Frequently Asked Questions:

     1. What does the law require me to do when I'm involved in a motor vehicle accident?

If you are in an accident, you must stop and exchange information with the involved drivers. If the accident caused property damage only, then exchange information about your driver license, insurance, and registration with the involved drivers. If a parked vehicle or other property is damaged, or if a domestic animal is injured, you must locate the owner or contact the police.

• If the property damage of any person is $1,000 or more, all the involved drivers must file form MV-104 (Report of Motor Vehicle Accident) with the DMV no more than 10 days after the accident. The DMV can suspend your driver license if you fail to report an accident.

• If a person is injured or killed, immediately notify the police. All the involved drivers and the police must file an accident report with the DMV. It is a crime to leave the scene of an accident that causes personal injury or death.  The accident appears on the records of all the involved drivers. An accident listed on your driver record does not indicate that you were at fault. The DMV does not try to determine fault in an accident.

2. How do I get a copy of my police accident report?

Individuals may walk into the Kent Police Station and request a free copy of their accident report. Insurance companies may receive accident report copies for a nominal fee. 

3. What is the AMBER Alert System?

The New York State AMBER Alert Plan is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement, broadcasters and others to immediately involve the public, especially motorists, in the search for an abducted child. The AMBER Alert System began in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed up with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children. AMBER stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response and was created as a legacy to 9-year old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, and then brutally murdered. Other states and communities soon instituted similar plans as the idea was adopted across the nation. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the U.S. Department of Justice assumed responsibility for co-ordination at the national level.

 

• You may receive email New York State AMBER Alert notifications by subscribing at the following URL: http://www.nysamber.troopers.state.ny.us/Subscription/

 

4. What are the AMBER Alert guidelines?

 

The New York State AMBER Alert Plan can be activated when an investigating law enforcement agency confirms that:

1. An abduction of a child (under the age of 18) has occurred, and
2. The child is believed to be in danger of serious bodily harm or death, either due to the actions of another or due to a proven mental or physical condition.

Even if formal activation criteria have been met, activation may be impractical if available information is not specific enough and/or an extended period of time passed since the disappearance.

For example, an AMBER Alert specifying involvement of a white van (without a license plate number) could actually hinder an investigation by causing the public to inundate police agencies with possible sightings.

5. Where can I find information about the next Police or Civilian Dispatcher Civil Service Exam for those who are interested in pursuing a career with the Town of Kent Police or other Putnam County police agencies?

Scheduled Police and Civilian Dispatcher Civil Service Examinations for police agencies within Putnam County, New York may be posted on the Putnam County Personnel Office web page.

6. What do I do if I suspect I'm a victim of Identity Theft?

• Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus  to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.
• Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
• File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
• File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations.

7. I'm a crime victim. What is one method that I can use to seek compensation?

It is the Mission of the New York State Crime Victims Board to provide compensation to innocent victims of crime in a timely, efficient and compassionate manner; to fund direct services to crime victims via a network of community-based programs; and to advocate for the rights and benefits of all innocent victims of crime. Follow this link to apply for compensation http://www.cvb.state.ny.us/app_forms.htm.