George Bradbury

In 2024, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office received 28 reports of fraud from the town of Harpswell. This number is too high, as the victims of this crime are usually out thousands of dollars. Here are a few helpful tips to avoid falling victim to scams.

This month I would like to talk about how to report a crime. It is very important to call when an incident or problem is occurring, not days after the fact.

This month's words are "Month of love." Let's stay positive. Love thy neighbor during these winter months. Go outside and enjoy sliding, skiing, and snowshoeing when the weather allows. If the ice is safe, go skating.

This month's words are "It's a new year." Let's start off on the right foot. Make sure your vehicles are registered and inspected. Make sure you have your insurance card in your vehicles. Make sure your vehicles are safe.

This month's words are "happy holidays." It is a wonderful time of year to see old friends and family during the holiday season. There are a lot of celebrations and parties for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, and a large number of dedicated law enforcement officers are out trying to keep the roads safe for travel.

That bad four-letter word, snow, will be here soon! Let's get ready ahead of time. Have your vehicles checked out. Get proper snow tires — don't wait till the last minute. The fine for inadequate tires (bald tires) is $150 for one and goes up from there.

Do you know there is a right and wrong side of the roadway to walk on? If you are walking with traffic, with vehicles coming up behind you, you are on the wrong side! Please always walk against the flow of traffic, so you can see the vehicles coming at you.

Maine's traffic laws dictate fines for speeding as follows: 1-9 mph over limit, $114; 10-14 mph over limit, $129; 15-19 mph over limit, $170; 20-24 mph over limit, $230; 25-29 mph over limit, $278; imprudent speed, $134.

It's "click it or ticket" month. From Maine's traffic laws, Title 29-A, the fine for a seat belt violation is $85. This fine is the same for an operator or adult passenger not wearing a seat belt, or for a child 2 years old or older who is not properly secured.