A work zone involves workers, vehicles, trucks, and equipment that can necessitate lane closures, detours, and moving equipment, and can last from a few days to several years.  While work zone fatalities make up approximately three percent of overall fatalities and two percent of serious injuries, the safe and efficient flow of traffic through work zones is an ongoing priority for Florida’s transportation and traffic safety partners.  The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reminds you to do your job when it comes to Work Zone Safety.

BE ALERT – Expect anything to occur when entering a work zone.

DON’T TAILGATE – Unexpected stops frequently occur in work zones.

DON’T SPEED IN THE WORK ZONE – Note the posted speed limits in and around the work zone.

DON’T CHANGE LANES IN THE WORK ZONE – Any time saved just isn’t worth the risk.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED – Keep an eye out for workers and equipment.

MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS – Avoid changing radio stations and using cell phones while driving in the work zone. Continue reading →

As peak tax season approaches, be aware of any suspicious activity using your personal information.  The IRS has reported incidents of tax fraud from victims.  There are victims reporting that they are attempting to file their taxes and are being rejected as their social security number has already been used by someone to do so.  With on-line methods for banking, shopping, and also a means of bill payment being more popular, it is important to safeguard your personal information.  It’s a good idea to purchase a cross cutting shredder and shred all documents that you no longer need prior to discarding them.

If you are a victim of tax fraud, you will need to file a police report with your local law enforcement agency and then with the IRS providing them with your case number.  The IRS will investigate the fraudulent activity.  It is a good idea to check your credit history periodically through Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion to ensure that you are not an unsuspecting victim. Continue reading →

Lady Lake Police Department

Robert Tempesta, Chief of Police

Stay Alert-Be patient-Stay Alive: Adhere to New Traffic Signage and New Traffic Patterns on U.S. 27/441

As road construction continues along U.S. Hwy 27/441, the Lady Lake Police Department would like to remind all motorists to be aware of the changing traffic patterns.  There will be more pattern changes as the widening project continues so it important that all motorists pay attention when traveling through the construction zone.  A traffic pattern can be as simple as a shift in a lane that you are traveling on or a detour onto a new roadway like in recent months.

Most local motorists are already aware of the new traffic pattern on U.S. Hwy 27/441 near Fennell Blvd.  This pattern will prevent southbound motorists from accessing the bridge.  Southbound motorists will need to travel to the right of the bridge on a newly constructed roadway.  The southbound side of the bridge is in the process of being removed. Continue reading →

With the Holidays coming to an end and the New Year beginning, it is important to remain aware of where your personal information may have ended up, especially if you shop, pay bills or conduct other on-line transactions.  Identity theft is a topic that is critical because once you become victimized, it is difficult to clear your name and credit if it becomes compromised.  Perpetrators will steal data such as social security numbers, date of birth, addresses, and bank account information.  If your information is stolen, you may receive correspondence from companies or creditors for debt you weren’t aware of.

Credit card fraud and other financial scams are one of the most reported uses for identity theft.  Some criminals steal credit card information only to make immediate purchases before the card is reported stolen.  One of the bigger problems a victim may face is if other accounts are opened under their name.  They may see bank or credit card transactions against their account that they did not make.  A victim may also see outstanding debt from different accounts that will be in their name and will be their responsibility to pay or start the process of claiming identity theft.  The process of clearing your name and credit can be costly and take an emotional toll on the victim.  Continue reading →

Driver Awareness Tips

The holidays are a great time for family and friends to create many memories together.  Safety when you leave the house and travel is an obvious concern but please remember, safety begins with you.  Every holiday season, from November 1 through December 31, MADD asks you to display a MADD ribbon in a visible location to remind everyone to always designate a non-drinking driver.  That message is especially important when holiday travel, parties and family gatherings put more people on the roads.  https://www.madd.org/the-solution/drunk-driving/tie-one-on-for-safety

Follow these tips to help ensure we all Arrive Alive this holiday season:

Never drive impaired.  Celebrate responsibly and do not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking or have taken prescribed drugs that cause impairment.  Plan ahead and find a safe way home every time – designate a driver or use a ride service. Continue reading →

November is military family appreciation month.  During this month, families with members of the military, past and present, are honored and recognized for their commitment and contributions in support of our military and nation.  November 11^th is Veteran’s Day.  Thank a member of the military for serving this country. It is important for them to hear your appreciation, but most of all, it’s respectful.

With the holiday season upon us, we should be thankful for the time that we have to spend with our family and friends.  There are families that are separated because a member is away serving our country in the military or worse, they have sacrificed their life for our country.  In reality, freedom is not free.  It is important to reflect that these families have a difficult time coping with their situation.  We should be thankful for those who make sacrifices and also for our families, friends, and the opportunities we have in this country.

