Safety First - Implement Good Habits!

More and more we hear about violence against process servers, making it important to stay alert at all times. As the New Year rolls in, make one of your resolutions to implement safety-oriented habits within your everyday work procedures. Here are some tips to stay safe out on the road this 2020! 

Prepare Your Car

• Make sure your car is in good working order and always with at least a quarter tank of gas.
• Have a properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench, and tripod jack.
• Have a container to store all of your regular job supplies, including your phone, a phone charger, pens, maps, bodycam, so everything is within easy reach and not causing distraction or potential safety situations while driving.
• Keep a first aid kit in your car with gauze, tape, bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, scissors, hydrocortisone, tweezers and an instant cold compress.
• Keep family and emergency phone numbers, including your auto insurance provider and a towing company, in your glove box, as well as in your phone.
• Have a car emergency kit, including jumper cables, a multipurpose utility tool, a flashlight with extra batteries, a fire extinguisher, duct tape, shovel, windshield washer fluid. In cold weather locations, also have warm clothing, cat litter for traction, and blankets.

Prepare for the Job

• Know what type of documents you are serving.
• Get familiar with the area – and carry a good map and/or use a routing app.
• Route your jobs before you leave – never text or look up addresses while driving.
• Working a rural area? Let family/friends know what area you are working or have your schedule of jobs at your home or office.
• Know your state’s rules with regards to mace, bodycam, and weapons – the use of these items are discouraged or prohibited in many jurisdictions, so don’t use them unless you are sure your state allows them! If you are allowed and decide to use them, ensure you are trained in how to use each item and practice using them regularly. Don’t make a tense situation in the field the time and place to attempt to use anything for the first time. Only use weapons in self-defense and as a last resort!

Execute the Serve

• Park in such a manner that you can quickly retreat and no one is able to block you in.
• Survey the surroundings as you approach the house. (Dogs, people outside, etc.)
  • If serving at night, take extra precautions. 
  • If your first attempt at an address will be after dark, be sure to confirm the address on local property records prior to the attempt, so you don’t find yourself wandering up and down an unfamiliar road after dark looking for an address that doesn’t exist.
  • If you believe the area for an evening serve is not safe, try and adjust your route and serve time to attempt before sunset. 
  • If you have an identification card, visibly wear it so it is clear to the resident who you are and your purpose for being at their home at night. Dress and conduct yourself professionally and in a manner that is non-threatening. 
  • Do not serve too late at night when road and foot traffic lessens and people become suspicious of visitors. Does your licensing authority have any written guidelines as to what time you should stop serving?
• Use sidewalks – don’t walk across lawns or flowerbeds – respect the property.
• After knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell, step back from the door so someone can open it without feeling threatened – respect personal space.
• NEVER turn your back on the person you are serving. 
• NEVER go inside the person’s house.
• Work to de-escalate any potential hostile behavior. Conduct yourself in a professional, calm and polite manner. Sometimes just showing some sympathy for what the person is going through quickly diffuses the situation. If you find yourself faced with a threatening individual your best course of action is to retreat.
• Serve and immediately leave. Drive down the block and complete your notes, paperwork, etc. Do not stay where you are visible to the individual just served, in case they decide to confront you after the serve.

The best Process Server is always alert and prepared!