The Hollister Police and Fire departments are asking residents
for help to make house and business numbers visible to emergency
responders.
Hollister – The Hollister Police and Fire departments are asking residents for help to make house and business numbers visible to emergency responders.
Hollister’s municipal code requires all homes and businesses to have street numbers at least three inches tall and in a color that contrasts with the color of the building so that they are visible from the street. Visible numbers save time for police and other emergency responders, Police Department spokesman George Ramirez said.
Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller said too many buildings lack visible street numbers, which could result in a delay of lifesaving assistance. Miller is also asking residents to display street numbers on the curb near driveways, even though doing so isn’t required. Police and fire officials believe these numbers would benefit emergency responders.
“Doing both will save time for responding police officers and firefighters,” Miller said. “Putting numbers on the curbs is especially helpful at night so officers don’t have to focus their spotlights on a lot of different houses before finding the right one.”
City officials will continue to enforce code violations, Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless said. He conservatively estimated 20 percent of city residents were not in compliance with city standards for street numbers. Residents without visible house numbers will receive a written request for compliance. Residents who fail to comply within 15 days could be fined up to $1,000 per day, Chambless said.
After the issue was raised at a recent city council meeting, police and fire officials decided to address the problem. The push to get residents into compliance did not stem from a particular incident, Ramirez said, but is a preventative measure aimed at keeping citizens safe.
“We’re just trying to get cooperation to benefit everyone,” Ramirez said. “The faster we can find the address, the faster we can provide emergency services.”
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or br******@fr***********.com.
