COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL WILL JOIN US IN STUDIO... ALSO TONIGHT: A WARNING ON REAL ID AND PASSPORT SCAMS AS SUMMER TRAVEL RAMPS UP... AND WE'LL HEAR FROM A COMMITTEE THAT'S FOCUSED ON CREATING SAFER STREETS IN PHOENIX.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

CHECK OF HEADLINES: WE START AT THE STATE CAPITOL, WHERE THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO WORK ON A BUDGET.

REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED A SPENDING PLAN, ONE THAT DID NOT INVOLVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH DEMOCRATS OR THE GOVERNOR.

THE SENATE IS WORKING TO GET A PLAN THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL GO ALONG WITH, BUT THE CONSERVATIVE "FREEDOM CAUCUS" IS OPPOSED.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE ARIZONA AGENDA, WHICH ALSO REPORTS THAT A HANDFUL OF SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE ASKING FOR $5 MILLION EACH FOR SPENDING ON PET PROJECTS, ALONG WITH OTHER TWEAKS.

DEADLINE TO GET THE BUDGET DONE IS JUNE 30TH.

NATIONAL NEWS: THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY SAID THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DECIDED ON WHEN HE WILL DECIDE ON ATTACKING IRAN IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL.

AND IT'S A FAMILIAR DEADLINE.

>> REGARDING THE ONGOING NATION IRAN, I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION AMONGST ALL OF YOU IN THE MEDIA REGARDING THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION-MAKING AND WHETHER OR NOT THE UNITED STATES WILL BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED.

IN LIGHT OF THAT NEWS, I HAVE A MESSAGE DIRECTLY FROM THE PRESIDENT, AND I QUOTE, BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL CHANCE OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT TAKE PLACE WITH IRAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I WILL MAKE MY DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO GO WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

THE PRESIDENT HAS USED 2 WEEKS AS A DEADLINE A NUMBER OF TIMES ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES.

TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS THE PRESIDENT SUGGESTING THAT STRIKES COULD BE IMMINENT, WHILE ALSO SAYING THAT IT WAS NOT TOO LATE FOR TALKS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY RESPONDED TO THE FED'S DECISION YESTERDAY TO LEAVE INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED.

THE PRESIDENT LABELED THE FED CHAIR AS "TOO LATE JEROME POWELL," AND SAID THAT POWELL IS QUOTE, "COSTING OUR COUNTRY HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

HE IS TRULY ONE OF THE DUMBEST AND MOST DESTRUCTIVE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT, AND THE FED BOARD IS COMPLICIT."

NO RESPONSE AS YET FROM POWELL.

HURRICANE ERICK MADE LANDFALL TODAY IN MEXICO.

ERICK HIT THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE STATE OF OAXACA AS A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE, WITH WINDS OF 125 MILES PER HOUR, RESULTING IN MAJOR WIND DAMAGE AND LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGES.

ERICK IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN AS IT TRAVELS OVER SOUTHERN MEXICO AND INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

AND THIS IS JUNETEENTH, A DAY THAT COMMEMORATES THE EFFECTIVE ENDING OF SLAVERY IN THE U.S.

SOME JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE BEING SCALED-BACK OR CANCELLED BECAUSE OF DEI CONCERNS, ALONG WITH SAFETY ISSUES.

JUNETEENTH WAS MADE A FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN 2021.

MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP HAS FILED SUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGARDING AUTHORITY OVER ELECTIONS.

THE MOVE PROMPTED A COUNTER-SUIT BY THE BOARD.

COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL IS CHARGED WITH DEFENDING COUNTY OFFICIALS AT TRIAL, BUT HEAP WANTS HIS OWN ATTORNEY, SETTING OFF ANOTHER ROUND OF IZ DISAGREEMENTS.

JOINING US NOW IS COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL.

