SECURITY BREACH!
5 STRATEGIES TO PROTECT YOUR BUILDING According to the FBI, a burglary occurs every 20 seconds. We tend to focus on protecting our homes from invasion, but in 2016, over 460,000 nonresidential buildings were burglarized. And, after one successful break-in, your building is more likely to be targeted again. Here are a few crucial strategies to improve the security of your building. SMILE FOR THE CAMERA. Let’s start with the basics: If you don’t already have CCTV surveillance, install a system right away. Position these cameras in common areas with good lighting, and make sure they’re visible. The sight of security cameras may deter criminals from making your building a target. Some property managers try to cut corners by using fake cameras to scare off criminals, but this can backfire in the event of a break-in. Use real cameras and service them regularly so you can review the tapes whenever you need to. DON’T NEGLECT YOUR LANDSCAPING. Never let overgrowth overtake your property. Criminals view unkempt trees, bushes, and grass as a sign that you’ve been neglecting your property. This implies you may be neglecting other areas, too — your security system, for example. LET THERE BE LIGHT. Unless you have Batman patrolling your city streets at night, nighttime is when criminals are most likely
to strike. Install motion detector floodlights in prime areas around your building, including entrances, exits, gates, garages, in your landscaping, and near ground-level windows. A sudden burst of light can scare off would-be intruders and potentially alert anyone nearby of trouble. INVEST IN PARKING SECURITY. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 11% of property crimes and more than 7% of violent attacks occur in parking facilities. If your building has a parking facility, make sure this area has ample security. DETERMINE WHO’S IN CHARGE. When reviewing building security, it’s important to determine who is responsible for keeping security up to date. Should the building owner or property manager maintain security, or does it fall to the tenants? Answer this question and make sure the person responsible is following all agreed-upon security protocols. There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for security. Depending on the nature of a business or building, you will have specific security needs. You should periodically assess potential risks, make sure your building’s needs are met, and make repairs as needed.
Passing a School Bus?
KNOW THE LAW
WHEN TO STOP Under Georgia law, it is illegal to meet or overtake a school bus while it is picking up or dropping off passengers. The vehicle will signal when students are boarding or leaving the bus by using flashing lights and/or a fold-out sign. When this occurs on one- or two-lane roadways, cars moving in either direction must stop. The only exception to this is if a median separates the bus from oncoming traffic. If this barrier is present, cars driving in the opposite direction do not need to stop. THE CONSEQUENCES Forgetting school-bus-passing laws or failing to notice when a bus is stopping for passengers is a costly mistake. Additionally, more and more buses are armed with cameras these days, making disputing these charges an uphill battle. If accused, you’ll face a mandatory court appearance
and fines up to $1,000, and you’ll have as many as six points added to your driving record. If you have a previous violation, this could easily cost you your license. More importantly than this loss of time, money, and personal liberty, this mistake could cost a student their life. WHY THESE LAWS EXIST Stopping for a vehicle on the opposite side of the road from you may feel like a major inconvenience, but children’s lives are at stake. Small, unpredictable, and fast, young students may carelessly sprint out from the opposite side of the bus, giving you little time to stop. Compared to the legal, social, and emotional consequences of hitting a child with your car, taking the time to stop is more than worth it.
Students across Georgia are heading back to class this month, which means it’s time for drivers to study up on rules regarding school buses. Unlike most other automobiles, there are special laws regarding when you can pass these yellow vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most passing violations are committed by those who simply aren’t aware of the law. So, here’s a refresher to keep you, your license, and your students safe.
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