Chapter 23 Crash Investigation And Traffic Enforcement PDF

CHAPTER 23 – CRASH INVESTIGATION AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT REV. NOVEMBER 30, 2012 23.01 INTRODUCTION A. The purpose of these procedures is to provide guidelines for the investigation of motor vehicle crashes. The provisions of these procedures govern the investigation of all types of crash’s i...

CHAPTER 23 – CRASH INVESTIGATION AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT REV. NOVEMBER 30, 2012 23.01 INTRODUCTION A. The purpose of these procedures is to provide guidelines for the investigation of motor vehicle crashes. The provisions of these procedures govern the investigation of all types of crash’s involving motor vehicles. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office will investigate crashes in accordance with the current state crash report guidelines. B. Good crashes investigations serve three general purposes. First they obtain facts from which crash prevention programs can be developed. Second they determine whether violations of the law occurred in the crash and gather evidence to support prosecuting of the violators, and finally they obtain facts so that those involved in crashes can properly exercise their rights under the civil law. 23.02 DEFINITION A. Street or Highway - The entire width between the boundary lines of every highway publicly maintained when ay part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. Bridges are considered streets or highways. Newly constructed streets or highways that are not opened to the public are not considered streets or highways for the purpose of crash investigations. B. Roadway - Is that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways the term “roadway” as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively. C. Motor Vehicle – Is every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails. Any object such as a trailer, coaster, sled, or wagon being towed by a motor vehicle is considered a part of the motor vehicle. The load of the motor vehicle is also considered part of the vehicle (excludes aircraft). D. Crash – IS AN UNINTENDED EVENT THAT PRODUCES INJURY OR DAMAGE. E. Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash – Is a crash involving a motor vehicle in motion that results in death, injury, or property damage. The crash must occur or originate on public traffic ways. Examples of motor vehicle crashes: 1. A person falling from a moving vehicle. 2. An object falling from a moving vehicle that causes property damage or injury. 3. Carbon monoxide poisoning while the vehicle is in motion. 4. One vehicle coming into contact with any part of another vehicle causing injury or property damage. Effective date April 30, 2014 236  5. Contact with any object carried on a vehicle which causes injury or property damage. 6. Any object set in motion by a motor vehicle that causes injury or property damage. 7. Fire in a motor vehicle which is in motion. 8. Driverless motor vehicle in motion which causes injury or property damage. F. If the following is present, remove the incident from the classification of motor vehicle traffic crash: 1. Collisions involving an aircraft in motion with an object, other than a motor vehicle. 2. Suicidal intent on the part of the driver. 3. Homicidal intent on the part of the driver. 4. Deliberate action on the part of the driver (includes legal intervention). G. Motor vehicle crash injury – Is an injury received in a motor vehicle crash that requires treatment by a physician or any complaint of injury by the victim. These injuries are classified, according to the codes on the crash report. (Texas State Peace Officers Crash Report). H. Classification of motor vehicle crash: 1. MV – PED: Motor vehicle collision with a pedestrian. 2. MV – MV: Motor vehicle collision with another motor vehicle. 3. MV – Train. 4. MV – Animal Drawn Vehicle. 5. MV – Other Object: Moveable object; other than a motor vehicle or train. 6. MV – Fixed Object: Curb, house, fence, etc. 7. MV – Bicycle or Other Pedal Cycle: Tricycle, unicycle, pedal car, etc. 8. MV – Animal: If damage is done to the vehicle. 9. Non-Collision Overturning on Roadway. 10. Non-Collision Running Off Roadway: If injury or property damage results. 11. Other Non-Collision: Classification of crash is determined by the first event. Effective date April 30, 2014 237 23.03 STEPS IN CRASH INVESTIGATION A. Proceed to the scene as quickly and safely as possible. 1. Observe all traffic laws and regulations. 2. Should an officer encounter another crash or incident requiring attention while en-route to another call, he shall stop and make a quick appraisal and notify the dispatcher. a. The dispatcher decides whether the officer proceeds to the original call or handles the one he encountered. b. If the officer is sent to the original call, informs the persons involved that another officer has been dispatched and will be there momentarily. B. When handling a crash on busy roadways, interstates and highways, an officer clears the traffic lanes as quickly as possible. C. Park Properly 1. Consider probable paths of emergency vehicles (wreckers, ambulances, fire units) and other traffic. 