Kern County Farm Bureau

Many questions have recently come in regarding the Agricultural Hazardous Materials Transportation Endorsement training and certification after attendees came to a class and took the certificate to their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) field office.

DMV's have been informing people that they can not apply for the endorsement without going through the provisions listed under the USA Patriot Act and Section 15250(b)(1) in the California Vehicle Code. California Safety Training Corporation, after learning of the difficulties people have gone through to obtain/renew their endorsement, looked into this further, and contacted the California Highway Patrol's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in Sacramento, CA.

Prevent Crime on Your Property

Mr. Vince Curry of the California Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Section assisted California Safety Training Corporation in the quest to obtain further information from the Department of Motor Vehicles regarding the DL 267 certificate and the USA Patriot Act. On May 13, 2005 the DMV mailed a letter to many employers of Commercially Licensed Drivers with a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME). The letter outlined the process to obtain or renew a HME. The letter did NOT address California's Hazardous Materials Certificate (DL 267) in any manner. However, some DMV Field Offices have informed farm workers applying for the DL 267 that they are required to submit an application to TSA. The DL 267 is not an "endorsement" and therefore is exempt from the provisions of the USA Patriot Act and Section 15250(b)(1) of the California Vehicle Code.

If anyone has attended the Agricultural Hazardous Materials Transportation Endorsement Training, and is having problems with their local DMV field office in regards to obtaining/renewing the endorsement on the Class C (non commercial) driver's license, please contact Sarah Forbus-Turner or Jennifer Vallejo with CSTC® at 661-847-8300 for further assistance.

In addition to manufacturers' identification numbers, Owner Applied Numbers (OAN) is a system of identification used for the protection of equipment, vehicles, and other valuables. This form of identification can be registered with both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). OAN are composed of ten characters, which identify the state, county, and business. The coded identification number allows local law enforcement to identify stolen property and contact the owner. OAN are stamped in several locations on heavy equipment and may be affixed by metal die stamps, indelible ink, branding iron or electric pencils. OAN are used and approved by County Sheriff Offices, California Highway Patrol, and California Farm Bureau Federation. For more information, download "What is an OAN?" and/or "OAN, A Nationwide Identification Program" brochures (.pdf format).

California producers are victims of more than a tenth of all U.S. farm crimes. The need for added security measures is obvious. The “Farm Watch” program has been designed to meet this demand, by increasing awareness, fostering relationships between neighbors and local law enforcement agencies, and striving to prevent thefts and vandalism of property. For information on organizing and implementing a "Farm Watch" program in your area, click here.

1. Register with the Sheriff's Office for OAN.	6. Notify local law enforcement agencies of your chemical delivery and storage sites.
2. If possible, lock equipment inside a barn or shed.	7. Install audible alarms on outbuildings to prevent illegal entry and theft.
3. Don't park machinery within easy access to the road.	8. Notify local law enforcement agencies of any suspicious vehicle or persons.
4. Remove rotors, distributor caps or batteries from motorized equipment left outside for long periods of time.	9. Secure gas pumps, gas tanks, storage bins, and grain elevators with strong locks.
5. Lock up chemicals.	10. Secure tools in locked toolboxes.

Due to increased concerns about terrorism and sabotage, national security measures are being extended to include agricultural zones. All farms should have some measure of site security in place to minimize terrorist or crime activities, as well as to protect assets. This is especially true for operations that store and handle hazardous chemicals.

Basic security measures should include fences, walls, locked doors and alarm systems. In addition, security lighting (good lighting around buildings, storage tanks and storage areas) can make it very difficult for someone to trespass undetected. Intrusion detection systems, such as video surveillance and motion detectors, provide an even higher level of security. Before taking steps to improve site security, you may want to evaluate your current system and determine what improvements, if any, are needed. Decisions about improving site security should be made after evaluating how vulnerable the chemicals are to threats.

For more information download the .pdf file Chemical Safety.

Sheriff’s Department Donny Youngblood, Sheriff 1350 Norris Road, Bakersfield, CA 93308 Phone: (661) 391-7500 Fax: (661) 391-7515 Website: ww.co.kern.ca.us/sheriff/	Ag Crimes Unit 1350 Norris Road, Bakersfield, CA 93308 Phone: (661) 392-4365 Fax: (661) 392-4373 Contacts: Sgt. Walt Reed Phone: (661) 392-4366 Email: reedw@kernsheriff.com Sr. Dep. Eric Fennell Phone: (661) 932-4367 Email: fennel@kernsheriff.com Dep. Dave Weigand Phone: (661) 392-4369 Email: weigandd@kernsheriff.com Dep. Gary Williams Phone: (661) 392-4370 Email: williamsg@kernsheriff.com D.A. Investigator Jay Winn Phone: (661) 392-4368 Email: jwinn@co.kern.ca.us
District Attorney’s Office Edward R. Jagels, District Attorney 1215 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 Phone: (661) 868-2340 Fax: (661) 868-2700 Website: www.co.kern.ca.us/da/default.asp Email: DA@co.kern.ca.us
Agricultural Commissioner Ruben Arroyo, Agricultural Commissioner 1001 South Mount Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93307 Phone: (661) 868-6300 Fax: (661) 868-6301 Website: www.kernag.com/