May 1, 2023 is National Heatstroke Prevention Day.  With summer upon us, it is important to prepare for the heat that the Florida sun provides us.  The state of Florida has the second highest total number of heat related vehicle deaths of children with 102 based on statistics from 1998-2022.  More than half of vehicular heatstroke cases were because an adult forgot about a child, according to NoHeatstroke.org.  Additionally, every year pets suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them unattended in a parked vehicle to “run in for just a minute” at the local store.  The Lady Lake Police Department is committed to informing and educating parents and pet owners on the dangers of leaving children and pets unattended in a vehicle and taking precautions to help prevent these tragic situations.  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.  A lot can happen during that distance that creates a hazardous condition on the roadway.  Continue reading →

March 20-26, 2023 is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week.  Addiction can happen to any person regardless of age.  It usually starts when a person is young.  According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is the result of changes in the brain that can come from substance abuse.  Addictions affect how people think and what they do.  There are no specific “type” of person who becomes addicted.  People can face addiction regardless of where they are from, or their social status.

Though this may be a difficult topic to discuss with a family member or friend, it is important to have this discussion as it may save a person from problems in the future that can include arrest, loss of employment, or even death.  Teens are especially vulnerable due to peer pressure from friends who may experiment with drugs and alcohol.  One important sign of addiction is that a person continues to use drugs even though it’s harming their life: physical health, performance at school or work, or relationships. They feel like they can’t stop using drugs, no matter what happens. Continue reading →

Scams and fraud tactics are part of our society.  With advanced technology, predators can easily commit crimes from the comfort of their home or “workplace.”  The Police Department receives complaints about scams frequently.  Here are a few that are noteworthy and are driven on emotion or fear.  Think before you react!  Do not give out personal information, make any wire transfer or purchase gift cards.

• The IRS called requesting personal information or threatening arrest for a payment of owed taxes. The IRS will not call you and request you make payments using gift cards or wire transfers.
• Another financial scam people report is their bank or other financial institution calling “alerting” that their account has been hacked and they need your information to stop a transaction from happening. If it’s truly your bank calling, they will have all of your information, right?  Hang up and call your bank to verify if you need to.
• The “Grandparent” scam is still prevalent in this area. You may receive a call from your “grandchild” who is trouble and is afraid to call their parent.  A request for a wire transfer or gift card will be made for bond.  Call your son/daughter to verify where your grandchild is.
• If you receive a call from a person who allegedly works for Microsoft or any anti-virus company indicating that there is a problem with your computer, they are looking to access your computer remotely. They want you to give them permission to access your computer to “fix” the problem.  This person will have access to all of your information and any saved banking and/or credit card information.  If you are on the internet and a message pops up indicating you have a virus and need to call Microsoft or an anti-virus software company, do not call them.  They are attempting the same scam.

Continue reading →

With the New Year upon us, many people, including me, are happy to say good riddance to 2020!  Moving forward, the Lady Lake Police Department would like to remind you to check around your home to ensure that all alarms, monitors, and detectors are in good working condition.  These include your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.  It’s a good idea to change the batteries in these detectors every year.  You may want to have them replaced if you have not done so within the past 10 years.

It should come as no surprise that carbon monoxide deaths are the highest in winter.  Cold weather increases the use of gas-powered heating or portable heaters using a fuel source.  Homeowners should be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, especially those that use natural gas as a heat and cooking source.  These symptoms include feeling dizzy, light headed, and/or nauseated.

It’s a good time to remember the following safety tips to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.  Here are some tips from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

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 January 1, 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.
• Check your tires. Tires are a vehicle’s first line of defense on the road.  Check your tire pressure, tread depth and spare tire especially before long trips.  Do not over load your vehicle, it can result in premature wear and tire blowouts.
• Buckle up. A seat belt is your vehicle’s most important safety feature.  Florida law requires that all drivers, all front seat passengers and all passengers under the age of 18 wear seat belts or the appropriate child restraints.  Seat belts save lives, so buckle up every trip, every time.
• Register or update your Emergency Contact Information (ECI). ECI is a secure system allowing law enforcement, nationwide, to contact designated family or friends in response to an emergency situation.
• Observe and obey all speed limits. Speed limits may change as you drive through different types of roadways, so make sure you adjust your speed accordingly.  In Florida, the limit will never be over 70 mph.

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 24^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 →

Walking is a part of many of our trips each day, and for some it is their primary mode of transportation.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, October is Pedestrian Safety Month.  The goal is to increase awareness around pedestrian safety and remind drivers to watch for pedestrians every time they are behind the wheel.  There are many residential neighborhoods, shopping plazas, and other areas where pedestrians become drivers and vice versa. Here are a few tips as a reminder of how you can remain safe and keep others safe as well.

Everyone Is a Pedestrian

At some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian.  Whether it’s walking to your car, walking to the office, or walking for exercise.  Everyone deserves to get to their destination safely.

To do this, drivers must:

Look for pedestrians.  Children and teens can be less predictable and run out into the roadway without looking.  Be especially careful around schools, residential neighborhoods, and near parks and playgrounds.  Buckle up, watch the posted speed limits, focus on the driving task, and drive sober.  Lives depend on it. Continue reading →

Students have returned to school in the tri-county area.  Your child’s safety is our number one priority. Please take a few moments to review back-to-school safety with your child.

Walking To School

If your child walks to school, make sure there are sidewalks along the way.  If you are not able to walk with your child, remember there is safety in numbers so have your child walk with siblings or other neighborhood children.  Being hit by a car is by far the greatest threat to any child walking to school.  Make sure your kids stay on the sidewalk and only cross at crosswalks.  Remember to remind your children to never, ever stop to talk to strangers on the way to and from school and, most importantly, never to get into any vehicle with a stranger.  These could potentially be life threatening situations.

Bicycle Safety

Children peddling to school on bicycles must wear bike helmets – it’s the law.  Helmets are the single most effective devices for cyclists, greatly reducing the risk of death or critical injury.  Your children should ride their bicycles on the right side of the road and obey stop signs and traffic signals. Continue reading →

Carbon Monoxide Safety- Keys to prevent a hazardous condition

Carbon Monoxide is called the invisible killer.  It is a colorless and odorless gas often striking victims catching them off guard or while sleeping.  It is poisonous and can cause headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness.  In severe cases, exposure to this gas can cause neurological damage, mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular coordination, loss of consciousness, and death. Continue reading →