Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline, tel. Street crime has increased in Latvia. Pickpockets are known to stake out locations where money is changed, and to target foreigners. Travelers should be especially careful in protecting valuables, particularly in crowds and on public transportation such as trains and buses. Robberies can also occur in parks, on city streets, and in rare cases, in stores during normal business hours.
Auto theft is a persistent and prevalent problem.
Burglaries of apartments and houses are also common. The same precautions taken in an unfamiliar U.S. urban center are useful in Latvia as well. The brochure is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is zero, and speed traps are common.