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.

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.

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.

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.

National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America’s law enforcement community. More information about Police Week can be found here.

The following officers from the state of Tennessee will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC:

We will be having a candlelight service on May 16th at 10:00 AM at City Hall (199 Town Center Pkwy) to honor Corporal Jeremy McLaren (End of Watch: Sunday February 7th, 2010) who lost his life due to complications he suffered from a traffic collision while he was responding to a call. The public is welcome to attend.

A complete list of all 619 officers that were killed in the line of duty can be found here.

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Spring Hill, TN – As summer kicks off and families hit the road for vacation, the Spring Hill Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to remind motorists to “Click It or Ticket.” From May 23 through June 5, participating agencies across the state will increase seat belt enforcement as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) nationwide mobilization.

According to NHTSA, in 2020, there were 10,893 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. In that same year, 58 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m. – 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts. That’s why one focus of the “Click It or Ticket” campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night.

For more information about seat belt safety, visit www.tntrafficsafety.org/seat-belts.  

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Spring Hill, TN – The Spring Hill Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office to promote Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Agencies participate by providing information and increasing awareness in their communities about the importance of sharing the road and looking twice for motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists will be out in force as the weather gets warmer, which is why it is the perfect time for us to remind the community about the vulnerability of motorcycle riders. All motorists need to know how to anticipate and respond to motorcyclists to avoid crashes.

In 2021 the SHPD investigated 10 crashes that involved motorcycles. Of those 10, 8 resulted in injuries and there was 1 fatality.

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.

Spring Hill, TN- There has been a scam circulating for over a decade that has transitioned from email to text message. We have taken several of these reports in the past, including recently. We wanted to make people aware of this scam so you don’t fall victim to it.

In this case the victim receives an email or now a text message from the sender who purports to be a hired assassin. The sender threatens to kill the recipient or family members if they don’t pay thousands of dollars. This screen shot was provided by a resident, as an example of this scam:

This scam and other scams have cost people a lot of money throughout the years. Most of the time it is extremely hard to ever get your money back so prevention is key. Please visit the following websites to learn more about the most common scams and crimes that are circulating:

FBI’s Common Scams and Crimes

Internet Crime Complaint Center

Scams and Safety

If you have fallen victim to these scams, please report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov).

Spring Hill, TN – The Spring Hill Police Department (SHPD) is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to promote “Slow Down Tennessee.” During April 15 – 29, the SHPD will increase education, awareness, and enforcement efforts to help reduce speeding-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities statewide.

For the year of 2021, the SHPD investigated 58 crashes that were due to speeding. 1 of those was a fatality.

The SHPD Traffic Unit will be out looking for motorists who are speeding in school zones, neighborhoods, and on state/local routes.

The State of Tennessee requires motorists to always exercise due care and maintain a safe speed while driving. Speed limits may vary depending on the county and road conditions; therefore, drivers must always pay attention and adhere to posted speed limits to ensure the safety of all roadway users.

For more information about speeding, visit www.tntrafficsafety.org/slow.

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Spring Hill, TN – The Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation (TLEA) Program is pleased to announce that it has granted the award of meritorious accreditation to the Spring Hill Police Department.  This is the third accreditation award for the department. They were awarded this achievement during the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) meeting held in Franklin, TN on February 2, 2022.

To achieve accreditation with TLEA, an agency voluntarily submits to a three year process of enhancing the agency’s professionalism and effectiveness utilizing 164 law enforcement standards and participating in a thorough on-site assessment. The standards evaluate an agency’s policies which address a variety of areas including organizational, operational and budget management practices.  The program is intended to encourage cooperation, recognize professional standing, develop professional services and ensure public safety throughout the State of Tennessee. The TLEA program is a valuable and cost effective way to enhance overall agency effectiveness and professionalism.

The Spring Hill Police Department successfully accomplished TLEA accreditation by meeting criteria that measured the professionalism, organizational, and overall readiness in law enforcement policy and procedures. “The standard of excellence that is met through this process is to be admired. We are proud to recognize the hard work of the Spring Hill Police Department, its staff and community leaders,” stated TACP President Mark Yother

The TLEA program was created under the direction and authority of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, which supports and endorses the continued improvement of law enforcement and emergency communications operations. This program provides a framework for Tennessee law enforcement agencies to have equal access to effective and comprehensive polices that enhance the professionalism of law enforcement and the safety of our communities.

The TLEA Accreditation status represents a significant professional achievement and acknowledges the successful implementation of written directives, policies, and procedures that conceptually sound and operationally effective. It takes commitment, dedication, and hard work from the agency head, agency personnel and community leaders to meet the standards prescribed by the program.

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