City creates ‘safe zone’ in police parking lot to exchange goods

Following the lead of cities like Milpitas and Fremont, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety has found a safer place for strangers to exchange goods — right in front of police headquarters.

The new exchange zone is the department’s solution to the apprehension a buyer might feel, for example, about picking up that imported Nintendo game he snatched at a great deal off of Craigslist. It’s also a place where parents who are under a set custody arrangement can safely turn over their child to the other parent.

“We’re trying to create a safe environment for them to make a safe exchange so that someone doesn’t have to (make the transaction) in their own home,” said department spokesman Capt. Shawn Ahearn. “They’re in an area that should be a little safer because it’s at a Police Department. We’re just providing a safe location that’s neutral.”

Similar to the cities of Santa Clara, Milpitas, Fremont and Danville, Sunnyvale’s exchange zone is two well-lit, marked parking spaces that are monitored by surveillance cameras 24 hours a day at 700 All America Way. While the cameras don’t record sound and are not live-monitored, they do keep a log of transactions that officers can go back and review in the event of a dispute or safety violation.

The exchange zone is available around the clock on a first come, first served basis for 30 minutes at a time.

Councilman Jim Griffith said he pitched the idea after seeing it done in Pleasanton, where he grew up. With the prevalence of internet transactions, he said, “it seemed like something that we should be doing. Sunnyvale’s an incredibly safe town but it only gets that way if we keep it that way.”

Ahearn acknowledged that while traditional meeting points such as Starbucks also work as viable exchange locations, he hopes that his department’s “enhanced” option offers an alternative for private-party transactions.

“You can’t be sure that every Starbucks has cameras in their parking lot,” he said.

There are some rules in place for using the space. The exchange of drugs, alcohol, weapons and illegal items are not allowed. Use of the area is limited strictly to private-party transactions, meaning businesses are not permitted to conduct transactions, said Ahearn.

Parents conducting custody exchanges must be present. “I want to emphasize that this is not a dropoff zone,” Ahearn said.

In general, he said, it’s wise to conduct exchanges during daylight hours and to let someone know you’re heading out to make an inperson exchange. “Just because you’re in the parking lot of police headquarters doesn’t mean you have ultimate safety.”

The department’s announcement of the news on its Facebook page generated several comments of approval. Sunnyvale resident Laurie Parres wrote, “No wonder why I love living here in Sunnyvale so much. You always are watching out for us all.”