BEWARE OF STRANGERS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD !!!

• Door-to-Door salesmen
• Children or teenagers loitering in your neighborhood during school hours
• Strangers going door-to-door looking for odd jobs or offering "free estimates"
• Strangers loading furniture, TVs or appliances into pick-up trucks, vans, or cars
• People representing themselves as: Servicemen (i.e. telephone men, utility employees), City, County, State or Federal employees (i.e. tax assessors, police officers)
• Strangers knocking on your door asking for "Joe Smith, " or "Does a girl named Karen live here?" Etc.
• Ask for identification

WATCH FOR SUSPICIOUS CARS ON YOUR STREET

• Vehicles in the neighborhood that don’t belong there
• Vehicles cruising through the neighborhood
• Abandoned vehicles
• Unfamiliar vehicles parked in neighbor’s driveway while he is away

BE ON THE ALERT FOR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY OCCURRING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

• Dogs barking
• Broken glass or the sound of breaking glass at your neighbor’s home while he is away
• Open doors or windows at your neighbor’s home while he is away
• Lighting irregularities in your neighborhood: (Unexplained changes in lighting or position of drapes in neighbor’s home while he is away)

DO NOT HESITATE TO REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE POLICE!

• Do not take things into your own hands
• Call your police department
• Provide the police with as much information as you can:

1. Description of suspicious person/persons: Height, weight, age, race, build, color of hair, appearance, distinguishing marks or characteristics
2. Location at the time of the call as well as direction of travel
3. Make, model, and color of vehicles, license number

Over the past year some residents have expressed concerns about unsafe motor vehicle operation in our neighborhood. The primary concern continues to be the failure of drivers to adhere to the posted speed limit of 25 mph. We continue to address this problem in coordination with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. 

In order to minimize the dangers of speeding and other unsafe practices, we ask all residents to obey the following,

• Follow the speed limit
• Come to a complete stop at stop signs
• Share the roadways with walkers, joggers, and bicyclists. 
• Driving cautiously at all times. 

Questions have also arisen as to the laws regarding operation of golf carts, motorized scooters, and dirt bikes on our neighborhood streets. While there have been many recent changes to these laws, the Sheriff's Office has provided the following information as a guideline for operation of these types of vehicles. 

GOLF CARTS 

Golf carts no longer require a license plate. However, they must be operated by a licensed driver. They may be operated in the daytime only, unless equipped as required by law with all emergency equipment, including headlights, taillights, and turn signals. They require operation in accordance with other motor vehicle laws. Golf carts may be driven in our neighborhood, but they may not be driven on Columbia or Flowing Wells Roads. 

MOTORIZED SCOOTERS 

Motorized scooters, sometimes referred to as go-peds, are also permitted to operate on our neighborhood streets, but may not be driven on Columbia or Flowing Wells Roads. They are to be operated according to the same rules that govern bicycle use, including use of a helmet and moving with traffic. Lights are required for nighttime operation. 

DIRT BIKES 

Dirt bikes are not permitted on our neighborhood streets. Although dirt bikes are classified like motorcycles, because they are designed for off road use, they do not require a licensed driver and are not governed by some of the other requirements for motorcycle operation. 

Residents with questions or concerns about motor vehicles operating in our neighborhood are asked to call the Columbia County Sheriff's Office at 541-2800.

All residents should be aware that the Martinez Volunteer Fire Department fee for fire protection is now included in your homeowner taxes. For any further questions you can call the Martinez Fire Department (863-7745) .