SAFETY PARKING & ROAD SAFETY REMINDERS Residents are reminded that the speed limit throughout all of Lake Ashton is 20 mph and all golf carts, vehicles, (including motorcycles), and bicycles (including electric bicycles) should make a complete stop just before the white stop bar whether before or after the posted stop sign. It only takes a moment to follow the traffic controls that are in place that could potentially prevent a serious accident. The Lake Wales and Winter Haven Police Department patrol in Lake Ashton on a regular basis. Please take a little extra time to ensure you maneuver throughout the community as safely as possible to avoid a ticket and more importantly, an accident. The following excerpt was taken from Florida State Statute 316.1945 Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places. For the full statue, scan the QR code with your smartphone. No person shall stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers: 1. In front of a public or private driveway. 2. Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. 3. Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. 4. Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway. Keep in mind the streets in Lake Ashton are very narrow and there are many forms of traffic which heightens the danger during busy times. The information listed above will be passed along to vendors to ensure they are following the established state statutes. The following items will also help to alleviate dangerous situations on the road. • Do not park a vehicle directly parallel to another vehicle. • Do not park on a curve. • Park as close to the curb as possible. 18 Residents can help by informing vendors that are performing work at their home of the parking "good practices" above. With everyone's help the streets of Lake Ashton will be as safe as possible. STATE OF FLORIDA SETS NEW GOLF CART AGE REQUIREMENTS Recent state legislation changes have increased the age for golf cart drivers. The law requires that a person operating a golf cart on public roads or streets who is under 18 years of age must possess a valid learner’s permit or driver’s license. Lake Wales PD and Winter Haven PD can issue a ticket for violations of this law. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH By Brenda Jackson, NW PR Liaison According to USPS and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s recent alert, check fraud has surged to 680K up from 350K in 2022. Criminals are targeting residential mailboxes to steal signed checks and then use a technique known as “check washing” to scam you out of your money. “Check washing” allows criminals to erase your writing on your check such as the payee and the amount. Once the payment information is blank, they can fill in new information. In one reported case, a man mailed a $42 check to pay his phone bill, but when it was cashed, the bank showed it as $7,000 and made out to someone he didn’t know. While check usage is declining, as of 2022 Americans still wrote $3.4 billion checks, giving criminals plenty of opportunity for fraud. Don’t let this happen to you! If you write checks, then protect yourself by: • Remove mail daily from your mailbox • Take it to the post office • Hand directly to your carrier • Use the mail drop boxes here in LA located at the Clubhouse and HFC Stay tuned each month as we identity and unravel the scams and tactics used to separate us from our money or steal our personal information. For questions or concerns, please contact Deputy Chief, Joan DiBattista at 239-851-7899.
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