In an effort to keep citizens and media informed, the City of Reno has developed a monthly FAQs program in order to answer the public’s commonly asked questions. The January 2016 FAQs are answered below.

[For a more interactive version, including images, visit the City of Reno's blog.]

This autumn and winter has resulted in several snowstorms in the Truckee Meadows, which means that Reno Direct and City of Reno staff have received a high volume of calls this winter regarding snow-removal, or plowing, operations on City streets.

A common misconception is that City of Reno crews/employees will clear privately owned sidewalks, which is false.

In accordance with Reno Municipal Code Section 12.20.005, property owners are required to maintain their sidewalks free from any obstructions including weeds, debris, ice, and snow. If the City receives a complaint concerning the obstruction of a sidewalk, Code Enforcement will send out a courtesy letter reminding the property owner of their responsibility. If the City receives a subsequent complaint, a code officer will be assigned and an inspection and further enforcement such as an administrative citation could result.

Answer: Per state law, pedestrians have the right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections, regardless if a pedestrian is crossing within a marked or an unmarked crosswalk. Marked crosswalks have to be installed with care, as marked crosswalks alone within higher traffic areas can actually contribute to higher pedestrian crash rates. If you would like to request a marked crosswalk, please contact Reno Direct (see contact info above) to open a request. Once a request is received, engineering staff will review the location and determine the best strategy to improve pedestrian safety.

Reno, NV – Over the last year Detectives with the Reno Police Department have been following leads related to several residential burglaries that have occurred in Northwest Reno.  Through an extensive investigation by Detectives, they have received new information on a person of interest related to these crimes. 

The person of interest has been identified Michael Henn by Detectives.  Henn is a white male, 5’10” tall, 185 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.    

Reno Police Department Burglary Detectives are asking for the community’s assistance in locating Michael Henn.  Anyone having information related to this case should contact the Reno Police Department at 334-2144, Secret Witness at 322-4900, www.secretwitness.com, or text the tip to 847411 (TIP 411) keyword – SW

RPD Case # 15-1645

The City of Reno will host a Neighborhood Watch Training Session for the Old Southwest neighborhood in Ward 1 tomorrow, Saturday, January 23, 2016, starting at 10 a.m. at McKinley Arts and Culture Center.

What: Neighborhood Watch Training Session
When: Saturday, January 23, 2016 from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: McKinley Arts and Culture Center (925 Riverside Drive in Reno)
Who: Ward 1 Reno City Councilmember Jenny Brekhus, Reno Police Department, and residents

“The Neighborhood Watch program is a nationally recognized approach to providing residents with educational tools and tactics to increase alertness and share information with law enforcement and neighbors,” Reno City Councilmember Jenny Brekhus says. “Safe neighborhoods are a priority for this Council. I heard from neighbors in this area that they were interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch group, and as such, I thought it important to host this training session.”

As part of the training session, Reno Police Department officials will be answering questions about the program, with the long-term goal of reestablishing a Neighborhood Watch in the Old Southwest neighborhood.

On Friday, January 22, 2016 the Reno Police Department Traffic Division will be conducting pedestrian crosswalk enforcement in the downtown area.  The enforcement effort is part of a traffic grant provided by the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety that is geared to educate citizens in downtown Reno of vehicle and pedestrian traffic laws.   

The Reno Police Traffic Division will be conducting these education campaigns throughout the year thanks to this grant. The enforcement effort is designed to remind drivers of their legal obligation to remain aware of pedestrians attempting to use a crosswalk.   It also is to remind pedestrians to remain aware of on-coming traffic and make eye-contact with drivers before crossing the street. Officers will be handing out warnings and tickets to speeders, drivers who do not yield to pedestrians and pedestrians breaking right of way rules.  

Here are some of the common laws pedestrians and drivers in our area need to be aware of: 

NRS 484B.287 When pedestrian must yield right-of-way to vehicle; when crossing at crosswalk is required; crossing diagonally.

1. Every pedestrian crossing a highway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the highway.

2. Any pedestrian crossing a highway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the highway.

3. Between adjacent intersections at which official traffic-control devices are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.

