Law On When To Stop For A School Bus

Spring Hill, TN – With the 2023-2024 K-12 school year almost here, we wanted to remind the motoring public of applicable law relating to school buses. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-151 states in part, “The driver of a vehicle upon a highway shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus. The driver shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or is signaled by the school bus driver to proceed or the visual signals are no longer actuated.”

Depending on if you are traveling on a two-lane road, multi-lane road, or divided highway will determine if you need to stop or not. On a two-lane road, everyone stops. On a four-lane highway with a center turn lane, everyone stops. If the four-lane has a divider, like a median or an unpaved area at least 5 feet wide, traffic in the opposite direction can proceed cautiously. Only traffic behind the bus must stop.

In 2022, five collisions in the City of Spring Hill directly or indirectly involved a school bus. Please do your part this upcoming school year in keeping our children safe.

Vandalism Investigation at Tobacco Warehouse

Spring Hill, TN – On July 8th, the subject pictured above entered the Tobacco Warehouse on Main St. to exchange a vape. The exchange was denied, and the subject allegedly punched a window causing damage. The subject left in a white Nissan Murano. If you can identify this person, please contact Detective Josh Weber at jweber@springhilltn.org | 931-451-0758 or submit an anonymous tip here.

Unidentified Subjects Stole $26,000 Worth of Merchandise From Ulta in June

Spring Hill, TN – SHPD investigators are working to identify the above subjects who allegedly stole approximately $26,000 worth of merchandise from the Spring Hill Ulta store during the month of June. If you can identify one or more of the above individuals, please contact Detective Josh Weber at jweber@springhilltn.org | 931.451.0758 or submit an anonymous tip here.

Information about Independence Day and Fireworks

Copy of Twitter Post – Untitled Design

With Independence Day quickly approaching, we are reminding citizens about the City Ordinance for the discharge of fireworks. There are only certain days in which one can discharge fireworks within Spring Hill city limits, and the Fourth of July is one of those days. Fireworks are allowed to be discharged on the holiday between noon and 11 p.m.
We will respond to fireworks complaints outside of this time period or if someone is using fireworks in an otherwise unlawful manner.

If you wish to report a firework complaint, please contact our non-emergency dispatch number at 931-486-2632, or 911 if it’s an emergency.

“Text To 911” Now Available In Spring Hill

Spring Hill, TN – The City of Spring Hill emergency services (police, fire, and EMS) are dispatched through the Williamson County Emergency Communications Department in Franklin. This includes ALL of Spring Hill, both the Maury and Williamson County sides. The Williamson County Emergency Communications Department has announced that “Text to 911” is available in Williamson County (including the Maury County side of Spring Hill).

Williamson County Emergency Communications and the City of Brentwood Emergency Communications have launched their new collaborative “Text to 911” system, in which users will be able to send text messages to 911 dispatchers, enabling them to request help when a phone call isn’t possible.

This means that if you are within the Williamson County limits, you will be able to text 911 in an emergency. This includes Brentwood, Franklin, Fairview, Nolensville, Thompsons Station, unincorporated areas of the county, and the entire city of Spring Hill, even areas of that city that are in Maury County.

“Calling 911 is still the fastest way to get help,” said City of Brentwood Emergency Communications Supervisor Kathleen Watkins. “Texting takes longer than talking on the phone, and location tracking technology is not the same with texting 911 as with a phone call. Also, voice calls allow for dispatchers to hear background noise that could provide critical information.”

“However, there are many situations where someone is unable to make a voice call for help, and that’s where Text-to-911 comes in,” said Williamson County Director of Emergency Communications Kristy Borden. “Text-to-911 is a great resource for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, have a speech disability, or having a medical emergency where they are unable to speak on the phone. It is also helpful for situations where it may not be safe for someone make a voice call because it would attract attention, such as during a home burglary or domestic violence situation.”

How it works:

  • Enter the numbers 911 into the “to” field.
  • In the first message, text the location and type of emergency.
  • Text in plain English, without abbreviations or slang.
  • Respond to questions from the 911 dispatcher.
  • Follow instructions the same as a voice call.