WE SHOULD NOTE THAT WE HAVE ASKED JUSTIN HEAP TO JOIN US ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

HE HAS YET TO RESPOND.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE THIS.

YOU'VE GOT A VERY INTERESTING ONLINE SITUATION, KIND OF A PROGRAM TO HELP US WITH EXPLOITATION.

I WANT TO GET TO THAT.

BUT WE'VE GOTTA START WITH THIS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

ESPECIALLY AS FAR AS YOU REPRESENTING THE COUNTY RECORD CENTER.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PUBLIC ELECTS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THEY'RE ELECTING THE COUNTY'S ATTORNEY.

AND SO AS SUCH, I NOT ONLY PROSECUTE CRIMES WITHIN MARICOPA COUNTY, BUT I ALSO REPRESENT THE DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE COUNTY REPORTER, INCLUDING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

AND WHEN THERE'S A CONFLICT, WHICH THERE'S NO REALLY A CONFLICT HERE BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE RECORDER, BUT WHEN THERE HAD ARE TWO PARTIES IN THE COUNTY WHO ARE AT ODDS, THEN MY ROLE IS TO APPOINT ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT THEM, TO EITHER NEGOTIATE OR FOR LITIGATION, IF THAT HAPPENS.

>> THE RECORDER DID HIRE AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY FOR THIS LAWSUIT, I BELIEVE HE'S INVOLVED WITH A GROUP THAT'S PRETTY WELL-KNOWN ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE AND MAGA SIDE OF THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, CAN HE DO THAT?

IF HE DOES DO THAT, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SUIT?

>> WELL, HE HAS GONE TO ANOTHER OUTSIDE COUNSEL, THAT WAS NOT APPOINTED BY ME.

PREVIOUSLY, I HAD APPOINTED ONE ATTORNEY TO HIM.

HE DIDN'T -- FOR VARIOUS REASONS, HE DIDN'T WANT THAT ATTORNEY.

I APPOINTED FORMER JUSTICE ANDY GOULD.

AND SO THIS IS A THIRD ATTORNEY NOW.

BUT IT IS MY ROLE AS COUNTY ATTORNEY TO APPOINT AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT HIM.

>> YOUR ROLE, BUT I THINK THE OPPOSING BE COUNSEL THAT WAS HIRED SAYS THERE'S NOTHING IN STATUTE THAT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO THAT AND HE'S REQUIRED TO USE THAT.

>> OUR POSITION IS THAT HE'S WRONG BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS BY DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT TO GET THEIR OWN COUNSEL AND THOSE HAVE BEEN STRUCK DOWN BY THE COURT.

SO WE BELIEVE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME TO APPOINT SOMEBODY TO REPRESENT HIM.

>> IS THE LAWSUIT NO GOOD?

YOU HAVE TO HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

IS IT NO GOOD WITHOUT VALID REPRESENTATION IF THAT PARTICULAR ATTORNEY IS THE REPRESENTATION?

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE HASHED IN AND OUT COURT.

I KNOW THAT LISTENING TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING THE OTHER DAY, I THINK THAT THAT'S THE POSITION THAT THEY'RE TAKING WITH THEIR LITIGATION.

>> LAST POINT ON THIS, YOU REPRESENT ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE COUNTY.

GOT ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU'RE SAYING YOU GET TO CHOOSE THE REPRESENTATION FOR WHICH SIDE, BOTH SIDES?

>> BOTH SIDES.

BECAUSE I HAVE ONE CLIENT, ESSENTIALLY, PIVOTED AGAINST ANOTHER CLIENT, I CAN'T REPRESENT EITHER OR BOTH ARE OBVIOUSLY.

AND SO MY ROLE IS TO STEP BACK AND TO APPOINT COUNSEL.

IN FACT, I DO THIS ROUTINELY, WEEKLY SOMETIMES, APPOINT OUTSIDE DOWNTOWN REPRESENT DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT.

>> OKAY, OUTSIDE COUNSEL, OUTSIDE OF YOUR OFFICE.

