The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office opened their designated "Safe Exchange Zone” adjacent to LPSO’s main office this week.
Located at 316 W Main St., the two parking spots are in a well-lit area under 24-hour video surveillance (24-hour monitoring of the Safe Exchange Zone is conducted by the Sheriff’s Office via live video surveillance of the area; a uniformed deputy will not be physically present at the parking spaces for transactions).
The Safe Exchange Zone is designed to offer a safe alternative to meeting a stranger in their home or at an unfamiliar location, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Safe Exchange Zone Safety Tips:
- Complete transactions only during daylight hours.
- Make sure a friend or family member is aware of the details of the transaction and when possible, take a friend with you.
- Be extra cautious when buying/selling valuable items.
- Never give out any personal or financial information.
- Trust your instincts; if it sounds like a scam or too good to be true—it probably is.
- If someone is not willing to come to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office to complete a sale, it is probably not a legitimate transaction.
This area is not a drop-off where parents can leave children for a later pick-up time for child custody exchanges. All exchanges must be person-to-person.
According to LPSO, the parking spaces are to be used only for their intended purpose of private party transactions. No long-term parking or unattended vehicles will be permitted in the Safe Exchange Zone.
No appointments are necessary when using the Safe Exchange Zone, they said.
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