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Toles ‘regrets’ distraction caused by reckless driving fine

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – The Maryland councilmember fined for reckless driving and an unsafe lane change on the Beltway says she regrets “the events that have transpired which have proven to be a distraction.”

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Karen Toles asked the public to “reserve judgment and allow the legal process to run its course.”

“I take the charges pending against me very seriously, and my attorneys currently have this matter under review,” she said at a news conference.

Earlier this week, Toles was issued a citation for driving recklessly after she was stopped by a Prince George’s County police officer a few weeks ago.

She originally received a $90 ticket for an unsafe lane change on Feb. 22. Then on Tuesday, Prince George’s County Police Chief Mark McGaw hand-delivered Toles a citation, which carries a $510 fine and up to six points on her license.

She accepted the citation from McGaw at her attorney’s office.

“It’s a serious offense. It’s a willfull wanton disregard for safety in her driving,” McGaw said.

The review panel concluded that the police officer who stopped Toles for speeding on Feb. 22 acted appropriately when he did not issue her a citation for speeding. However, the panel said Tuesday a second citation was warranted.

“The officer on the scene did not make a mistake he did an outstanding job,” McGaw said. “But as we looked at all the evidence, the recommendation that came from the ERP was reckless driving and that’s what she was issued today.”

Assistant Police Chief Kevin Davis said after the incident the speedometer on the officer’s cruiser was not calibrated to measure Toles’s speed, and was not equipped with radar. The officer could not establish whether Toles was driving at triple-digit speeds, as was previously reported.

The cruiser’s speedometer, however, did show that he needed to drive 105 mph to catch up with her.

“The police officer did not have enough time and space to establish a pace of the car that he eventually pulled over,” Davis said.

Maryland court records show Toles has been cited for traffic violations five previous times since 2009, and has faced fines totaling $225.

One case, involving driving without license plates, was thrown out. Two cases involved driving without a seat belt. Two others involved unsafe lane changes.

The panel was made up of a number of high-ranking officers, including the department’s inspector general and a number of deputy chiefs and commanders. The findings were reported to Magaw.

Toles represents the areas of Capitol Heights, District Heights, Hillcrest Heights, Marlow Heights, Seat Pleasant, Suitland, Temple Hills and portions of Forestville and Oxon Hill.

WTOP’s Mark Segraves and Michelle Basch contributed to this report.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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