2. The Sheriff’s Patrol vehicle is not to be used as a barricade in the street except in the immediate necessity of preventing bodily injury. Emergency lights and four-way flashers as warning devices must be activated. D. Take care of the injured. 1. Call for the necessary ambulances for the injured and protect the victims until they can be transported to the hospital. 2. Call for Bexar county Fire Alarm Unit if the persons are trapped. 3. Render first aid; use spectators to assist if necessary. 4. Protect the property for the victim, and retain the driver’s license or identification of deceased and forward to the next of kin when the investigation is completed. a. If the person is totally incapacitated or deceased, his property, other than large sums of money or obviously valuable personal possessions, remains with him. b. Large sums of money or other obviously valuable personal possessions are inventoried in the presence of another officer and placed in the property room. 5. An officer notifies a field supervisor when there is a fatality or failure to stop and render aid involving serious bodily injury or probability of death. The field supervisor shall notify dispatch to inform the on-call Traffic Safety Unit supervisor when one is not on duty. Effective date April 30, 2014 238  a. The scene is protected for the Medical Examiner’s Investigator and the patrol supervisor. b. Photographs of the scene must be taken. E. Locate Drivers 1. Identify the drivers involved and secure their driver’s licenses or some type of identification if they have no license. 2. Isolate the drivers in a place where they are safe and can be observed. F. Call for any assistance that is needed, or cancel those which have been called but are not needed. 1. Additional ambulances if needed. 2. Additional officers to work traffic, assist with crowds, or transport prisoners/witnesses to the jail/office if necessary. 3. Fire units if there is a danger of fire or explosion. 4. Sand trucks if oil has been spilled creating a traffic hazard on the roadway. 5. Call for a patrol supervisor, when a county vehicle is involved. 6. Wreckers to relocate or impound vehicles involved. 7. Call public utility companies if their equipment has been damaged; also, 8. If one of the vehicles involved in the crash contains some type of hazardous material such as poison gas or radioactive substances, and there is a possibility of spillage, the Bexar County Fire Division is notified to respond to the scene. G. Make the scene as safe as possible. 1. Set out flares and other warning devices. Keep flares away from wrecked vehicles due to hazards posed by leaking gasoline and/or chemicals. Provide for the safe flow of traffic as soon as possible. 2. Properly station assisting officers or civilians to provide for the most expeditious movement of traffic. 3. Be prepared to evacuate residents or occupants from the immediate area should circumstances indicate the presence of hazardous chemicals or any radioactive element released into the air. A supervisor is immediately summoned in the event of such incident. 4. Take actions necessary for effective crowd control. Be polite but firm in the control of bystanders. Prohibit smoking my spectators if there is any danger of fire of explosion. Effective date April 30, 2014 239  5. The vehicles are moved out of the traffic lanes as soon as possible in order to allow for the safe flow of traffic and to prevent secondary crashes. H. Locate, identify, and interview witnesses, especially persons who were neither drivers nor passengers associated with the vehicles involved. I. Interview the drivers. 1. Observe the condition of the drivers. Look for fatigue, shock, injury, intoxication, illness, physical or psychological impairment. 2. Talk to each driver separately; ascertain his or her direction of travel and his or her version of how the crash happened. Allow each driver to talk freely, giving his point of view. NOTE: Check each driver’s accusations concerning the other driver. Talk to, and list, the passengers as witness. J. Establish the point of impact. 1. The point of impact is most accurately indicated by braking skid marks. Debris is deceptive since the laws of motion apply and the materials dropped from the moving vehicle tend to travel considerable distances at the time of impact. 2. Eyewitnesses’ statements can be direct evidence pointing to the area where the impact occurred. 3. In the absence of any other physical evidence or information from the witnesses, the driver’s agreement on the point of impact may have to be used. 4. If at an intersection, the point of impact is always referenced by the distance from the nearest curb line of both streets. If not at an intersection, the point of impact is measured from the curb line and the nearest intersecting street. A measurement of the width of streets is necessary in conjunction with the point of impact, to complete referencing. 