SPARKS (AP) - Texting while driving? Bad idea.
But texting the police is being encouraged in the Reno-Sparks area as a way to beef up an existing telephone tip line.
Sparks Police Chief Steve Keefer says the new text messaging capability is a great addition to the Secret Witness program.
Keefer says the automated system scrambles phone numbers so no one is identified.
Users receive an automated reply with a witness identification number, which can be used to collect possible rewards.
Texts go to 847411, with "SW" in the subject line or body of the message.