>> YES.

SO SOMEBODY FROM YAVAPAI COUNTY OR SOMETHING LIKE TO?

>> WELL, IT COULD BE OUT OF COUNTY, BUT ALSO WE HAVE A LIST OF LAW FIRMS THAT WE CONTRACT WITH TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, SOMETIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, IT REQUIRES A SPECIFIC TYPE OF KNOWLEDGE, AND WE'LL APPOINT A LAW FIRM THAT HAS THAT PARTICULAR SPECIALIZATION.

THIS IS A ROUTINE MATTER FOR ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL SEE WHERE THIS GOES.

AGAIN, WE ORIGINALLY ASKED YOU TO COME ON THE PROGRAM A LONG TIME AGO TO TALK ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN FIGHTING SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ONLINE.

GIVE ME THE NAME OF THE CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TONGUE-TWISTER .

>> IT'S UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF OUR REPORT DON'T REPOST CAMPAIGN WHICH WAS STARTED TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM REPOSTING THESE VIDEOS OF KIDS, FOR EXAMPLE, BEATING UP OTHER KIDS AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO REPORT IT TO THE POLICE.

BUT THIS PARTICULAR SUBSECTION IS CALLED CYBER PREDATORS REAL RISK.

AND THE REASON WE CHOSE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUMMERTIME.

KIDS HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON THEIR HANDS, A LOT OF TIMES THEY USE THAT ONLINE.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PARENTS KNOW THAT IT IS RISKY ANYTIME YOUR KID IS ONLINE.

>> WHAT ARE THE MESSAGES THAT YOU'RE SEEING ONLINE THAT WOULD RAISE WARNING FLAGS THAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT?

>> WE JUST INDICTED AN INDIVIDUAL OUT OF CALIFORNIA, WHO REACHED OUT TO A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN PHOENIX AND BASICALLY THREATENED HER FAMILY, IF SHE DIDN'T PROVIDE PHOTOS TO HIM, AND WHEN THOSE PHOTOS WERE PROVIDED, CONTINUED ON TO BLACKMAIL AND THREATEN TO EXPOSE THOSE PHOTOS.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY TRAGICALLY COMMON.

THE MESSAGE IS, TO PARENTS, BE AWARE OF WHO YOUR KIDS ARE TALKING TO, LEARN THE APPS THAT YOUR KIDS ARE USING, THE SOCIAL MEDIA.

I KNOW THAT'S FRIGHTENING FOR PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN AGE GROUP OR OLDER, INCLUDING MYSELF.

BUT THEY NEED TO DO IT.

UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE APPS THAT ARE VAULT APPS THAT CAN HIDE THEIR TRUE PURPOSE.

THEY CAN LOOK INNOCENT LIKE A CALCULATOR BUT ACTUALLY HIDE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF MESSAGES AND HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS.

YOU KNOW, EDUCATE YOUR KIDS.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TOO YOUNG ANYONE -- ABOUT THE DANGEROUS ONLINE.

AND IF YOUR CHILD DOES DISCLOSE SOMETHING, YOU FIND SOMETHING OUT, BE CALM.

IF YOU GET EXCITED OR ANGRY OR JUDGMENTAL, THE CHILD MIGHT SHUT DOWN, AND REPORT IT TO THE POLICE.

>> RIGHT.

A COUPLE OF LAWSUITS, SENATE BILL 1865 WAS SIGNED INTO LAW I THINK SEVERAL WEEKS AGO MODIFIES THE DEFINITION OF A DANGEROUS CRIME AGAINST KIDS.

YOU CAN TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE.

THERE WAS A THROUGH A DIDN'T RECOGNIZE UNDERCOVER OFFICERS PORTRAYING THEMSELVES AS UNDER THE AGE OF 15 AS A DANGEROUS CRIME AGAINST CHILDREN.

SO IT'S CLOSED THAT LOOPHOLE.

THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF THE EFFORTS THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS MAKING.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE WERE SAYING JUST BECAUSE THAT WAS AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER, THEN THE STATUTE WOULDN'T HOLD UP?

>> EXACTLY.

WELL, IT WOULD HOLD UP, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE PUNISHED AS THOUGH IT WAS A KID.

SO IT WAS TREATING IT DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT WAS A REAL CHILD VICTIM OR AN UNDERCOVER PORTRAYING A REAL CHILD.

>> HB1668 CONCERNS AI-GENERATED IMAGES.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> AI HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE CANNOT ALWAYS DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AI-GENERATED CHILD PORN AND REAL CHILD PORN.

AND THAT DISTINCTION IS -- WOULD MAKE UNPROSECUTABLE IF WE COULDN'T PROVE THAT THIS WAS A REAL CHILD.

IT SAYS IF IT'S INDISTINGUISHABLE, IT CAN STILL BE PROSECUTED AS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, IT DOES NOT SATIATE A DEVIANT DESIRE, IT FUEL AS DEVIANT DESIRE.

>> ARE THESE KINDS OF LAW COMMON AROUND THE COUNTRY OR SOMETHING THAT ARIZONA IS IN THE FOREFRONT OF?

>> ACTUALLY I THINK WE WERE THE 38th STATE TO ENACT THE AI LEGISLATION.

SO THAT IS COMMON.

AND OUR DANGEROUS CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN'S STATUTE IS UNIQUE TO ARIZONA BUT IT WAS A LOOPHOLE THAT NEEDED TO BE CLOSED UP ON THE FIRST ONE.

>> AND AGAIN THE PROGRAM ITSELF, REPORT, DON'T REPOST.

HOW MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENED IN GILBERT AND THE WHOLE GOOD AFTERNOON ACTIVITY, HOW MUCH DID THAT FUEL THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS A COMMODITY ALMOST THAT KIDS WERE TRADING IT.

IT WAS A STREET CREDIT, IF YOU WILL.

AND PEOPLE WOULD SEE THESE VIDEOS OF THESE BEATINGS AND POST THEM, AND THAT ACTUALLY ADDED TO THE STREET CRED THAT THEY WERE GETTING OUT OF IT.

AND I EVEN SAW ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA PEOPLE POSTING IT AND SAYING, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS, COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, WHERE DID THIS HAPPEN.

AND SO IT'S LIKE, DO THE RIGHT THING, CALL THE POLICE, REPORT IT TO THE POLICE, STOP REPOSTING IT.

>> AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE'RE KIND OF GOING BACK TO THE RECORDER, HE WANTS IT AND IT ORIENTED IN HIS LAWSUIT.

WHEN IT COMES TO IT STUFF, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CYBER PREDATORS HERE AND THE REAL RISK, HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR YOUR OFFICE TO KEEP UP?

>> IT CAN BE VERY TRICKY BECAUSE FORECAST YOU KNOW, I WAS AT A CLASS NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT SAYS AI TECHNOLOGY IS BECOMING OUTDATED OR ANTIQUATED EVERY 60 DAYS.

SO YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE CRIMINALS.

BUT IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT AREA BECAUSE THIS IS SO DESTRUCTIVE.

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN SEX-TORTED, YOU KNOW, THREATENED WITH DISCLOSURE OF THEIR PHOTOS THAT THEY'VE PROVIDED, WHO HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE.

THIS IS A DEADLY GAME THAT THEY'RE PLAYING, AND SO IT'S WORTH OUR EFFORT.

>> RACHEL MITCHELL AGAIN, MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR SHARING THE INFORMATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> SURE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON IS HERE, AND SO ARE SCAMS INVOLVING REAL-ID AND PASSPORTS.

THESE SCAMS BOAST OF EASIER WAYS TO GET IDENTIFICATION FORMS, BUT THEY WIND UP SCAMMING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR MONEY AND THEIR SENSITIVE INFORMATION.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS, WE WELCOME JOE DUCEY, FROM THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

REAL IDs HAVE JUST STARTED HERE.

