Neighborhood Watch South Pasadena | Back-to-School Safety Tips, Cellphone Driving Laws & Counterfeit Check Scam Alert | The South Pasadenan | #schoolsaftey #kids #parents #children

Media Release | South Pasadena Police Department

Back to School Safety

Schools will start soon and children will be excited to see classmates and new teachers. However, parents won’t be excited to see traffic congestion around the schools.

Here are some safety tips to remember:

• Parents and students should avoid being on cellphones around school zones.

• Do NOT double-park to drop-off/pick-up your children.

• Remember, it is illegal and unsafe to make a “U-turn” in a school zone.

• Obey crossing guards and all traffic laws.

• Remind children to cross streets at designated crosswalks and not to “jaywalk.”

• Follow the school’s drop-off/pick-up procedures.

• Remember, the speed limit in school zones is 25 mph.

• Be sure children wear helmets if they are riding bicycles.

• Be sure your children know how to contact you in an emergency.

• Consider taking a photo of your child each morning so you always have a current photo and clothing record for the day.

• Know where the nearest “Emergency Call Boxes” are located on your route to and from school. These boxes have a blue light on top of a red pole and connect directly to the police department.

Cellphones While Driving

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents each year. Driving while holding a cellphone, whether talking or texting, has been one of the top citations each year in the city.

California Vehicle Code 23123.5 specifies that it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle while holding a cellphone. If using the cellphone, it must be mounted on the windshield, dashboard, or center console and cannot obstruct the driver’s view of the road. The hands-free operation must be a single swipe or a tap of the driver’s finger.

Additionally, it is illegal to text even if the cellphone is properly mounted. Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using cellphones, including hands-free devices, while driving.

Should you need to text or enter a phone number, pull over to a safe location.

The Crime Prevention Unit Offers These FREE Services

• Engravers to mark your property – “Community Opportunity for Property Security (COPS) Program.”

• Home Inspection Surveys.

• Email alerts of crime bulletins and weekly crime summary.

If you would like to start a Neighborhood Watch Group or receive future copies of this newsletter, please contact the Crime Prevention Unit.

Check Scam

We continue to see the “Counterfeit Check Scam” occurring. While there have been slight variations in this scam over the years, the instrument used is always the same—a counterfeit check.

Before payment apps like Zelle and Venmo, buyers would send checks for items. The seller would ship the item upon receiving the check, only to discover the check was fraudulent.

Other times, the suspect would write the amount on the check over the agreed price and tell the victim it was a mistake, asking for a refund of the excess amount. The victim later discovers the check is counterfeit.

The new variant is where the victim responds to an online job announcement, and the suspect sends them a check. The suspect instructs the victim to deposit it into their account, withdraw part of the funds, and purchase gift cards or items, or transfer funds to a third party. Days later, the victim learns the check is counterfeit.

Be cautious if you receive a check over the agreed price, and always ensure checks clear the bank before proceeding with any transactions.

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This newsletter is a publication by the South Pasadena Police Department, Crime Prevention Unit. Officer Richard Lee
South Pasadena Police Department, 1422 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030 626-403-7270
Chief of Police – Brian Solinsky