FAQ's

SONA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Membership & Payments:

1. Is my SONA membership current?

Log in to the SONA website
Go to Your Profile
Select View Transactions
Review your payment history
If you don’t see Renew Your Membership, you are current for the calendar year.

2. When did I last pay my dues?

Log in the the SONA website
Go to Your Profile
Select View Transactions
You’ll see your payment history there.

3. Can I make a one-time donation to SONA?

Yes! We really appreciate it.

Go to the SOCIAL menu
Select Donate to SONA
Enter your payment info and submit

4. Can I make a donation to support extra neighborhood Sheriff/Security patrols?

Of course! We would love to be able to increase our patrol shifts.

Go to the SAFETY menu
Select PATROL DONATION
Enter your payment info and submit

5. Are SONA dues tax-deductible?

SONA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, so dues and donations are generally not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.

If you’re unsure about your specific situation, it’s a good idea to check with a tax professional.

Safety & Security Patrol

1. How do I contact SONA Security Patrols?

SONA uses a combined patrol approach to help keep the neighborhood safe. In addition to Sacramento County Sheriff’s patrols, we also contract with California Security Agency (CSA) for private security patrols throughout the week. Schedules are coordinated to help maximize coverage.

You can contact either agency to report suspicious activity or request assistance.

Sacramento County Sheriff Non-Emergency Dispatch: 916-874-5115

When the recording starts, press “0” to reach a dispatcher right away
Off-duty sheriff patrols monitor the dispatch radio and will be able to quickly respond to a call if they are patrolling our neighborhood
If no off-duty sheriff patrols are available, the call will be triaged to a regular patrol deputy
Response times in excess of one hour are not uncommon for low priority calls

Sac City Police Non-Emergency Dispatch: 916-808-5471

California Security Agency 24/7 Dispatch: 916-676-0420

Typically a 15-20 minute response time for all calls

2. When should I call the Sac Sheriff or City Police vs. Private Security?

Call the Sacramento County Sheriff or Sac City Police (911 for emergencies, non-emergency line above) when:

There is an emergency or immediate danger (crime in progress, threats, violence, medical issue)
You witness suspicious activity that could escalate (prowling, attempted break-ins, weapons)
The situation involves public roads, traffic issues, or criminal activity

Call CSA Private Security Patrol when:

The situation is non-urgent but concerning (suspicious person, unfamiliar vehicle, alarm sounding)
You would like an officer to check on something quickly within the neighborhood
There are neighborhood-related issues (parking, access, trespassing without immediate threat)
You are unsure and would like a patrol presence to assess the situation

When in doubt, prioritize safety and contact the Sac Sheriff or Sac City Police. CSA can also contact law enforcement if a situation requires escalation.

3. Why is there no direct phone line/phone number to contact our assigned off-duty Sheriff patrols?

At the insistence of the Sac County Sheriff, all calls for non-emergency service must go through the dispatch desk. The dispatcher has the “big picture” regarding suspicious activity in our area and surrounding areas. There may be several calls for suspicious activity that covers several neighborhoods. There may be a suspicious person that the Sheriff is already looking for; providing information to one source is much more effective, comprehensive and timely.

4. How do I schedule a Vacation Check

Use the Vacation Check feature on this website to schedule a vacation check.

Select LOGIN
Select MEMBERSHIP
Select VACATION CHECK (Must be a current member to schedule a vacation check)
Complete form and submit.
An off-duty sheriff patrol will check your house once during each patrol shift, make sure all doors and windows are secure, remove any flyers or packages from your front porch, etc.

5. How do I report traffic, abandoned vehicle and parking issues?

For speeding, unsafe intersections, street sign issues, parking issues, abandoned vehicles and similar concerns, use Sacramento’s 311 system:

Submit through City or County 311 App or website
You’ll get a case number to track your request
You can add updates or follow up later
You can find quick links to both 311 websites in the SAFETY menu on our website.

If something seems stuck or not getting attention, you can share your case number with:

County Supervisor (District 3): Rich Desmond — richdesmond@saccounty.gov
City Councilmember (District 6): Eric Guerra — eguerra@cityofsacramento.org
Current County projects: https://sacdot.saccounty.net/Pages/Current-Projects.aspx

5. What should I report to the non-emergency police number (916-874-5115)?

Call for things like:

Suspicious activity
Damage to property or vehicles (if the suspect is gone)
Stolen vehicles (when not in progress)
Loud parties or noise issues

6. What if I’m seeing increased transient activity?

You can contact the Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT):

Phone: 916-874-1025
Email: northhot@sacsheriff.com

The more reports they receive about a specific area, the better they’re able to focus outreach and support services there.

7. How can I help protect my home?

Use an alarm system and display signage
Add security cameras if you can
Keep outdoor lighting on or use motion lights
Leave a light on when you’re away
Bring in packages or use porch cover items
Don’t leave garbage cans out too long
Report anything suspicious
Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it’s worth reporting.

8. What if I see a coyote?

Coyotes are sometimes spotted, especially early morning or evening. A few tips:
Keep pets indoors or close by
Don’t leave pet food outside
Secure trash and compost bins
Make noise to scare them off (clap, yell, etc.)
Use a short leash when walking dogs
If behavior seems aggressive or unusual, contact California Fish & Wildlife: https://wildlife.ca.gov/HWC/Coyote

Storms & Emergencies

1. What should I do after a big storm?

SMUD provides many excellent storm safety tips here.

Report home or business damage to Sacramento County here.
For fallen trees, flooding, or blocked roads: call or visit the appropriate 311 website here.
SMUD Power outages: 1-888-456-7683 or SMUD website
PG&E: 1-800-743-5000 or PGE website
Downed power lines or emergencies: call 911

How can I contact my elected officials?

City of Sacramento – Councilmember Eric Guerra (District 6)

Phone: (916) 808-7006, eguerra@cityofsacramento.org

Sacramento County – Supervisor Rich Desmond (District 3)

(916) 874-5471, richdesmond@saccounty.gov

Sacramento County Sheriff North Area Problem Oriented Policing Team - northpop@sacsheriff.com

California State Senate – Senator Roger Niello (District 6)

(916) 651-4006, Email Form

California State Assembly - Assemblymember Maggy Krell (District 6)

(916) 319-2006, Email Form

U.S. Congress – Representative Ami Bera (CA-6)

(202) 225-5716 (DC Office) | (916) 635-0505 (District Office), Email Form