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The world is a dangerous place, not becuase of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. - Albert Einstein
Purpose
To provide input to the HOA and CDD Board of Directors on behalf of the homeowners on all areas that concern safety. The Safety Committee communicates with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Department, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Pasco County Commissioners our safety concerns. We maintain a list of important numbers to the residents so that they will have access to the different Government Agencies.
The Safety Committee also works with Progressive Energy to insure that our street lights are working properly.
Neighborhood Watch Program
The Ballantrae Safety Committee is in the process of establishing an official Neighborhood Watch Program. A Pasco County Crime Prevention Specialist will be presenting the two types of crime prevention programs available to our community on Monday, May 21st at 7pm in the Ballantrae Clubhouse. The Neighborhood Watch Program is a simple and direct approach toward protecting our community from criminal activities.
The Neighborhood Watch Program is designed to work through the commitment of the community as a whole. This is a valuable resource for homeowners to be able to work together to keep our neighborhood a safe place to live, while creating a great sense of community involvement.
Blocks can work together on issues such as crime prevention, suspicious people or vehicles, abandoned vehicles, animal control, noise ordinances and other issues facing the community. They will be able to resolve these issues by contacting the appropriate authorities through the Safety Committee.
Hopefully we will be able to set up Block Captains after we gather all the information for our Neighborhood Watch Program.
In the event of an emergency, always dial 911 first. When time permits, contact a Safety Committee Member if the nature of the incident is of importance to the community as a whole.
Community Child Watch Program
The Ballantrae Safety Committee is in the process of establishing an official Community Child Watch Program. We will be inviting the Pasco County Crime Prevention Specialist to present the Community Child Watch Program during the summer of 2007. The Safety Committee will enlist concerned citizens to participate in watching out for children in neighborhoods, especially on their way to and from school. Participants are provided with a sign for the front window of their homes to identify their residence as a place where a child may request assistance if they feel threatened.
The Community Child Watch and Save-A-Kid programs complement each other and are both stressed in a 12 page booklet provided each year to the elementary students in all Pasco County Schools.
In the event of an emergency, always dial 911 first. When time permits, contact a Safety Committee Member if the nature of the incident is of importance to the community as a whole.
Basic facts about auto theft
One in five stolen vehicles is left unlocked with the keys in the ignition. When leaving your car, close the windows, lock the doors and take your keys with you. Over half of all vehicle thefts occur in residential neighborhoods. If you have a garage, use it! Lock the vehicle and the garage door. If you don't have a garage, lock the car and turn the wheels to the left or right. This makes a thief's job harder. More than two-thirds of total thefts occur after dark. Park in well-lighted areas. If you park in an attended lot or garage, leave only the ignition key with the attendant and do not tell the attendant how long you will be gone. One of every five larcenies involves the theft of motor vehicle accessories. Consider investing in an alarm system rather than expensive options. Professional car thieves can strip your vehicle completely within minutes. Engrave your driver license number in a remote location on the radio and accessories, as well as the fenders and doors. If a theft occurs, your driver license number will make identification recovery and prosecution more likely. The longer it takes to steal a car, the more likely a thief will look elsewhere. Automobile manufacturers regularly improve the anti-theft equipment they install in vehicles. You may want to consider an anti-theft bar that attaches to your steering wheel, an alarm system or other equipment that will slow down a thief and better protect your vehicle.
Burglary Prevention for the Homeowner
- When you leave home, even for a few minutes, make sure that all doors and windows are locked. Make sure all locks on doors and windows are in working order. Dead bolt door locks are recommended and should, when in the locked position, slide into the door jam a minimum of one inch.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked, whether you are home or not. An open garage provides a burglar with all the tools he will need to break into your home.
- Keep a list and photos or a video of your possessions, including the model and serial number, description and value.
- Observe carefully and report all suspicious persons and vehicles. Be sure to get the correct license numbers of suspect vehicles.
- Report any crime to the Sheriff's Office at once and be willing to testify in court.
- Cooperate with officers investigating an offense in your neighborhood.
- Keep valuable stamp, jewelry and coin collections in a safe deposit box rather than at home.
- Trim your shrubbery around doors and windows so it will not provide a hiding place for burglars or cover a point-of-entry view for police or neighbors.
- Keep all your vehicles locked and do not leave property in your vehicle.
- Do not leave property unattended in your yard, including lawn mowers, garden tools, and bicycles.
- Be cautious of strangers. A burglar rarely looks like a burglar. When in doubt, call the Sheriff's Office.
- When you are out in the yard, lock the doors. Daylight burglaries while people are at home are common.
- Never admit anyone into your home unless you know them. Demand credentials before admitting salesmen or repairmen, particularly if you have not requested their services. refuse to deal with any caller who does not present proper ID and notify the Sheriff's Office immediately.
- Never leave notes on your door informing anyone you are not home. Do not hide your keys outside of your home. Burglars know where to look.
