Mountain Brook police offering light-up armbands in lieu of citations

Mountain Brook’s police officers are lighting up the dark with a new reflective armband program from Police Chief Ted Cook.

As part of the program, the officers will hand out the reflective blinking armbands to walkers, joggers and runners they spot around the city who are not properly outfitted with reflective wear or lights. 

The armbands are for the pedestrians’ protection and are given in lieu of a citation, Cook said. 

A city ordinance requires pedestrians to wear reflective clothing or wear continuously flashing lights after dark.

Cook said he learned of a similar program while attending a recent State Chief’s conference. 

“I know we have an issue with people running and walking in the city that could use a little more light or reflective material when they are in the streets while dark,” he said. “I thought this program might be a good way for officers to have a positive interaction with the public rather than have them issuing citations.”

Resident Kathryn Shook said she was walking one morning about 6:30 a.m. when she was approached by an officer. Though the sun had already come up, she said the officer offered her a flashing armband. 

“I thanked him,” Shook said. “Then went home and posted on a [Facebook] group.”

She said her post received more than 300 “likes” and 15 comments.

Shook said she often she sees many walkers and joggers wearing no lights and dark clothing while on her early-morning 4-mile walks with her Australian shepherd, Gatsby. 

“I wish more would follow the rules,” she said.

Cook agrees.

So far, he said the program has been successful. The first 200 bands ordered were gone in less than a week, handed out by officers and picked up by residents who had heard about the program and asked officers for one, he said. 

The bands from a local Mountain Brook retailer fit securely over the user’s arm and are fastened with elastic and Velcro, Cook said. The frosted light offers both a solid and a blinking light. The words “Mountain Brook Police Department” are written across the band itself. 

Cook said he expects to offer the program for a limited time and has ordered more bands. Eventually, he said, the program will reach a saturation point.

“These lights are not inexpensive,” he said, and the department has a limited amount of funding to use on miscellaneous purchases. “Still, we are trying to help as best we can, trying to educate the public about the importance of proper illumination while using the roadways at night.”

City Ordinance

No. 1665 Sec. 46-7

Individuals shall be permitted to walk, jog or run along and upon city streets and roadways [between the hours of 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.] as long as said individuals are within six feet of the edge of the street or roadway.

Said individuals shall wear either: Reflective clothing between the waist and shoulders on the front and back that covers at least 50 square inches; or Strobe style continuously flashing lights at least two inches in diameter between the waist and shoulders that are visible from the front and back.