4. A pedestrian shall not cross an intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control devices.

5. When authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing movements. 

NRS 484B.283 Right-of-way in crosswalk

1.   When official traffic-control devices are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be so to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the highway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the highway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the highway as to be in danger.

2.   A pedestrian shall not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

3.   Whenever a vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle until the driver has determined that the vehicle being overtaken was not stopped for the purpose of permitting a pedestrian to cross the highway.

4.   While the “Walk” indication is illuminated, pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the highway in the direction of the signal and must be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.

5.  While the “Don’t Walk” indication is illuminated, either steady or flashing, a pedestrian shall not start to cross the highway in the direction of the signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed the crossing during the “Walk” indication shall proceed to a sidewalk, or to a safety zone if one is provided.

 Reno Police also want to remind pedestrians to always wear bright or reflective clothing, especially during early morning and evening hours. 

 In a similar operation conducted by the Traffic Division on January 8, 2016, Officers issued 43 citations and gave multiple warnings to both drivers and pedestrians.

 “Look up, Look out” and be safe,

The City of Reno has released the new myRPD app, now available for both IOS and Android users. The community awareness app provides users easier access for filing police reports, submitting feedback, reviewing crime prevention tips, and even navigating to police stations, hospitals, and community resources within the City of Reno.

“Recognizing the proliferation of smart devices and the public’s desire to engage in the digital realm, the Reno Police Department has created a community policing application that will help citizens keep themselves and their loved ones safe, report and fight crime, and help save lives,” Reno Police Chief Jason Soto says.

Other features of the app consist of, but are not limited to:

• Real-time information sharing among citizens and neighbors, making it simple to communicate everything from suspicious activity to a missing pet.

• Simple-to-navigate interactive incident crime mapping and registered sex offender information.

• Users can stay informed on wanted and missing persons in the Reno area.

• Users can anonymously submit Secret Witness tips on everything from wanted or missing persons to criminal activity in their neighborhood and beyond.

“I’d like to commend Chief Soto and his team for their hard work and initiative in bringing forward this community engagement tool that will help enhance our safe and healthy neighborhoods in the City of Reno,” Reno City Manager Andrew Clinger says.

Reno Police Officer Noah Gallop, Bob Lissner, Janice Baker, and John Molt were instrumental in the development of the app, which Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve applauded in her 2015 State of the City address.

“We believe this will give a new name to community policing,” Schieve says. “We anticipate that this app will help reduce crime and solve many challenges law enforcement face.”

This free app is another service provided by the City of Reno to share valuable information with the community, and for the community to work with the Reno Police Department to help keep our communities safe.

The myRPD app is available to download now in the Apple Store for IOS users and the Google Play Store for Android users (search “myRPD”). Community feedback from users is encouraged and will be supported within the app. Input will be factored into future app updates.

The majority of the transactions in our community go as planned and people get what they pay for.  Unfortunately there have been some incidents that have been reported to local Law Enforcement where citizens get scammed or even robbed when meeting someone thinking they are getting a good deal. 

 The Reno Police Department has several safety tips for our community to make internet purchases from private parties safer: 

• Never meet anyone at your home or place of employment
• Try to avoid paying in large amounts of cash
• If paying in cash, go inside the bank to a teller to withdraw the money and not an ATM
• Never provide your bank account or credit card number
• Meet in a public place that has cameras if possible, with lots of pedestrian traffic
• Try to meet in the daytime rather at night
• Take someone with you
• Have your cell phone
• When in doubt, meet the other person at your local law enforcement station 

For more safety tips and to keep up on what is happening with the Reno Police Department, like them on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

A community meeting has been scheduled for next Tuesday, January 12, 2016 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Glenn Duncan Elementary School.

What: Ward 3 Community Meeting

When: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Where: Glenn Duncan Elementary School cafeteria (1200 Montello Street in Reno)

Who: Reno City Councilmember Oscar Delgado and Reno Police Chief Jason Soto

The meeting has been organized in response to two recent shootings on Fife Street, near Pat Baker Park (which is located in Ward 3). Councilmember Delgado and Chief Soto invite the community to join in a discussion about neighborhood safety and concerns. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and meet community partners.

The conversation will include an update on what actions are being taken by the Reno Police Department in response to the shootings.