Around the Region
Published: Thursday, January 1, 2004 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 1, 2004 at 1:08 a.m.
Mature Drivers
If you're a driver 80 or older, you don't necessarily have to rush immediately to the driver's license office to have your vision tested.
Florida's "Mature Drivers" vision-test law that goes into effect today requires that all people 80 and older must take an eye exam when they renew their driver's license. But the test is required only upon license renewal, said Joe Lawrence, spokesman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
A person 80 or older whose driver's license expires in 2007, for example, won't have to take the vision test until then, Lawrence said.
He said Florida law allows people to renew their licenses up to 18 months before their scheduled renewal date. But he said most people, including the 726,000 registered drivers over age 79, elect to wait until their scheduled renewal date.
Older drivers who are eligible to renew their licenses by mail, phone or online may continue to do so. But they'll need to have an eye doctor sign a form (which can be downloaded at www.hsmv.state.fl.us) saying they have passed the vision test.
-Bob Arndorfer
Closed for the holiday
Here is a list of the agencies and services that will be closed in observance of the New Year's holiday:
The Associated Press
New license law doesn't need immediate action
Florida's "Mature Drivers" vision-test law that goes into effect today requires that all people 80 and older must take an eye exam when they renew their driver's license. But the test is required only upon license renewal, said Joe Lawrence, spokesman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
A person 80 or older whose driver's license expires in 2007, for example, won't have to take the vision test until then, Lawrence said.
He said Florida law allows people to renew their licenses up to 18 months before their scheduled renewal date. But he said most people, including the 726,000 registered drivers over age 79, elect to wait until their scheduled renewal date.
Older drivers who are eligible to renew their licenses by mail, phone or online may continue to do so. But they'll need to have an eye doctor sign a form (which can be downloaded at www.hsmv.state.fl.us) saying they have passed the vision test.
- Bob Arndorfer
Officials to determine if flu caused girl's death
The Port Orange girl died Tuesday.
"We do know that she had the flu, but whether that was the cause of death, all of that is under investigation," Stefany Strong, a spokeswoman for the Volusia County Health Department, told The Associated Press. Lindsay Hodges, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health, said that there has been an increase in flu cases in several Florida counties. Earlier this month, three nursing home residents died from flu-related complications in Sarasota County.
-The Associated Press
Police: Methadone may have caused baby to die
LouBurn Crockett, 50, said she pulled out the pill and washed out her granddaughter's mouth but did not call poison control or paramedics.
Several hours later, A'Jaylin Coley was found rigid and not breathing, she said.
Police would not comment on whether family members could face criminal charges for the Dec. 23 death. Investigators are conducting an autopsy.
Crockett, who often cared for the child but did not have custody, said she and her boyfriend were fighting in his truck when he threw a bottle of methadone, possibly spilling it. She said the methadone was prescribed for his pain.
-The Associated Press
Parents charged with neglect in baby's burns
Dale Cappadona, 35, and Candace Cabot-Guentes, 40, of Pompano Beach, were each charged with child neglect with great harm. They were being held Wednesday at the Broward County jail on $3,500 bond each.
Neither of them called 911 on Friday when their daughter, Alexis Cappadona, suffered severe burns on her legs, back, buttocks, face and side, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office. Three days later, the burns were infected and they brought the baby to the hospital and deputies were called.
-The Associated Press
Driver charged in van crash that killed teen
Abdoulaye Diakhate was charged Tuesday with driving without a license in an accident involving serious injury or death, said St. Lucie County Assistant State Attorney Amy LeBlanc. He remained at-large.
Diakhate was driving a seven-passenger Dodge van on June 8 when it spun out of control on Florida's Turnpike and flipped over twice. The van carried 15 people, 11 of them children. Most were thrown from the van as it rolled. It came to rest atop Williams Middle School student Solomon Bostick, killing him.
-The Associated Press
Federal agency notified of missing dump truck
One possible fear is that if terrorists stole the truck and packed it with explosives, they would be able to get past a building's security guards without scrutiny because of its state markings.
''Any large vehicle like that could have homeland security implications, but there are other possibilities as well,'' Gaylord said. ''It could be kids joyriding in it. It could be stolen for financial gain to be used on the black market. At this point, we can't speculate on the exact reason.''f-z
-The Associated Press
Man wanted in murder arrested in England
David Bieber, who disappeared in 1995 after the Lee County sheriff issued a warrant for conspiracy to commit murder, had been working as a doorman in West Yorkshire under the name of Nathan Wayne Coleman, Lee County sheriff's deputy Larry King said.
Police in northern England arrested Coleman, suspected of killing Constable Ian Broadhurst and seriously injuring another officer after they tried to handcuff him Friday during a traffic stop, King said. Police and FBI officials linked the two homicides through fingerprints a day before the arrest, he said.
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