Traffic Enforcement
Seven motorcycle officers are assigned the responsibility of enforcing traffic law violations at high volume traffic crash locations and school zones. They also respond daily to traffic complaint locations called in by citizens. These officers have the primary responsibility for follow-up investigations of all hit and run traffic crashes reported. One investigator is assigned the preparation and presentation of DUI cases and maintaining the certifications of all technical/traffic related equipment. Two officers are a part of the Florida Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Grant that targets aggressive driving enforcement. Most of the above officers are specially trained in traffic crash investigation and reconstruction. These officers investigate all fatal traffic crashes and serious injury crashes. The Traffic Enforcement Unit is currently staffed by one sergeant and twelve officers.
S.A.F.E.
The S.A.F.E. Program (Stay Alive From Education) is a dynamic program designed to change teens/young adults attitudes and behavior. This reality based program assists teens/young adults to make rational decisions concerning their safety and well-being. This program seeks to reduce traffic crashes that result in injuries and fatalities, providing them the opportunity to become responsible and healthy adults.
The S.A.F.E program increases student's understanding of the reality of trauma incidents. It makes students aware of how trauma is caused by driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and makes them aware of the importance of wearing seat belts. S.A.F.E. is a one-hour program given to a class of 30-50 students, ages fifteen and up, in a classroom setting. Classes are taught to the students on their level, a young adult level. It excludes preaching/lecturing and instead allows them to draw their own conclusions and make rational decisions concerning their safety and well-being. From demonstrations which employ fundamental on-scene situations that paramedics and police officers encounter. S.A.F.E. differs from other programs in that we utilize less lecture and more practical hands-on techniques, concentrating on the student's ability to comprehend the implication of their own actions, while giving them the opportunity to participate in the program.
For more information on S.A.F.E., please contact Sergeant Gauding, (850) 891-4266 or visit the web site at www.safeprogram.com.
55 Alive / Mature Driving Program
The Tallahassee Police Department teamed up with A.A.R.P. (American Association of Retired Persons) to sponsor and teach the 55 ALIVE/Mature Driving Program. 55 ALIVE/Mature Driving is an eight-hour classroom refresher course for motorists aged 50 and over who have years of driving experience.
The course reminds you of driving skills and techniques that you had once learned but perhaps fail to use regularly. The course also provides new approaches and concepts, including compensating for normal age-related physical changes that may affect your driving ability.
55 ALIVE/Mature Driving is the first and most recognized comprehensive nationwide course designed especially for the older driver. It takes into consideration the physical changes of the maturing driver and identifies ways the older driver may compensate for those changes. Course material is based on information gained through research to determine what is needed by this age group to update driver knowledge and skills. Most importantly, the curriculum provides opportunities for the participants to identify individual problem areas and apply information that is needed to improve their behavior as drivers.
Classes are held each month at the Police Department and other locations throughout the city. For more information on 55 ALIVE/Mature Driving Program, please contact Sergeant Steve Gauding, (850) 891-4266 or Office Manager Terri Chick, (850) 891-4261.
Child Safety Seat Inspection/Installation
Despite numerous campaigns to promote the use of safety belts and car seats and child occupant protection laws in every state, motor vehicle crashes continue to kill and seriously injure children at an alarming rate. Each year, approximately 1,800 children ages 14 and under are killed as occupants in motor vehicles and more than 280,000 are injured.
Child safety seats, when correctly installed and used, are extremely effective in saving children's lives, reducing the risk of death by as much as 71 percent for infants. However, they are complicated to install and use, making mistakes extremely common. In fact, studies have found that as many as four out of five child safety seats are installed or used incorrectly.
Quality of life has always been and continues to be an important issue with the Tallahassee Police Department. Parents strap their children into car seats, unaware that mistakes in the seat's installation put their babies in danger. For these reasons the Tallahassee Police Department's traffic unit has certified all its officers and several others within the Department as Child Safety Seat Technicians. Each Wednesday at 10am. the traffic unit offers courtesy child safety seat checks by appointment. The Traffic Unit also conducts large-scale child safety seat checkpoints at different locations in the city several times throughout the year.
For further information on this program please contact Sergeant Steve Gauding, (850) 891-4266, Investigator Joe Giangrosso, (850) 891-4243 or Terri Chick, (850) 891-4261.
Taxi Administration
The Taxi Administrator oversees the operation of vehicles for hire franchises (Taxis) for the City of Tallahassee. The administrator inspects and issues operating permits for all taxis and reviews corporate and franchise and insurance information. The administrator also ensures that drivers receive the appropriate permits to operate vehicles for hire.
In addition to handling the administrative aspects of vehicles for hire, the administrator also investigates inquiries and complaints concerning taxi-related incidents.
Concerns, inquiries, complaints, etc. regarding taxi operations in the City of Tallahassee can be addressed to the Taxi Administrator via phone at (850) 891-4261.