Sheriff J.D. Diggs recently announced the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office now has a dedicated Safe Exchange Zone.

The location is in the Sheriff’s Office parking lot right in front of the Public Safety Building at 301 Goodwin Neck Road. The designated zone is under 24-hour surveillance and allows the public to make purchases and exchange transactions in a monitored area rather than conducting their exchanges at private residences.

“This is a proactive effort to safeguard our citizens,” Diggs stated in a press release. “These zones are excellent locations to conduct your transactions, especially with the uncertainty of meeting an unknown person.”

When using the Safe Exchange Zone, keep in mind that deputies will not be present or assist with any transactions. The exchange of drugs, alcohol and other illegal items is not permitted. The Safe Exchange Zone is meant for person-to-person transactions. Property may not be dropped off and left unattended.

The Sheriff’s Office also noted that even though this is called a safe exchange zone, safety cannot be guaranteed, and citizens should be cautious when making an exchange.