5. If the crash occurs at a railroad grade crossing, the crossing serial number is included in the report. This number is entered as the intersecting street on the location of the crash. a. This number is written on a 3X7 card and is located on the upright on the railroad crossing signal, just above eye level. If no sign or signal is present, the card is attached to a nearby telephone pole or power post. b. These numbers are included whenever a railroad grade crossing is a factor, regardless of whether or not a train was involved. K. Survey the crash scene. 1. Sketch and record the measurements pertaining to street widths, point of impact, skid marks, and other pertinent information. Effective date April 30, 2014 240  2. Check the location of damage on the vehicles and make an estimate of the degree of damage as per “VEHICLE DAMAGE SCALE BOOKLET” booklet. 3. Check the vehicles or any defects that could have contributed to the crash. L. After the initial interview, the officer may bring the drivers together and let them tell their story in the presence of each other if it is safe to do so. 1. This may reveal a weak or changeable story. 2. This may result in admission of guilt which should be noted in the report. 3. Do not let the confrontation get out of hand, as the drivers may become irate and start to fight. M. Decide if any violations occurred and act accordingly. N. Clear the crash scene. 1. Release the drivers; offer further assistance if needed. 2. Damaged vehicles are not left at the scene of the crash. 3. See that the wrecker driver clears the street of all glass and debris. If a wrecker was not called, the officer is responsible for clearing the roadway. 4. If a vehicle involved in a traffic crash comes to rest on private property, it is removed from the property. The property owner has no right to keep the vehicle. O. Follow-up. 1. The investigating officer should go to the hospital if additional information is required from the injured person. Officers should also attempt to ascertain the condition of the injured parties. In the event a victim dies, the Traffic Safety Unit and Criminal Investigation Division Traffic Investigator are responsible for notification of the next of kin. 2. If crash victims are taken to a military hospital and officers need to talk to them or determine their condition, they first must contact the Armed Forces police unit on the military reservation and request assistance. 3. Proceed to the jail if arrests were made. P. Prepare the official crash report. 1. Make use of the field notes copy of the crash. 2. Make the report factual and professional. 3. Any report is a public record and may. Effective date April 30, 2014 241  4. Print neatly with the prescribed ink necessary for the report duplication. Do not turn in a mutilated or illegible report. 5. Turn the report in at the end of the tour of duty, unless an officer has to follow up on information to complete the report. 6. An officer keeps his field notes concerning the crash, as he or she is responsible for rewriting reports not received by records. 23.04 HIT AND RUN CRASH A. The steps for working a hit and run crash are the same as those for other crashes, except that the sequences of the steps may vary. 1. If a description of the other vehicle involved is obtained, it should be broadcasted as soon as possible along with the direction of travel and possible damage to fleeing vehicle. 2. If there is a reasonable chance for apprehension of the hit-and-run vehicle, the first officer to arrive should initiate immediate pursuit. 3. If the driver is apprehended, determine what offense he or she has committed. a. Fleeing the scene of a crash (full custody arrest). b. Failure to stop and render aid (full custody arrest). c. Involuntary manslaughter (full custody arrest). d. Criminally negligent homicide (full custody arrest). e. DWI – D.W.L.S. (full custody arrest). f. Wanted on a warrant (full custody arrest). B. If the driver of the vehicle leaves the cash scene in an effort to escape, and has committed a felony. 1. A description of the vehicle and the occupants is immediately given to the dispatcher for the broadcast on all the channels. 2. A field supervisor is called if the injury is serious, or if death results. 3. A field supervisor is also called on incidents of failure to stop and render aid involving serious bodily injury, or probability of death. C. The following information is obtained and actions taken at hit-and-run crashes scenes: 1. Obtain color of the hit-and-run vehicle and the color of the complainant’s vehicle. Effective date April 30, 2014 242  2. Attempt to determine the number of occupants of the hit-and-run vehicle and obtain a description of the driver including race, sex, age, and clothing. 3. Identify any unusual characteristics of the hit-and-run vehicle, such as fender skirts, loud exhaust, or anything that would make a more complete report. 4. In cases where the hit-and-run vehicle is known to stay or visit at a certain location, obtain the name and address of the people at the location and leave notice for them to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigations section for any follow up. 5. Obtain the full and correct names of the complainant and any witness. Obtain home addresses, and home and business phone numbers. 