Public Safety
What is Public Safety?
The Sorrento Public Safety department and the Public Safety officer are responsible for anything that affects safety in and of the town.
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Public Safety report:
As always, a big thank you to all the residents of the Town of Sorrento for their safety consciousness. Your reporting of damaged, removed, or spray-painted street signs is the type of information necessary to repair or replace them as soon as possible. These signs are very important for emergency services personnel, especially fire, police and medical, as well as utility companies to find the correct address.
A critical part of public safety is for residents to accurately use the 9-1-1 address that has been assigned to their property. The mailbox and/or home should clearly display your 9-1-1 address to allow quick identification. If you are having difficulty with your 9-1-1 address display, please call me for assistance.
REMEMBER: BURN PERMITS ARE ALWAYS REQUIRED. These can be obtained in person from the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Assistant Chiefs, or the Chief Engineer of the Sorrento Fire Department or online at visit www.maineburnpermit.com.
Smoke and CO2 detector batteries should be replaced when the clocks are turned back one hour.
Also, easy access to your property and residence should be maintained for everyone’s safety. This includes the timely reporting of downed trees and power lines in your area. Power lines could be entangled and hidden in the downed trees. NEVER TOUCH LOW HANGING OR DOWNED POWER LINES AS THEY MAY STILL BE ENERGIZED.
When fall and winter seasons approach, residents are urged to check over those items they feel they will need ahead of time rather than at the last minute. Please check carefully any alternative heat sources before using them.
PLEASE REMEMBER: DO NOT RUN PORTABLE GENERATORS INSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE OR ANY OTHER STRUCTURE, INCLUDING GARAGES AND SHEDS.
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Joey Clark
Sorrento Public Safety Officer
207-812-2208
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Message from a Snowplow Driver
I would like every road user to take a few minutes to read this. You might learn something that could save you a lot of frustration, prevent accidents, and even save lives.
• A snowplow can measure up to 16 feet wide with its wing extended — that’s the width of 3 cars.
• It can weigh up to 34,000 kg (75,000 lbs) — the weight of 30 cars.
• The driver’s visibility is greatly reduced because of the equipment.
• The optimal spreading speed is 40 km/h.
• The maximum plowing speed is 50 km/h.
• We must significantly reduce our speed to do our job properly, especially when approaching guardrails, concrete barriers, sidewalks, and any other obstacles.
• The front blade must cross over the yellow centerline while plowing, and material must be spread along the centerline for best results.
• At intersections, we need to back up several times to do our job correctly. Remember that our visibility is very poor, especially on the right side.
• Our right turns are extremely wide.
In summary: we are big, we are slow, we are not very maneuverable, we encroach on the other lane, and we don’t see very well. So help us help you.
What you can — and should — do:
• Keep a safe distance behind us. This prevents you from being blinded by snow bursts and helps us see you better.
• Be visible. Keep your headlights on; don’t rely only on daytime running lights.
• When meeting a snowplow coming the opposite way, move to the right and slow down. We encroach on your lane and will stay there.
• If you pass us, do so carefully and without lingering beside us.
• NEVER, EVER, EVER pass us on the right. NEVER!
• At intersections, give us space to maneuver. If we are stopped, take time to assess whether it’s safe to proceed; if we are moving, come to a full stop and make sure you are visible.
• Do not pass on curves, hills, or when visibility is poor. A burst of snow can occur at any moment and make you lose sight of the road.
• Remember that our visibility is poor and we are constantly being blinded by snow and water splashing onto our windows.
And remember…
• We are on the road during the worst conditions with one of the biggest vehicles possible — not very fast, with very poor visibility — driving through an endless obstacle course.
We often work long hours, and we do it for you.
Help us help you. Don’t be one more obstacle.
Please keep your garbage cans back 5 feet from the edge of the road.
It is also illegal to put or push snow across the road. You are liable for any accident that occurs by putting snow in the road.