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Red Light Running

The state of Florida and the City of Winter Park consider red light runners a dangerous problem and are taking steps to curb this activity. At the end of 2005, 3,432 family members and friends died in traffic accidents in Florida, unfortunately setting a new record. Traffic deaths have steadily increased in this state throughout the past years according to the Florida Highway Patrol and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Factors including the rising number of drivers and an increase in aggressive driving are to blame. As an incentive to stop red light runners, Winter Park officers will be actively enforcing the law throughout the city. The fine for running a red light anywhere in Orange County is $180.50. Hopefully we can make a difference together by voluntary compliance on your part and enforcement of those who choose not to comply with the law.

MY MED-ID INFORMATION POUCHES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE WINTER PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Winter Park Police department has recently begun distributing “my Med-ID” information pouches to City residents who are advanced in age or who have chronic medical conditions.

The purpose of these forms is to provide a quick and easily accessible method for First Responders to access important medical information upon their arrival to a scene. This is specifically focused on the elderly population as it was designed and developed by the Seminole County Senior Triad with the cooperation of the Seminole County Emergency Medical Services and Dr. Todd Husty.

My Med-ID consists of an informational card that a person fills out that contains pertinent medical information including Blood type, Insurance information and known medical conditions as well as emergency contact information and administrative information regarding the existence of a Living Will, Do Not Resuscitate orders and a Primary Doctors name and current medication. This card is then placed in the supplied brightly colored magnetic pouch and placed promiscuously in the home.

Additional information cards are available on the department’s Web Site (click here for additional forms), thus allowing the user or their designee to print out the card as often as required as the information changes. If the user does not have access to a computer, additional “blank” information cards will be distributed from the Lobby of the police department.

Because people advanced in age often have reduced coordination and motor skills which often makes it difficult to fill out information in the small spaces, the information card was designed to be “elder friendly” by providing easy to read and large space for the entering of information.

The information card was designed to ensure that as much pertinent information is available to assist the First Responders while “on scene”. Also, the “my MED-ID” form is a one-sided form thus affording the user to add any additional information on the opposite side that they would deem important for a First Responder to know. The information card for “my MED-ID” is a standard size of 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches which means that it is easily reproduced and copied thereby allowing duplicate forms to also be carried in a wallet or purse and the glove box of an automobile.

If you or any resident you know are interested obtaining one of these useful information pouches they are available for pick up in the Police Department's lobby. If you have any other questions, please contact the Community Policing Unit at (407) 599-3311.

Roof Inspection Scam

Recently the Police Department has received several calls regarding people posing as roof inspectors for the City of Winter Park. They are telling residents that they need to inspect roofs before the hurricane season to ensure they are strong enough to weather a storm. This is a scam. No companies have been authorized by the City of Winter Park to inspect roofs. The city has its own employees who are inspectors. They will only come out if requested by a homeowner. If anyone approaches you or your neighbors claiming an affiliation with the City of Winter Park regarding a roof inspection please get a detailed description and call 407.644.1313.

What is Enhanced 911?

The Enhanced 911 System (E911) is a support technology for cellular and mobile phone users who dial 911, requesting help in an emergency. Since cellular users are often mobile, some sort of enhancement was needed to 911 service that would allow for the location of the caller to be known to the public safety answering point (PSAP), i.e.. the Emergency Communications Center. This program was mandated by the FCC so that emergency services could be able to determine the location of the cellular caller if the caller is unable to speak or if the call is suddenly disconnected.

E911 was implemented in two phases. Phase I (which began in 1996) required that when a cellular customer made a 911 call, the PSAP would get the telephone number calling and the location of the cell tower receiving the call, within a mile. While this was a step in the right direction, it still made it difficult to find the location of the caller in an emergency situation. Phase II of the program requires that more precise information about the caller's location, within 150 - 1000 feet in most cases, be provided. This phase of the program began in late 2001 and was to be in place by the end of 2005.

The City of Winter Park's Emergency Communications Section is has been fully compliant with the Phase II requirements since 2004.

If you have any questions regarding your current cellular phone and it's compatibility with the Phase II system, please contact your cellular service provider.

PROJECT CHILDSAFE

Project ChildSafe is a nationwide firearm safety program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation that receives major funding through a United States Department of Justice grant. The Winter Park Police Department is participating in this program by making available free gun locks to residents. We would like to encourage residents to securely store their firearm in order to prevent a tragedy. These are available on a first come, first served basis. To obtain a free gun lock just stop by the Winter Park Police Department located at 500 N. Virginia Av.