- When you leave town, arrange for someone to mow your yard and pick up your mail and newspapers. If possible, set timers to switch the lights on and off at predetermined times and locations within the house. A residence that presents a lived-in appearance is a deterrent to burglars. Leave information on your whereabouts with a trusted neighbor. Ask them to watch your house.
- Be sure all gates are securely locked.
Staying Street Smart
Personal safety is an issue that concerns everyone. To help you take charge of your own safety in the mall and in parking areas, consider the following safety tips. And remember, immediately report any suspicious people and/or situations to mall Security Officers.
As You Shop
Walk confidently and be alert
Keep shopping bags in your sight at all times
Don't burden yourself with too many bags or packages
Don't display large sums of cash
Use checks or credit cards whenever possible
Never leave your credit card on a store counter
Carry your handbag or purse close to your body with the clasp or flap toward you
Never leave your purse on a store counter, on the floor, in a restroom or in a dressing room
Don't carry your wallet in your back pocket
Shop with friends whenever possible
Report suspicious people or situations to mall security
In Parking Areas
Know where you parked your vehicle
Never park in an isolated area
Park in a well-lit area as close to the mall as possible
Never leave valuable packages in your vehicle
If necessary, store packages in the trunk
Know your vehicle's license plate number
When leaving your vehicle, make sure all doors are locked and windows closed
Have keys ready when returning to your vehicle
Only leave your ignition key with a valet parking attendant
When walking to or from your vehicle, avoid dark areas where criminals might hide
If you have car trouble, remain in your car and use a cell phone to call for assistance, or return to the mall and notify security
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Key Contact Numbers
Emergency (accident, fire, crime): 911
Non-Emergency
- Pasco County Sheriff - Land O Lakes Substation (800) 854.2862 x1225
- Pasco County Sheriff - Headquarters (727) 847.5878
- Florida Highway Patrol (727) 841.4181
- Crime Tip Hotline (Anonymous) (800) 706.2488
- Tampa Crime Stoppers (800) 873.TIPS
- Animal Control (813) 929.1212
- Pasco County Commissioners Office (813) 996.7341
- Pasco County Emergency Management (Disaster Preparedness, Hurricane Safety, etc)
- National Crime Prevention Council
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Ballantrae Safety Committee
- Committee Members:
- We are currently looking for volunteers to fill the position of Safety Committee Chairperson and committee members. Please contact your Ballantrae HOA President if you are interested in helping out. Thank you.
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SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
It has come to attention of the Safety Committee that MANY people are NOT stopping for school buses as required by Florida Law Section 316.72 within the subdivision. In essence vehicles traveling in either direction (Northbound or Southbound) on Ballantrae Blvd MUST stop for a school bus with its RED LIGHTS flashing and the stop signs displayed. Vehicles must remain stopped until the bus driver turns these devices off. and retracts the stop arms. Have a little courtesy and give the bus drivers the right of way. These are OUR children on board these buses. Below is the Florida statue as quoted from the Florida Highway Patrol.
Section 316.172, Florida Statutes, states:
"(1)(a) Any person using, operating, or driving a vehicle on or over the roads or highways of this state shall, upon approaching any school bus which displays a stop signal, bring such vehicle to a full stop while the bus is stopped, and the vehicle shall not pass the school bus until the signal has been withdrawn. A person who violates this section commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318.
(b) Any person using, operating, or driving a vehicle that passes a school bus on the side that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop signal commits a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318, and is subject to a mandatory hearing under the provisions of s. 318.19.
(2) The driver of a vehicle upon a divided highway with an unpaved space of at least 5 feet, a raised median, or a physical barrier is not required to stop when traveling in the opposite direction of a school bus which is stopped in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(3) Every school bus shall stop as far to the right of the street as possible and shall display warning lights and stop signals as required by rules of the State Board of Education before discharging or loading passengers. When possible, a school bus shall not stop where the visibility is obscured for a distance of 200 feet either way from the bus."
O. K., now you know what the law says, but what does this mean in non-statute language? It is really very simple.
(1) If you are going the same way as a school bus that is flashing red lights and has the stop arm extended, you must stop behind the bus and cannot move until the bus retracts the stop arm and turns off the flashing red lights.
(2) If you are going the opposite way as a school bus that is flashing red lights and has the stop arm extended, you must stop in front of the bus and cannot move until the bus retracts the stop arm and turns off the flashing red lights -- UNLESS:
(A) you are on a divided highway and the one-way roadways are separated by an unpaved space at least five feet in width, or
(B) you are on a divided highway and the one-way roadways are separated by a physical barrier.
In short, you must stop for a school bus that is flashing red lights and has the stop arm extended -- unless (1) you are going the opposite direction, (2) you are on a divided highway, and (3) the divided highway has either a five-foot unpaved space or a physical barrier separating the roadways. If all three of the above are present, you should continue driving at a legal speed, but with an increased awareness that school-aged children are in the vicinity.
All vehicles on Ballantrae Blvd MUST stop in both directions for school buses. None of the above conditions allow you to proceeed through the bus' stop arms.
THINK SAFETY AND USE THE ULTIMATE AMOUNT OF CAUTION NEAR A SCHOOL BUS
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