Expired registration

On Nov. 27, 2024, an officer was conducting stationary patrols in his squad car on Water Street. At approximately 2:47 p.m., he saw a car with an expired registration tag pass him. 

He followed the vehicle and conducted record checks on the vehicle registration tag using his Mobile Database Computer. The return showed that the registration tag had expired on March 1, 2023.

The officer activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop. The officer made contact with the driver, introduced himself and explained the reason for the stop. He recognized the driver from a prior traffic stop in June of 2024 for the same violation.

The driver was aware of the expired registration tag and said he didn’t have the money for the registration renewal. The officer returned to his squad car and conducted a records check on the driver who was valid to drive with no warrants and not on probation.

The officer prepared a Wisconsin Uniform Traffic Citation then issued and explained the citation. He strongly encouraged the driver to complete the registration tag renewal or stop operating the vehicle.

The officer answered any questions the driver had and ended the traffic stop.

Bumper cars at Towers

At approximately 11:47 a.m. on Nov. 26, an officer was dispatched to a teleservice crash investigation. He attempted to call the reportee with no response, and he left a detailed message to their voicemail.

Shortly after, he received a phone call from the offender. The student reported that at approximately 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 25, she was parked in the Kaarlsgard Towers lot. 

While she was backing out of the parking spot, she crashed into a legally parked, unoccupied vehicle across the aisle. She later texted photos of the damage to both vehicles.

Based on the photos, her car sustained minor scratches with paint transfers on the left side rear corner bumper. The other car sustained minor scratches and paint transfers on the right side front corner bumper.

Because the other car was unoccupied the student left a note on the front windshield with her contact information. She has not heard from the Subaru’s owner, and she was worried the note may have flown away or the owner did not see it.

The officer searched for the other car’s registration owner and the return indicated that the vehicle was registered to a UW-Eau Claire student. The officer made phone contact with the owner and explained the situation.

She said she had seen the note and had not called because she was driving home and wanted to consult with her father. The student texted pictures of the car’s damage and insurance information.

She confirmed that the damaged area had minor scratches and paint transfers, but there was no other visible damage. The officer replied with the police report number for insurance purposes.

Records checks were conducted for all parties involved, and all were valid to drive with no warrants and not on probation, and the vehicles involved were valid. Based on the damage to both vehicles, a non-reportable crash report was completed.

UnFOURtunate elevator experience

At approximately 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 25, an officer was dispatched to Hibbard Hall in reference to a stuck elevator investigation. The Communications Center said there were people inside the elevator stuck on the fourth floor.

The officer met the complainant who said they heard people chattering from inside elevator cart No. 1. At one point, the complainant thought they heard someone asking for help. The officer was able to call both elevators to the fourth floor, and no one inside needed emergency services.

The officer found both elevators to be functioning without issues, then he cleared the scene.

Price can be reached at [email protected].