Alachua County Sheriff’s Office offers special needs stickers for traffic stops
Stickers aim to reduce misunderstandings between deputies and drivers or passengers with disabilities
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is now offering special needs stickers to alert deputies that a driver or passenger may need additional patience during a traffic stop or other encounter.
Lyndee Gaczynski, a single mother of twin boys with autism, said having a sticker on her car brings her peace of mind.
“I was very overwhelmed with it because I have twins with special needs,” Gaczynski said. “As a single parent, it’s very hard and difficult because you don’t know in a situation that when deputies come, how are they going to handle it?”
Gaczynski said her sons are tall, non-verbal, and sometimes self-harm, making interactions with law enforcement a concern.
“When you first see my boys, you’re kind of like, ' What do I do in a situation like this?” she said. “These deputies need to know how to handle a situation without harming our kids.”
Officials said the goal of the sticker program is to reduce potential misunderstandings. A deputy who sees the sticker will know to use extra patience or a different communication approach.
Senate Bill 418 and the Blue Envelope Program
This comes as Senate Bill 418 is now in effect. The law mandates new autism training for police officers, focusing on de-escalation strategies and communication techniques.
The legislation also introduces the “Blue Envelope Program,” which allows drivers with autism to store their license, registration, and emergency contacts in an envelope to quickly alert officers to their diagnosis.
Alachua County deputies already participate in that training. Officials said the sticker is an additional step to ensure people are understood and treated fairly.
If you or a family member could benefit from a sticker, you can request one for free by emailing: news@acso.us
Stickers may be mailed to your home or picked up at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. There is a limit of two stickers per household.
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