6. Check the alleged scene to ensure that the crash actually occurred there and not at some other location. 7. Determine if the driver stopped and identified himself and then left, or if the driver made no attempt to stop. 8. If the hit-and-run vehicle has been abandoned, impound it and place it on hold as physical evidence for criminal investigations. 9. Advise the complainant to contact CID if he has further information or inquiries regarding the hit-and-run. 10. When leaving the scene, drive around in the area in an attempt to locate the hit-and-run vehicle. If located abandoned on public property and the driver cannot be located, impound the vehicle and place a hold for CID as evidence. Contact a field supervisor to get authorization to place a hold on an impounded vehicle. 11. Place in evidence any identifiable properly left at the scene by a hit-and-run vehicle and note the same on the report for CID. 12. Record all actions taken and information obtained by any officer investigating or assisting that leads to the identification of the hit-and-run vehicle or its operator. 13. Spaces on the crash investigation report requiring information that is unknown to the officer are left blank. The report is completed from the information obtained in the follow-up investigation. 23.05 PRIVATE PROPERTY CRASH A. A private property crash is any crash involving a motor vehicle in motion that does not occur on a public traffic-way. Such crash must result in property damage, personal injury, or death. B. An officer assigned to investigate a private property vehicle crash, reports same on the standard vehicle crash report. Effective date April 30, 2014 243 C. When there is a fatality as a result of a private property crash, the investigating officer shall also prepare an offense report, the classification of which is DECEASED PERSON. D. An officer informs the person involved of the differences between street crashes. Drivers are advised that the Sheriff’s Office provides no follow up investigation on private property crash’s involving property damage only. E. Collisions that actually occur on private property which are caused by some incident which occurred on a public roadway are to be handled as a public traffic way crash. F. “Failure to Stop and Render Aid” in a crash on private property is handled in the same manner as “Failure to Stop and Render Aid” in a crash on a traffic way. 23.06 CRASHES INVOVLING SHERIFF’S OFFICE VEHICLES A. Crashes involving Sheriff’s Office vehicles are handled on the scene in the same manner as any other motor vehicle crash, except that a field supervisor is called to photograph the vehicles and any other objects of an evidentiary nature. Crashes involving Sheriff’s Office vehicles will be handled by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, if the county jurisdiction, the appropriate agency when outside the county. B. A field supervisor is dispatched to the scene on all crashes involving Sheriff’s Office vehicles. 1. The field supervisor is responsible for completing a field report involving all Sheriff’s Office vehicles. 2. In the event that the crash renders the Sheriff’s vehicle inoperable and the vehicle is removed from service, the field supervisor is responsible for ensuring that all county issued equipment is removed from the vehicle and taken to the Sheriff’s Office. C. The driver of a Sheriff’s Office vehicle involved in a crash completes an inner office supplement report which will be forwarded to his or her immediate supervisor. The supervisor will forward the report to the proper designated division administrator. D. If the driver of the Sheriff’s vehicle states that he experienced mechanical failure, the Sheriff’s vehicle is towed to the Bexar County Fleet Maintenance garage to be inspected for defects. E. Sheriff’s vehicles involved in crashes which result in repairs are taken to the Bexar County Fleet Maintenance garage repair shop and a repair requisitions to be completed. 23.07 CITATIONS CONCERNING CRASHES A. Should an officer be a witness to a violation that causes a crash, he issues a citation for the violation, setting the court sate so as to give the violator a minimum of ten (10) day notice. B. Officers may issue citations for “Fleeing the Scene of the Crash”. The investigation officer sets the court appearance date giving the violator at least ten day notice. When issuing a citation, attach a copy of the crash report to the citation to be forwarded to the designated JP Court. Effective date April 30, 2014 244 C. Other non-moving citations, such as “Failure to Provide Proof of Liability Insurance” may be issued at the scene. 23.08 UNIFORM TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT A. