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Memorial Day Vacation Travel Tips |
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Memorial Day weekend signals
the beginning of summer vacations and travel for many
people. The Winter Haven Police Department wants to
help you leave your worries behind— but not your common
sense when traveling. Make your vacation a memorable
one by taking a few simple precautions when you’re on
the road and at your destination. |
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Packing and Planning |
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Research your
vacation destination. Decide in advance where you want
to go and how to get there. Looking and feeling
confident helps reduce the appearance of being a
tourist. That’s important, because criminals often view
tourists as the most vulnerable of potential victims. |
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Take only credit
cards that you absolutely need, and bring traveler’s
checks instead of cash. |
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Record information
on the credit cards and valuable equipment that you plan
to bring with you. Copy your passport and other
important documents and secure the information in a safe
place. |
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In the Hotel |
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Don’t leave valuables in your hotel room.
Most hotels have safes for guest use. |
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Keep your hotel room door locked, even
when you are inside. Check all window locks, especially
if you are on a low floor. |
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Don’t let anyone in your room whom you
don’t know. Verify any unexpected visit or delivery by
calling the front desk and asking to see identification.
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Family Safety |
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Review your family’s safety rules with
your children. |
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Make sure that everyone in your
party—adults, teens, children—has the name, address, and
phone number of the place you are staying and carries
that information at all times. |
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Set up rules for each day’s outings on
where and how you’ll link up if you become separated.
Agree on a meeting place, just in case. |
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On the Road |
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Carry your purse close to your body. Keep
your wallet in an inside front pocket. |
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Take your keys with you and always lock
the car when it’s parked, even if your stop is brief.
Keep valuables out of sight, preferably in the trunk.
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Stick to well-lighted and well-traveled
streets at all times. |
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Select ATM machines in visible,
well-lighted locations. |
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Drink Responsibly |
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Throughout Florida
there are a number of programs that offer free rides to
individuals who have had too much to drink. Various taxi
services, wrecker companies, and other businesses may
offer such services to keep impaired drivers from
getting behind the wheel. AAA and Budweiser offer a
service called “Tow to Go” that provides private party
goers and licensed establishments a way to get people
home safely. Adults in need of a ride can call
1-800-AAA-HELP. AAA will dispatch a tow truck and will
take both the driver and the vehicle home, free of
charge. This service is available throughout Florida –
to both AAA members and non-members. “Tow to Go” removes
the number one excuse for drunk driving - the
intoxicated motorist not wanting to leave their car - by
not only taking the driver home safely, but also their
vehicle home safely too. Remember, “You Booze You
Lose.”
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Amanda Miller
Crime Prevention Specialist
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Crime Prevention Tips
Holiday Safety Tips
Fighting
Back Against Identify Theft
Reporting Crime Information
Deterring Auto Theft
Memorial Day Vacation Travel Trips
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