THERE'S ALREADY SCAMS?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON PEOPLE, RIGHT, IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE YOU HAD TO HAVE IT BY A CERTAIN DATE.

SO GOING ALONG AND TRYING TO FIND SITES THAT THEY CAN GET IT, AND THEY FIND A SITE THAT PROMISE ONE THING BUT DELIVER ANOTHER.

FINDING THE SAME THING WITH PASS PORTS RIGHT NOW.

>> SO THE SCAMMERS -- BASICALLY, THE SCAMMERS ARE TELLING YOU IF YOU WANT REAL ID OR A PASSPORT, YOU GOTTA DO A, B, AND C. AND THE MINUTE YOU GET INTO THAT ALPHABET, YOU'RE IN TROUBLE, AREN'T YOU?

>> YEAH.

AND SOME ARE OUTRIGHT SCAMS AND SOME ARE PLACES THAT OFFER SOMETHING YOU DON'T NEED.

IN A LOT OF THESE CASES YOU'RE GOING TO A PASSPORT SITE YOU THINK GOING TO GET YOU A PASSPORT.

THE ONLY WAY TO GET A PASSPORT IS TO GO TO TRAVEL.STATE.GOV TO RENEW.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN PERSON THE FIRST TIME.

WHEN DO YOU REAL ID, RIGHT.

THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE TO GO.

THESE SITES ARE SAYING THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO IT AND REALLY ONLY PROVIDING YOU PAPERWORK THAT YOU DON'T NEED.

THIS IS STUFF YOU CAN DO IN THE APPLICATION THROUGH THE LEGITIMATE SITE.

AND I CAN COULD GO INTO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

ONE PERSON, I TYPED INTO GOOGLE TO RENEW MY PASSPORT AND THIS WAS THE TOP LINK.

I THOUGHT I WAS PAYING A GOVERNMENT SITE TO COMPLETE MY PASSPORT APPLICATION, IT WAS THE POST OFFICE -- AND WHEN I WENT TO THE POST OFFICE, I HAD TO PAY AGAIN.

I DOWNLOADED AN APP FOR $19 BUCKS AND IT ASKED FOR MORE MONEY.

I GAVE THEM ALL ALL OF MY INFORMATION, MY SOCIAL, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS.

>> I WOULD THINK A BIG PROBLEM IS BASICALLY GOOGLING SOME OF THIS STUFF AND THE FIRST THING THAT POPS UP ON THE PAGE YOU GO AHEAD AND CHARGE RIGHT INTO?

>> YOU HAVE ACTUALLY HAVE GOT TO THE BIGGER PROBLEM HERE.

WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR WEBSITES, CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NUMBERS AND EITHER SEEING A LINK THAT SAYS TAKE ME TO PASSPORTS AND THE FIRST THING THAT COMES UP IS WORKING THE ALGORITHM.

IT'S THE SAME THING WE SAW WITH TRAVEL SERVICES, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, FIRST THING THAT COMES UP IS SOMETHING THAT HAS SOUTHWEST IN THE ALGORITHM AND ACTUALLY NOT THE SITE FOR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.

SO PEOPLE NEED TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WHERE THEY GO AND NOT TRUST THE FIRST THING THAT COMES UP?

>> HOW MUCH CAN THIS SET THEM BACK IN TERMS OF MONEY OR IN TERMS OF LOSING PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION?

>> I THINK THE MONEY -- I'VE SEEN IT UP TO $250 FOR THE PAPERWORK THAT YOU DON'T NEED BECAUSE ALL OF, THAT AGAIN, SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ONLINE.

AND THEN YOU PAY, I THINK THE APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL IS ABOUT $130 BUCKS.

YOU'RE PAYING ABOUT $400.