For more information, including other frequently asked questions, visit https://williamsonready.org/1944/Emergency-Communications.

Information Regarding HOA “No Soliciting” Signs

Spring Hill, TN- Door-to-door solicitation season is here. We want to take the time to inform citizens about what we can and can’t do regarding solicitors who come to your door. Some neighborhood Home Owner Associations (HOA) have placed “no soliciting” signs at the entrance to these neighborhoods with the expectation that we can enforce these signs if a solicitor enters the area. Unfortunately, we can’t enforce these signs if the solicitor has a permit issued by the City.

Spring Hill Municipal Code Title 9, Chapter 2 requires that any peddler, canvasser, solicitor or transient merchant wishing to do business within the City of Spring Hill obtain a Solicitor/Transient/Vendor Permit. These applications can be found here. These applications are sent to us, and we verify the information the applicant provides. If the City approves the application, the solicitor is issued a permit. If the solicitor has a permit issued by the City, we can’t stop them from soliciting in an HOA neighborhood with a “no soliciting” sign.

Information on the City solicitor permit process.

Now, if the solicitor enters your home without your permission, harasses you, or remains on your property after being told to leave, depending on the facts, we may be able to take enforcement action, depending on the facts.

National Police Week 2023

Spring Hill, TN – In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

The following officers from Tennessee will be added to the Law Enforcement Memorial:

  • Daniel Todd Wallace, of the Brownsville Police Department
  • Frank Keith Rezac Jr., of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dale Leroy Wyman, of the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office
  • Matthew Stephen Locke, of the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office
  • Terry Wayne Stowe, of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office
  • Richard Lee Barnes, of the Newbern Police Department
  • Gregory Lynn Triplett, of the Waverly Police Department
  • Jeffrey Herndon Carson, of the Franklin Police Department
  • Kevin Jay Stolinsky, of the LaVerge Police Department
  • Christopher Allen Jenkins, of the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office
  • Bradley Alan Miller, of the Maury County Sheriff’s Office
  • Corille Cortez Jones, of the Memphis Police Department
  • Robert Frank Clayton, of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
  • Cecil Earl Nunley, of the Sequatchie County Tennessee CO, District 6
  • Bridgette Lachelle Hunter, of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
  • Harold Lee Russell II, with the Tennessee Department of Safety
  • Vince Arnold Mullins, with the Tennessee Department of Safety

In total, 556 names will be engraved on the Memorial. If you would like to learn more about National Police Week, please follow this link.

SHPD Corporal Jeremy McLaren’s name was engraved in the Memorial in 2011 after he lost his life on February 7th, 2010.

SHPD Taking Applications For Citizens Police Academy

Spring Hill, TN – The SHPD is currently taking applications for the 2023 session of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA). The CPA is an excellent opportunity to learn about your local police department and what goes on behind the scenes. The academy will cover topics such as the use of force, patrol operations, traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, firearms training, and more.

The CPA is open to all individuals 21 years of age or older and reside or work within the municipal city limits of Spring Hill. Persons may apply outside of the municipal city limits; however, precedence will be given to those within the municipal city limits.

For more information, please get in touch with Officer Herb Rosa at hrosa@springhilltn.org. Apply online for the CPA here.

SHPD Promotes Motorcycle Safety Awareness

Spring Hill, TN – The SHPD will be partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office to promote Motorcycle Safety Awareness. With warmer weather coming, there will be more motorcycles sharing the road. Please remember to look twice to avoid a crash.

Here are a few safe driving tips to prevent crashing with a motorcycle:

  • Though a motorcycle is a small vehicle, its operator still has all the rights of the road as any other motorist. Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times.
  • Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
  • If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful. Motorcycle signals are often non-canceling. Always ensure that the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.
  • Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections.
  • Always allow ample follow distance – three to four seconds – when driving behind a motorcycle. This gives riders more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

For more information, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org/motorcycles.