands
Burglaries, car break-ins and stolen vehicles all fell in November in Hawaii island's Puna district after invading lava prompted Mayor Billy Kenoi to declare a state of emergency that includes increased penalties for some crimes committed there.
Opinions differ on what's responsible for the declines. But police statistics show that burglaries in Puna plummeted by more than half in November — from 43 in 2013 to 20 this November.
Car break-ins, known as unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, dropped from 11 in November 2013 to just three this November. And car thefts went from 14 in November 2013 to four this November.
On Sept. 4, Kenoi proclaimed a state of emergency for the lower Puna district under Act 111 of the 2014 state Legislature. The declaration means that penalties increase for a variety of crimes.
A burglary, for example, increases from a Class B felony to a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison with no possibility of parole. A petty misdemeanor criminal property damage conviction goes from 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 to a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
There haven't been dramatic decreases in all crimes in Puna since the enhanced penalties went into effect.
The number of thefts, for instance, remained stagnant. There were 70 in November 2013, compared with 69 last month.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20141...=285796541