Michelle Rodriguez pictured here sharing how senior scams have affected her family.

Ontario, CA — Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez (D-Ontario) partnered with the California Department of Insurance, the Automobile Club of Southern California and the city of Montclair on May 15 to host a senior driving safety and scam prevention workshop aimed at helping older adults stay safe on the road and avoid financial fraud.

The “Stay Safe, Stay Independent” workshop was held at the Montclair Senior Center and marked the second year Rodriguez has organized the event.

“This is my second year doing this event, and I think it’s very important because if young people are getting scammed, our seniors definitely can too,” Rodriguez said in an interview following the event. “They have people calling their phones saying, ‘Hi, how are you,’ just to record their voice so that they can call back using AI to scam our seniors.”

Rodriguez said the event was designed to connect seniors with resources while educating them about increasingly sophisticated scams and safe driving practices.

During opening remarks, she shared a personal story about how her own mother nearly fell victim to an AI voice scam involving Rodriguez’s daughter.

“We put this event together because too many seniors are being targeted by scams and we want to help put a stop to that,” Rodriguez told attendees. “These scams are becoming more aggressive and harder to detect, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence.”

The workshop featured presentations from AAA’s Public and Government Affairs team and representatives from the California Department of Insurance.

Speakers focused on senior mobility, roadway safety, fraud prevention and financial protection.

Román Garcia of the Automobile Club of Southern California led a presentation titled “Keeping the Keys,” which emphasized helping seniors continue driving safely rather than encouraging them to stop driving altogether.

“I’m not here to talk about whether you should or should not be driving,” Garcia said. “I’m not here to tell you to give up your keys.”

Garcia discussed how aging can affect vision, flexibility and cognitive awareness behind the wheel while also stressing that older drivers are not the demographic most commonly involved in at-fault crashes.

He encouraged seniors to adjust driving habits, avoid high-risk traffic situations and use adaptive tools that can make entering and exiting vehicles easier.

Garcia also highlighted MyCarDoesWhat.org, a website created to help drivers better understand modern vehicle safety technology.

Among the driving tips Garcia shared were allowing a three-second following distance, avoiding last-second freeway lane changes and taking extra caution when turning left at intersections.

The workshop also addressed the dangers of impaired driving caused by medications or fatigue.

Montclair Police Chief Jason Reed warned attendees that driving under the influence laws extend beyond alcohol use.

The event included a resource fair including blood pressure screenings, CPR trainings, and more.

“Just because you haven’t had anything to drink doesn’t mean that you may be impaired because of a combination of medications or fatigue,” Reed said. “You can have a .00 and still get a DUI or be held liable if there’s a collision.”

Reed also cautioned seniors about evolving fraud tactics involving artificial intelligence and impersonation scams.

“It might sound like your family member that’s on the phone asking for money,” Reed said. “It might not be a secure rendition of their voice or even their image.”

Dystanie Flores of the California Department of Insurance focused her presentation on insurance-related scams and consumer protections.

She told attendees that scammers frequently prey on seniors by creating “fear, urgency or confusion.”

“Falling for a scam does not mean someone is unintelligent,” Flores said. “These scams are designed to manipulate emotions and to create panic.”

Flores reviewed common scams involving Medicare fraud, fake insurance policies, investment schemes and fraudulent contractors.

She encouraged attendees to verify insurance licenses, avoid rushed financial decisions and never provide sensitive personal information over unsolicited phone calls.

The California Department of Insurance also provided information about the California Low-Cost Auto Insurance Program, which helps eligible low-income drivers obtain affordable liability insurance coverage.

Rodriguez said the addition of AAA’s driving safety presentation was new this year and helped expand the workshop’s scope.

Community members in attendance at the “Stay Safe, Stay Independent” workshop hosted by Asm. Michelle Rodriguez.

“The AAA coming out this year with the whole car safety with seniors, that’s brand new,” Rodriguez said. “[Garcia] did a great job with the way he kept the crowd involved.”

The event concluded with raffles, resource tables and opportunities for attendees to speak directly with presenters and community organizations.

Rodriguez said she plans to continue hosting the workshop annually as scams and roadway safety concerns continue to evolve for older adults.