JCPD Class Encourages Safe Teen Driving

Traffic crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for young adults under age 21, and the Johns Creek Police Department is working to make sure teens in this city don't contribute to that statistic.

Created in 2009, the STOP (Solicitor, Teen, Officer, Parent) program was designed by the police department and the municipal court to curb a high number of traffic violations by young drivers in the city.

Teens attend the program with their parents and directly interact with a police officer and judge during the class. Violators age 17 to 20 may be ordered by the municipal judge or city solicitor to attend, or parents may volunteer to send their young drivers before an accident or violation occurs.

In fact, requires students to attend a STOP class before they can obtain a school parking permit. And recently, the PTSA's chair of school services at brought the program there.

Donna Evans said that she wanted to extend the program to concerned parents at Northview.

"I happened to see the STOP program at Johns Creek High," she said. "I thought it was a great idea to get to the kids before they get a ticket."

Evans added, "The officer and the judge give different presentations. The officer really came down to the kids' levels to get them engaged. And it's good to have the parents come with the kids. Parents are scared."

According to Rosemary Taylor, communications manager with the city and police department, the total number of volunteers attending the class to date is 415, while 1,485 were required to attend after receiving some sort of violation.

For more information on the mandatory and volunteer classes, visit the city of Johns Creek's website.