Security Newsletter August 2024
SECURITY
Please add the Memorial Thicket Security cellphone number to your contacts: (713) 501-5406. If you need assistance or suspect suspicious activity, please call them immediately.
Memorial Thicket continues to maintain anA+ crime gradecompared to a C+ for the total 77079 zip code area. The information contained below is the May and June 2024 monthly breakdown of offenses for which HPD wrote police reports for zip code 77079. This report includes both incidents and arrests. Of the 166 offenses in May, 0 were recorded within Memorial Thicket. Of the 153 offenses in June, 0 were recorded within Memorial Thicket.
PARKING ON A PUBLIC STREET
All streets within Memorial Thicket℠ are public streets maintained by the City of Houston. Therefore, every resident must abide by City Ordinance 26-93, which says that a vehicle cannot legally park on a public street for more than 24 hours at one time. The security guards are monitoring the situation and will place a notice on any vehicle(s) in violation. In addition, an easement is granted to all police, fire protection, ambulance and other emergency vehicles and other service vehicles to enter upon the Common Area, including but not limited to private streets, in the performance of their duties. It is imperative that you do not park in the cul-de-sac areas, as there is limited space which could prevent an emergency vehicle from being able to traverse the area. More information about parking can be found in the 2024 Memorial Thicket Information Guide on page 19. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 1 as we celebrate National Night Out. The event will be held on the front lot east of the guardhouse. The Boy Scouts, County Commissioners, and the neighborhood guards have all been invited to take part. We are looking into food options for the event. The event will be held from 6p-8p, so come and stop by, enjoy a bite to eat, and meet some of your friendly neighbors!
SCHOOL IS IN SESSION
As you are aware, traffic has picked up and schools are in session. The bus picks up our school-aged children at the entrance to the subdivision right behind the guardhouse. Please drive slowly and pay close attention to these children either walking or being picked up from this location. In Texas, drivers must stop for flashing red lights on a school bus, regardless of which direction the vehicle is traveling, unless a physical barrier divides the road lanes. There is no physical barrier in our subdivision. Violators can receive up to a $1,250 fine, driver’s license suspension, and even jail time, depending on the number of convictions and the seriousness of the incident. Knowing the flashing-light system that school bus drivers use to signal their intentions to motorists can save lives:
• Yellow flashing lights. Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is getting ready to stop to load or unload students. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop.
• Red flashing lights. Red flashing lights with an extended stop sign mean the bus is stopped and students are getting on or off. Drivers approaching the school bus from either direction must stop, even if the road is divided by a turning lane, unless a median or other physical barrier such as a wall or fence, separates the road lanes. Vehicles may not pass the school bus until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is pulled back into place, the school bus has started to move, and the bus driver signals for vehicles to proceed.
The following recommendations can help motorists remain alert and keep students safe before and after school hours.
• Reverse responsibly. When backing a vehicle, go slowly and watch for students walking or riding their bikes to school. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for walking and biking students on the sidewalk, in the driveway, and around vehicles. Look around and use all mirrors and a backup camera when the vehicle is equipped with one.
• Slow down and stay alert. Look for students walking in the street, especially in neighborhoods without sidewalks. Speed limits in school zones are slower for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling 10 mph faster.
• Come to a complete stop. According to the American Automobile Association, more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, check for students in crosswalks, and watch for students who may dart into the street or between vehicles when trying to catch their bus.
• Watch for bicycles. Students on bikes are often inexperienced, unsteady, and unpredictable. Slow down and give bicyclists three feet of passing distance.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY!
Jerry Fabian
Vice President of Security
802 Spear Point Cove
713.854.7957
August 21, 2024