>> SO, AGAIN, IF YOU SEE A SITE AND IT'S DOT-ORG, WATCH YOURSELF.

IT'S GOTTA BE DOT-GOV, DOES IT NOT?

>> IT DOES IN THIS CASE.

YEAH.

AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

A LOT OF THESE SITES ARE SAYING, HEY, ALL WE'RE DOING IS PROVIDING PAPERWORK.

AND WE TELL YOU THAT.

IN THE VERY SMALL PRINT IT MIGHT SAY "WE ARE NOT A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, QUESTION ARE PROVIDING PAPERWORK INFORMATION" WHICH YOU DON'T NEED.

BUT THE SITES ARE IN RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, THEY HAVE TRAVEL IN THE NAME, A POINT DOLT-ORG, SO VERY CLOSE TO WHAT YOU WANT TO GO TO.

>> AND FIRST-TIME PASSPORT AND GETTING THE REAL ID, YOU GOTTA GO DOWN THERE.

>> THAT'S THE REASONING THEY HAVE IT.

THEY WANT TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.

THEY WANT TO KNOW IT'S YOU.

YOU CAN RENEW THESE THINGS.

REAL ID WE HAVEN'T GOT THERE YET, BUT I'M SURE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO RENEW ONLINE AT ONE POINTS BUT IT'S A GOVERNMENT SITE YOU HAVE TO GO TO.

I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE, TOO, IS LOOKING FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE BECAUSE WHILE WE TRACK ALL KINDS OF SCAMS, THERE'S 81,000 COMPLAINT AS YEAR, A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES HAVE THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WENT TO A WEBSITE, IT CAME UP FIRST IN THE GOOGLE SEARCH.

AND THOSE ARE NOT WHAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY TRUST BECAUSE THERE ARE REASONS THEY SHOW UP FIRST AND THEY MAY NOT BE LEGITIMATE REASONS.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE QR CODE.

IF PENAL AREN'T LOOKING FOR WHERE THEY'RE GOING, THEN THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THAT AS WELL.

>> YOU SENSE FUNNY BUSINESS IS GOING ON HERE, YOU'RE NOT TOO SURE ABOUT IT, DO YOU CONTACT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE?

>> GO TO US.

GO TO BBB.ORG, AND YOU CAN FILE A COMPLAINT THERE IF IT'S A BUSINESS.

YOU CAN GO TO SCAM TRACKER.

GO TO SCAM TRACKER TO SAY, ARE OTHER PEOPLE SEEING THIS, IS THIS A SCAM?

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE REACT TOO QUICKLY.

IF YOU STEP BACK FOR A SECOND, CHECK IT OUT, THINK ABOUT IT.

TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT, IT YOU MAY NOT GET SCAMMED THAT WAY.

>> THE LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO, I ASKED A COUNTY ATTORNEY THIS AND WANT TO ASK YOU AS WELL, IS TECHNOLOGY, IT, ALL OF THIS BUSINESS, IS IT CHANGING THE NATURE OF WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU WATCH OUT FOR?

>> OH, YEAH.

AI IS CRAZY.

RECENTLY WE ARE RELEASED SOMETHING ABOUT CELEBRITY SCAMS.

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY USING TIES FAKE CELEBRITIES SAYING THEY ENDORSE CERTAIN PRODUCTS WHEREAS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT SAY OPRAH DID THIS, BUT NOW OPRAH IS SAYING, I DO THIS IT'S CRAZY.

WE'RE SEEING ALL KINDS OF SCAMS.

>> JOE DUCEY, BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, THESE PASSPORT RENEWALS AND SCAMMERS, REAL ID SCAMMERS, TREAD CAREFULLY.

>> YES.

WATCH IT.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS.

>> THE VISION ZERO STREET SAFETY COMMITTEE IS WORKING TO CREATE SAFER STREETS IN PHOENIX, BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT TRAFFIC-RELATED DEATHS, AND INJURIES, ARE PREVENTABLE.

