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It’s that time of year again!

WATCH OUT FOR THE CHILDREN! Children are excited to return on the 1st day of school for Port Arthur Independent School District and all other surrounding communities. Safety for the children, staff, and daily commuters is our primary goal. With all of the children preparing to commute to school via various means of transportation, I’d like to take a moment to encourage ALL motorists to take extra precautions when traveling in school zones and also neighboring places, where school buses are stopping, picking up and dropping off our children.

I’d like to thank the PAISD Transportation Department for their daily transportation of School bus drivers are the unsung heroes of ALL school districts, and are always under appreciated. School buses are the safest means of transportation on our roadways. It is 70 times safer in a school bus than traditional transportation. We can’t envision how many lives are saved and injuries prevented because of the daily safe transportation of students by the School Transportation Department? We are able to enjoy all of our sporting and school related events because of the safe commute by bus drivers. Remember law enforcement officers will be in school zones enforcing various laws so be mindful to obey all law in school zones

Will  from Nederland asks: Officer Antoine what a wonderful open access we have to law enforcement answering everyday citizen questions with this weekly publication. My question is regarding a bicycle helmets in Texas. I have a 8-year of daughter and of course we recently bought her a bicycle, do Texas require 8-year-old children to wear a helmet while riding a bike? I ask this because my friend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana said that it’s the law there that everyone under the age of 12 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. Can you help me?

Answer: Good question Will. Well your friend in Louisiana is correct. It is Louisiana state law that children under 12 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. But Will you are living in Texas and the great state of Texas does not have a helmet law regarding bicycle usage. It doesn’t matter if the child is on private property or a road, the state of Texas don’t mandate helmet use. Now you being a concerned parent should enact the house of Will law if you want to safeguard your child, meaning you should/can require your child to wear the helmet when they are riding a bicycle. You can enforce the house of Will rule as long as you desire! Also you can check your city ordinance to see if they address helmet use while bicycling.

Adrian from Port Arthur asks: Officer Antoine I have recently adopted a 5 year of girl/daughter. She is tall for her age. At what age can she sit in the front seat of my car?

Answer: Good question Adrian. First I’d like to congratulate you on the new addition of a lovely young girl to your family. I’m asked this question constantly because apparently someone started the rumor that someone has to be a certain age to ride in a particular seat position in a motor vehicle. Jonathan you can sit your child in any seat other than the driver seat, as long as you have the child in the correct child restraint system. You can sit a newborn in the front seat as long as you have them in the correct seat facing backwards with the air bag deactivated. I wouldn’t personally advise sitting children in the front seat, but it’s not illegal in Texas to do so. Your daughter will need a booster seat until she is 8 years of age or 4’9″ tall whichever one comes first.

Sam from Port Arthur asks: Hello Officer Antoine, I am a regular follower of your Ask a Cop article, it’s really helpful. My question is if when holding at red signal in the only lane waiting to turn left, by that time if any emergency vehicle comes from my back, which way should I move? Can I jump the signal giving way to it, or just hold on at same position? Thank you.

Good question Sam: Thanks for being a regular follower of the Ask A Cop column, and to be honest Sam, it ALWAYS makes my heart glad we PAPD are connecting with the community we proudly serve. Sam, just to know as a proud member of Port Arthur Police Department, we are making a difference not only in ENFORCEMENT, but also EDUCATING our motorists. Sam, your question is one that seems to keep resurfacing and I’ll address it as many times as need be. Emergency vehicles that come behind you with their red and blue lights flashing, and Oh My God, that loud siren blaring, almost is enough to send the average person into a cardiac episode! Which way do I go and what shall I do are always questions on the forefront. Especially when it’s happening to YOU. First thing Sam, “be patient” and make no sudden movement without considering the safety of other motorists on our road. NEVER, and I mean NEVER, run a red light. The only person who can authorize you to run a red light is a Police Officer!! Your best reaction is to activate your right signal and when it’s SAFE, turn right to give the emergency vehicle passage. We understand you want to clear the way for emergency vehicles because sometimes seconds count when it comes to saving lives. But we won’t be able to defer assistance to others if we have to stay on scene of your crash.

Join Me, Officer Antoine and the CREW Stephen “Buzzard Boots” Mosley, Lelo “mouth of Hwy 69/73” I Washington & Tejas “Lil Man”Morning Star for Ask A Cop live, on KSAP 96.9 FM The Breeze radio station, every Tuesday for at least 2hrsfrom 1p-3p and beyond. Tune in and listen as Officer Antoine discusses in detail the newly released “Ask A Cop” article that’s printed in The News. You can also tune in via internet at www.ksapthebreeze.org. Feel free to call in and ask your question live to Officer Antoine at (409) 982-0247. Feel free to email your questions torickey.antoine@portarthurtx.gov, or call 409-983-8673 and leave a voice mail question, or mail them to: Ofc. Rickey Antoine, 645 4th Street, Port Arthur, Texas, 77640. If you happen to see me in public you can always free and comfortable to approach and “Ask A Cop”!