| NEWS! The SCMPD HEAT Unit was named the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety Law Enforcement Challenge Awards winner for 2007-08. The Metro HEAT unit placed first in the "Municipal 10" category (501 to 1,250 sworn officers). SCMPD HEAT officers continue in their diligence to make Savannah and Chatham County streets safer for all residents, businesses and visitors!
The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police traffic unit, H.E.A.T., is designated to target aggressive drivers and drivers under the influence. Originally named the Aggressive Driving Unit in 2001, the unit is now referred to as H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) to coincide with the similar units throughout the state.
Comprised of four patrol officers and a Sergeant, is made possible by a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The grant allows SCMPD to continue to fully fund the unit with manpower and equipment to aggressively patrol all of the streets and roads of greater Chatham County.
H.E.A.T. will strictly enforce all traffic laws, from Driving Under the Influence to Seat Belt Violations. Since its inception in 2001, the unit has issued more than 35,000 traffic citations and arrested approximately 1800 impaired drivers.
The officers target known problem areas and defeat the threat of careless or dangerous drivers. In addition, the unit is used to control and eliminate crime simply by their presence through saturation patrols. Studies have shown conclusively that where targeted saturation patrols are introduced with high visibility, all forms of crime are dramatically diminished.
PRIDE Program asks: Is your teen’s life worth two hours of your time?
The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s H.E.A.T.Unit is asking Chatham County parents preparing their 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds to drive. The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s H.E.A.T. Unit is working with the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPI) to offer a 3-hour seminar for parents and teens called Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Incidents of Driver Error). GTIPI is a University of Georgia program funded by a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
The recent change in Georgia's teen driving laws puts parents squarely in the passenger’s seat. It requires that anyone who applies for a permanent driver’s license must have a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult sign a verification form affirming that the candidate has completed either 40 hours of supervised driving experience or 20 hours if the candidate has successfully completed an approved driver education course.
“No parents surveyed reported that they felt adequately prepared to teach their teenager to drive. This course is designed to help fill this void. It will help parents and their new teen driver learn what they need to do during those 40 hours of driving time,” says Frankie Jones, head of GTIPI’s Parent-Youth Program. “Our ultimate goal is to reduce the risk of youth related car crashes.”
The Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E. classes will complement the Chatham County driver’s education program and will:
- help parents and guardians become more aware of their own driving behaviors,
- teach parents and guardians how to help their teens become safe drivers,
- help parents, guardians and teens learn what they need to do during the supervised practice driving time and
- alter attitudes and driving behaviors of novice teen drivers.
The evening seminar will be offered the last Thursday of each month at Calvary Baptist Day School, 4625 Waters Rd. A teen and at least one parent or guardian must register for one of those dates.
Call the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department Traffic office at 912-652-6650 or send an e-mail to: Ashley_Piner@savannahga.gov and request a registration form, or contact: Sgt. Leopold at 912-652-6568 for more information. Or, you can stop by the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Traffic office, just off Chatham Parkway, on Police Memorial Drive and pick up a form.
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