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Fono News

LAWMAKERS ASK SPEAKER TO LOOK INTO LAW ABOUT TINTED WINDOWS

 

Manu’a faipule, Toeina Autele has asked House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale to look into the law that prohibits dark tinted windows for vehicles. This issue was brought up during the House regular session last week when Toeina pointed out that he came across an animal that was stuck by a vehicle, and he was unable to see who was driving the vehicle because the vehicle’s windows were tinted.

 

Toeina stated that he’s concerned, asking, what if this was a person struck by a vehicle who did not bother to stop, to find out the status of the person run over. Toeina indicated that this is dangerous and the Fono needs to do something about this. Savali agreed with the Manu’a lawmaker, saying that there is a need to revisit this law to see what needs to be done about tinted window on vehicles.

 

Under the local statute, the only vehicles that are banned from tinted windows are commercial vehicles, like buses and taxis, and the fine for the first offense is $50.

 

SAVE’S NAME SUBMITTED TO FONO AS DPS COMMISSIONER

 

Director of the Office of Fraud Prevention and Investigation (OFPI) Save Liuato Tuitele has been appointed as Commissioner of Public Safety and his name has been submitted to the Fono for approval. In his letter to the Fono, Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga asked the lawmakers to confirm Save as the next DPS Commissioner.

 

The former Commissioner, William Haleck, who took over the post in January 2013 at the start of the Lolo Administration, left last month for the mainland and returned shortly thereafter. He met with the governor upon his return, where it was reported that he tendered his letter of resignation. Haleck confirmed with Samoa News that he has resigned for personal reasons. He had visited them over the Christmas holidays, when he reached his decision to step down. “I want to spend more time with my family — with how many days left in my life given to me by God,” he said.

 

In his letter to the Fono, the governor pointed out that Save was born and raised in the territory, is a graduate of Samoana High School and has held several positions in the government, including serving as a police officer for over five years.

 

In October 1973, he was enlisted into the US Army where he spent the next 30 years, eventually rising to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer five. During his distinguished career Save focused on military law enforcement in the Military Police.

 

“He completed various trainings conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and others; he attended the Honolulu Police Academy and graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice Management.”

 

According to Lolo, during Save’s military career, he held senior administrative positions including being the Military Police Operations Officer for the CID Commands at Fort Lewis Washington, Schofield Barracks, Hawai’i and Fort Hood Texas. Since Save’s retirement and return to American Samoa he has worked as an Associate Judge.

 

Lolo pointed out to the Senators that Save’s resume finds him highly qualified for the position of Commissioner of Public Safety.

 

Last week Samoa News received phone calls from police officers reporting that, although Haleck had tendered his resignation, he was still driving around in the vehicle assigned to the Commissioner. The officers said it was unclear why Haleck continued to use the vehicle when there was an Acting Commissioner already appointed.