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office traffic enforcement program must achieve a high degree of uniformity to be acceptable to the public. It is imperative that individuals handled for identical offenses under similar condition and circumstances be accorded the same treatment at the hands of the enforcement agency. Non-uniformity in enforcement is unacceptable. Government employees, including Bexar County employees, are not exempt from the traffic laws of the State. B. Uniformed officers in marked units shall be responsible for traffic enforcement, and shall stop violators and take traffic enforcement action when practical to do so. C. The goal of traffic supervision by the Sheriff is expediting the flow of traffic with a high degree of safety. Blind adherence to the letter of the law when it conflicts with this principle shall be avoided. D. It is the officer’s responsibility to check for warrants on violation stops. 23.09 RANDOM STOPPING OF MOTORIST A. Officers shall not randomly stop motorists, but will stop vehicles only: 1. On probable cause to believe, a traffic violation has occurred. 2. Upon reasonable suspicion of other criminal activity. 3. Pursuant to standardized traffic stops such as drivers’ license checks. 4. Upon other lawful justification such as to prevent a hazard. B. Fixed check points for driver’s license checks and the like may be established where all vehicles are stopped or vehicles on a neutral systematic basis (such as every fifth vehicle). 23.10 SPEEDS OVER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT A. Officers may issue a traffic citation to the driver of a vehicle who exceeds the posted speed limit on a public roadway. B. Officers may opt to give a verbal or written warning to the driver of a vehicle who exceeds the posted speed limit if circumstances warrant. C. Officers will not issue a traffic citation for speed less than ten (ten) miles over the posted speed limit without prior approval of their supervisor, unless under the circumstance the speed is hazardous, or unless it is in a SCHOOL ZONE. D. The officer must believe the means used to measure the alleged speed is accurate. Effective date April 30, 2014 245 23.11 JUVENILE DRIVER TRAFFIC OFFENSE A. A juvenile who has passed his 14th birthday, but has not reached his 17th birthday may receive a traffic citation if: 1. He violates State laws regulating weight, width, etc., of vehicle and loads. 2. He violates provisions of the Traffic Safety Code regulating traffic on highways. 3. He drives without a valid driver’s license. B. Juveniles who have been issued a citation should be advised that the Justice court will automatically notify their parents of the charge and that they will not be allowed to appear in court unless a parent is present. C. Persons under the age of 17 years who are arrested for the offense of driving while intoxicated shall be referred to Juvenile Court for adjudication. Juveniles so arrested shall be attaint in accordance with CHAPTER 22, Juvenile Procedures. A DWI Case Report shall be written. 23.12 RADAR OPERATION A. Principles of Radar 1. Whether operated in the fixed or moving mode, it is appropriate to note that the radar units work on the DOPPLER principle, which has been accepted in the Courts throughout the country. However, it is necessary that the antenna opening is aimed at a potential violator who is traveling in a line directly toward or away from the radar units. 2. A stable radar reading is one that is consistent with the action of the vehicle being observed, such as, accelerating, decelerating, or a steady speed when the target vehicle is nearest the radar device. That indication need only be held for the time necessary to establish that relationship. B. Responsibilities of Supervisor 1. Monitoring radar locations. 2. Assigning radar locations based on current traffic conditions, traffic statistics, and citizen complaints. C. The following practices are prohibited: 1. Operating radar from concealed areas or areas which would create a traffic hazard or hazard to the officer. 2. Operating radar on curves, except when justified by high collision rate for the area and approved by a supervisor. Effective date April 30, 2014 246  3. Operating radar from private property, without permission of the owner or person in charge. 4. Driving Sheriff Units with the radar transceiver mounted on the outside of the unit. D. Responsibilities of operator 1. Officers will note in the remark portion of the traffic citation the actual radar-clocked speed and the number of the radar unit used. 2. When a person who has been stopped requests to see the speed locked in on the radar, the officer will comply, if the speed is locked in. 3. During night radar operation in the stationary mode, the parking lights on the unit from which the radar is being worked will be turned ON. E. Care and Maintenance of Radar Equipment 1. Accuracy Test – A tuning fork will be used to check the radar unit prior to and after operation at each location. A vehicle test will be done by comparing the police vehicle’s speedometer reading with the radar reading while aiming the radar unit at a stationary object. 