TO SHARE MORE ON THE VISION ZERO STREET SAFETY COMMITTEE IS ED HERMES, WHO SERVES AS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN.

2:00 ARIZONA HORIZON.

GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF VISION ZERO.

>> WELL, YOU JUST ABOUT GOT IT.

IT IS THE GOAL TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE BOTH DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES ON OUR STREETS.

AND THEY ARE PREVENTABLE.

WE KNOW THEY ARE.

OTHER CITIES HAVE ALREADY GONE A LARGE WAY TO PREVENTING THEM AND ACHIEVING THAT VISION ZERO.

WE'RE FRANKLY A LONG WAY AWAY HERE IN PHOENIX, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

>> A LONG WAY AWAY, SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S ON CITY STREETS HERE IN PHOENIX LIKE TWO TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS STREETS IN THE COUNTRY.

200 PEOPLE A YEAR DIE ON OUR STREETS, OR ARE IN CRASHES.

880 PEOPLE A YEAR ON AVERAGE ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED, LIFE-CHANGE INJURIES.

AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE, UNFORTUNATELY AND WE'RE DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN TERMS OF INCREASE OF PEDESTRIAN DEATHS.

BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO BUT FIRST STEP IS TO HAVE THAT GOAL TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE IT AND BRING IT TO ZERO.

>> 2 OUT OF 3 FATALITIES ARE PEOPLE HIT WHILE WALKING, CYCLING OR MOTORCYCLING.

WHAT DOES THIS TELL NEW.

>> IT TELLS ME THAT WE NEED TO ENGINEER OUR STREETS BETTER, WE NEED TO DESIGN OUR STREETS BETTER BECAUSE THEY'RE BECOMING MORE DANGEROUS.

OUR CARS ARE GETTING HEAVIER.

AND WE HAVE TO SEPARATE PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS FROM HEAVY TRAFFIC.

TRAFFIC IS GETTING FASTER.

WE'VE GOTTA SEPARATE THE TWO TO KEEP BOTH SAFE.

>> THAT BRINGS US TO THE FIVE Es OF TRAFFIC SAFETY HERE.

ONE OF THOSE IS ENGINEERING.

THINGS LIKE SIDEWALKS, BIKE LANES, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

I MEAN, DO THEY WORK?

>> ABSOLUTELY THEY WORK.

STATISTICALLY WE KNOW IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN SOME OF THESE AREAS WHERE WE'VE CREATED BUTTERS BETWEEN PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS ON ONE SIDE AND CARS ON THE OTHER.

WE KNOW THEY WORK BECAUSE THE STATISTICS SHOW THEY DO.

THIRD STREET, JUST RIGHT OVER HERE JUST NORTH OF WHERE WE'RE SITTING TODAY, WE IMPLEMENTED ONE OF THOSE AT THE CITY OF PHOENIX, IT CUT CRASHES IN HALF.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER AREAS THAT ARE TARGETED TO TREAT TO SEPARATE CARS FROM PEDESTRIANS.

>> IMPROVED STREET DESIGN.

DOES THAT INCLUDE THINGS LIKE ROUNDABOUTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT MIGHT.

EVERY STREET IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE WANT TO EMPOWER NEIGHBORHOOD TOSSED BRING SOLUTIONS AND BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO SAY YES TO THOSE SOLUTIONS WHEN A NEIGHBORHOOD WANTS THAT FOR THEMSELVES.

>> YEAH.

ANOTHER "E" IS EVALUATING DATA.

WHAT KIND OF DATA ARE YOU LOOKING AT HERE.

>> OUR HEIGHT ENERGY NETWORK DATA A LOT.

WHICH IS WHERE ARE THOSE SEGMENTS AND INTERSECTIONS WHERE CRASHES ARE HAPPENING ALL THE TIME, AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT STREET AND DRILLING TOWN TO -- DOWN TO INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES OF WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> SOME OF THESE INTERSECTIONS, THOUGH, I MEAN, THEY'RE HUGE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN SLOW PEOPLE DOWN.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE WILL SLOW DOWN.

