Many thanks to the Vidalia Police Department for following a growing, national trend — creating safe zones for people to meet and transact business.

Police Chief Joey Merrill says designating an area of the police department’s parking lot as a safe zone began with requests from parents who are not married, but share custody of children and need to safely and publicly exchange their children.

Such transfers can be difficult, particularly when emotions are running high and no one else is around to serve as a witness to the exchange.

Often it becomes a “he said, she said” situation, with potentially serious, even dangerous consequences.

Merrill’s solution is relatively simple, but seemingly effective. Vidalia police designated an area in the department’s parking lot as a safe zone, repositioned security cameras to focus on that area and erected some donated signs.

This cost taxpayers nothing.

Nationally, the trend of creating such public safe spaces tends to stem from the use of online sites that put buyers and sellers of goods together. Often the initial connection and “sale” are made online, but payment and transfer of the goods occur face to face, often with a complete stranger.

Since most people with criminal or otherwise ill intent do not wish their bad behavior to be recorded by police, the safe zones should reduce the likelihood of crime.

If only one crime or domestic matter is prevented through the use of the safe zones, the effort will be worthwhile.