2. It will be the responsibility of the officer checking out the radar to make sure, all the component parts, including the tuning forks are in the carrying case. Component parts are nor to be interchanged between sets. 3. When radar sets become inoperable, or for any reason need repair, they will not be used. When any unusual or suspect ratings or functions are noted, the device shall be shut down at once and shall not be operated until checked by a technician and determined to be in proper working order. 4. Metal objects (such as the patrol car) should not come within four feet of the antenna opening while the unit is operating. A metal object close to the antenna will reflect too much of the beam back to the receiver and may burn out the receiver crystal. 5. The power plug should always be connected before the unit is turned on. 6. When operating the radar, the power cable connection must be tight, and the antenna must be aimed in a direct line of sight to the target vehicle. 7. Offices shall avoid rough handling of the radar unit. 23.13 BOOKING VIOLATORS FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS A. It is BCSO policy not to custodial arrest traffic violators. Officers of the BCSO will issue traffic citations and depend upon the individual to appear in court even if the violator refuses to sign. Effective date April 30, 2014 247  1. The violator must be given a reasonable opportunity to sign the citation. A temporary delay by the violator while considering whether or not to sign the citation should not be interpreted as a refusal to sign. 2. The following are exceptions to this policy: a. When there is reasonable suspicion that the violator is wanted for a more serious offense. b. When the violator is from out of county and there are clear indications that a voluntary appearance is not likely. c. When the offense is driving without a valid license and the officer reasonably suspects that the violator has not truthfully identified himself. d. When the offense is fleeing from a police vehicle P.C. 38.04, and during the pursuit the violator posed a significant danger to life or property. 23.14 MULTIPLE CITATIONS DURING VEHICULAR CRASHES A. During a pursuit officers will note each violation and location. When the violator is stopped, officers may issue one citation for each substantive traffic violation, i.e., 1 speeding, 1 red light, 1 stop sign, etc. B. Multiple speed citations for continuing violations will not be issued, nor will multiple citations for similar violations (stop signs, red lights, etc.). During the same chase be issued. 23.15 REPORTING TRAFFIC OBSTRUCTIONS Officers shall report traffic obstructions, signs down, signs defaced or covered by limbs, etc., to the information channel dispatcher. 23.16 CAR SEAT/SEAT BELT VIOLATIONS A. Under Transportation Code 545.412, a Texas Resident commits an offense if he: Operates a passenger vehicle, transports a child who is younger than eight years of age, unless the child is taller than four feet nine inches, and does not keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat system according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the safety seat system. B. Section 545.412 does not apply to: Operating a vehicle transporting passengers for hire, excluding third-party transport service providers when transporting clients pursuant to a contract to provide nonemergency Medicaid transportation; o transporting a child in a vehicle in which all seating positions equipped with child passenger safety seat systems or safety belts are occupied. C. A used herein, “Child Passenger Safety System” means an infant or child passenger restrain system that meets the federal standards for crash-tested restraint systems as set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Effective date April 30, 2014 248 D. A used herein, “secured” in an approved car seat means: 1. That the car seat is secured to the vehicle by the vehicle’s seat belt; and 2. That the top anchorage strap, if any, is secured to the vehicle; and 3. That the child is secured in the car seat by all belts contained therein, including crotch, lower torso, and upper torso restraints (child is not secured if he can stand up or move around freely); and 4. That any manufacturer’s instructions for securing the children complied with, if such instructions can be found permanently labeled on the seat or otherwise available in the vehicle. E. Officers shall issue traffic citations rather than arrest offenders, unless failure to arrest will likely result in immediate danger to the child’s physical health or safety. F. If the offender is a juvenile, existing procedures for arrest or warning of juvenile offenders will apply. G. If a vehicle is involved in a collision while the operator is in violation of Section 107B, such collision shall be noted on the citation, and the officer shall request on the citation that the maximum fine be imposed. H. If a vehicle is involved in a collision while the operator is in violation of Section 107B, and an unsecured child is seriously injured or killed, the facts shall be noted on the crash report. I. Children shall be transported in accordance with the current safety belt law when transported in BCSO vehicles. Effective date April 30, 2014 249