WE HAVE A BIG WIDE OPEN STREET.

>> WHERE, THERE ARE THINGS QUESTION DO.

FOR EXAMPLE, AND -- WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, MEDIANS ARE A WONDERFUL WAY TO SEPARATE TRAFFIC.

YOU SEE THEM IN SOME DECIDES SOME PARTS OF PHOENIX BUT NOT ON THOSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE BIG WIDE OPEN ONES.

WE COULD IMPLEMENT IMMEDIATE YANGS, BETTER INTERSECTIONS, BETTER CROSSWALKS.

YESTERDAY WAS A HUGE WIN THAT THE CITY OF PHOENIX VOTED, COUNSEL VOTED ON ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE TO IMPROVE OUR SIDEWALK CROSSINGS AND OUR CROSSINGS AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS LIKE THAT, AND IT'S REALLY GONNA HELP.

>> I'VE SEEN SOME CITIES WHERE IF YOU'RE A PEDESTRIAN, YOU PRESS THE BUTTON AND THEN THE LIGHT FLASHES YELLOW AND THEN GOES RED.

DO THOSE WORK?

>> THOSE WORK, YES.

BUT WHAT WORKS EVEN BETTER THAN THAT IS THE CITY THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED WHAT'S CALLED LEAVING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS, WHEN YOU HIT THE BUTTON, AND THE LIGHT CHANGES, PEDESTRIANS GET 2, 3, 5 SECONDS MAYBE TO START WALKING BEFORE THE CARS START COMING AND TURNING INTO THAT.

THAT REALLY REDUCES CRASHES AND THEY'RE DOING THAT IN CITY OF PHOENIX AS WELL.

>> ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION.

TALK TO US ABOUT THEM.

>> ENFORCEMENT, POLICE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED RED LIGHT CAMERAS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND SPEED CAMERAS, STARTING TO ROLL THOSE BACK OUT AGAIN, AND THAT ENFORCEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT TO BRING THAT DOWN, AS WELL.

WE SEE THAT EFFECTIVE WITH OTHER CITIES, CITY OF TEMPE RECENTLY BROUGHT BACK SPEED CAMERAS, AS WELL ASK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO SAVING LIVES AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

BUT THAT BRINGS SOME ANGRY PEOPLE WITH THOSE THINGS.

>> WE WANT TO TRY TO REDUCE ANGER ON THE ROADWAYS ALL AROUND.

AND FRANKLY REDUCING SPEEDS AND REDUCING CRASHES IS GONNA DO THAT MOST EFFECTIVELY.

>> AND EDUCATION IS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LETTING PEOPLE KNOW TO SLOW DOWN AND TO DRIVE SAFELY AND BE YOUR OWN VISION ZERO ADVOCATE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING.

DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT.

NO NEED GO ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT.

>> AND THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS HOW MUCH?

>> WE GET $10 MAILINGS YEAR FOR PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE A SAY IN ALLOCATING, BUT WE'RE ALSO INFLUENCING ALL FUNDING AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT IS BEING USED IN AN EFFECTIVE AND SAFE WAY.

>> WHAT'S TO WATCH FOR?

>> WHAT TO WATCH FOR IS LIKES I MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO BE UPGRADING OUR CROSSINGS AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS NOW.

SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE MORE HIGH VISIBILITY CROSSINGS THAT ARE KIND OF THE ZEBRA STRIPES OR DIAGONAL STRIPES AND STOP BARS.

YOU'LL START TO SEE THOSE BEING ROLLED OUT.

I MENTIONED RED LIGHT CAMERAS, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE GONNA SEE MORE JUST EVERY DAY TRAFFIC MITIGATION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> ED HERMES VISION ZERO STREET SAFETY COMMISSION.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.