Officials say the program is especially timely during periods when online and secondhand sales increase, such as the holiday season. While officers do not supervise individual exchanges, their nearby presence allows for a quicker response if a situation becomes unsafe or illegal.

Police also remind residents to follow basic safety tips when meeting for online transactions. Choosing busy, well-lit locations, bringing a friend, meeting during daylight hours, and keeping records of messages and agreements can all help protect both buyers and sellers. Together, these precautions and the new handshake-marked parking spaces aim to make online buying and selling safer, more convenient, and more confident for the community.