November 25^th is Thanksgiving Day.  It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest of the past year.  It is important to spend time with family and friends.  Remember that there are families that are missing members because of their sacrifice both here and abroad. Continue reading →

No matter where in Florida you may live, keeping our children and students safe is a community responsibility.  There are many guidelines put in place to ensure that our students arrive to and from school safely every single day such as designated crosswalks, School Crossing Guards or Community Service Aides, seat belt laws, and so on.  But one law that is absolutely crucial and yet often gets ignored is, “ALWAYS” stopping behind a school bus.

Drivers need to remember that Florida law prohibits passing, in either direction, a school bus that is stopped with its “STOP” sign extended and flashing red lights activated on a two-way street or highway.  If the highway is divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least five feet wide you do not have to stop if you are moving in the opposite direction of the bus.  Anyone caught passing a stopped school bus or speeding in a school zone can expect to get a costly fine – the Lady Lake Police Department simply will not tolerate violations that could harm a child.  We also take into account which side of the bus you chose when violating the law.  While neither side is necessarily “safer,” the amount of danger to kids sharply increases if you pass the bus on the right-hand side, as this is the side that the children use to step off of the bus, and therefore are more likely to be struck by your car. Continue reading →

The Villages Elementary School of Lady Lake will re-open and welcome schoolchildren on August 10, 2021. The Lady Lake Police Dept. would like to remind all drivers to remain alert and use extra caution around school buses and school zones. The penalties for failure to stop for a school bus in Florida is a minimum of $200 and if there’s a second offense committed in 5 years, the license will be suspended for up to 1 year. Some tips for motorists to remember when driving near and around schools, school zones and school buses:

• Pay extra attention to the lowered speed limits in school zones
• Watch and obey signals from traffic control officers assisting motorists and pedestrians around school zones
• Load and unload children in designated loading/unloading areas
• Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk
• NEVER pass a school bus from behind if it is stopped to load or unload children. Stop far enough back (at least 10 feet) to allow children space to safely enter and exit the bus.
• Be extra cautious around bicyclists as children tend to be unpredictable and turn without looking or signaling
• Put away the phone, don’t get distracted, and be extra vigilant

Lady Lake Police officers will be patrolling the school zones and bus stop areas in the Town of Lady Lake to enforce compliance with the rules of the road and to ensure the safety of the children.

A four-way stop is any intersection with a stop sign in each direction, a flashing red light in each direction, or an inoperable traffic light.  Traffic lights that are not working should be treated as a four-way stop sign.  Four-way stops are usually, but not always, labeled as such, having a rectangular sign below the octagonal shape which reads something to the effect of, “4-Way Stop,” “Four-Way Stop,” or “All-Way Stop.”

• Each driver arriving at a four-way stop must first come to a complete stop, then one driver proceeds at a time.
• If turning, as you approach a four-way stop, use your turn signal about one hundred feet prior to reaching the stop sign. The four-way stop is one of the most crucial places for using your turn signal compared to almost any other driving situation.
• Four-way stops always operate in a clockwise direction. So, the car furthest to the right always has the right of way, and then cars take their turns in a clockwise direction.
• If multiple cars approach a four-way stop at about the same time, the driver who comes to a complete stop first proceeds first.
• If two or more cars arrive at a four-way stop simultaneously, the driver furthest to the right always proceeds first, and each next driver in the clockwise direction follows.
• If four cars arrive at a four-way stop simultaneously, drivers going straight should proceed first. If all four are turning right, they may all proceed simultaneously. These aside, there is no distinguishable way to see who should go first, so the intersection is at a standstill until one driver gets up the nerve and begins to inch forward, alerting the other drivers of his or her intentions, and proceeds through the intersection (thus starting the clockwise rotation from that driver).
• If two cars opposite each other are proceeding straight, both turning right, or one proceeding straight with the other turning right, they may go at the same time. The turn then goes to the adjacent cars at the stop, who may follow the same rule if applicable.

Continue reading →

Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be a distraction.  There is no doubt that the improvement of technology in today’s society has greatly benefited our society as a whole.  But, sending a text message, talking on a cell phone or using a navigation system creates hazardous road conditions.  These and any other distractions, such as tending to kids or passengers in the back seat, eating, watching an event outside of the vehicle, interacting with passengers, unsecured pets, putting on makeup or grooming, adjusting radio or climate controls, checking your GPS app or daydreaming.  These distractions can endanger you, your passengers, and others on the road.

There are three main types of distraction:

• Visual-taking your eyes off the road,
• Manual-taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive- taking your mind off driving.

Texting while driving has been proven dangerous beyond dispute due to the fact that it requires all three distractions at once to complete. Taking one’s eyes off the road for the average 5-6 second text, is enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 MPH. Continue reading →