Tips For Safe Teen Driving: Summer Edition

Summer is here and the family schedule is about to be thrown out for a few months! The tradition of taking a break from the confines of a work/ education schedule is enjoyed around the world by all cultures. Don’t get us wrong, schedules have their time and place, just not summertime!

There is one area that can become more difficult when you lose the schedule for the summer: Keeping up with your teen driver!

During the school year, we know where our teens are because they have places to go and things to do.
But during the summer….
Parents are working and teens are home.
Teens spend more time riding with friends.
The curfew often becomes more relaxed.
Teens can become more relaxed and less focused.
No schedule means no idea where you kids are!

For these reasons it’s a good idea to create a summer driving schedule for your teen driver.

Unfortunately there are other, more sobering and important reasons:

During the summer teen deaths related to auto accidents increase. In 2012, June and July had the highest numbers of teenage crash deaths of any months.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a report in May 2012 that showed that the risk of 16- or 17-year old drivers being killed in a crash increases with each additional teenage passenger in the vehicle. The risk increases 44 percent with one passenger; it doubles with two passengers, and quadruples with three or more passengers.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. 

Here are some recommendations that will help you keep track of your teen driver this summer and decrease the likelihood for an auto accident!

Have a family shared schedule

You can now sync your family calendar with all devices and share it with your entire family. This is a great, free tool that will help keep everyone in the family on the same page. We recommend having a family calendar planning meeting weekly to discuss events for the week and make sure they all make it on the calendar. Any changes that are made will be automatically updated for everyone. Also, you can set alerts and reminders that will let you know when your teen is on the road and where they’re going.

Download an app that prevents you from texting and driving

A report from the Virginia Tech Institute for Transportation found that you’re 23 times more likely to get in a car accident if you text while driving, far surpassing other distractions. According to edgarsnyder.com 11 teens die every day as a result of texting while driving. And 94% of teen drivers acknowledge the dangers of texting and driving, but 35% admitted to doing it anyway. HonkForHelp.com has a great list of 7 free apps that will ensure that your teen is not even tempted to text while they’re behind the wheel of a car!

Track your teen driver with our iTrail GPS Tracking Device

Our iTrail Solo is a small device that is easily hidden in a glove box, the iTrail can text or email you when the drivers goes over a certain speed. You can set the technology up with your own discretions called "excessive speed alert." Know about their lead foot before the police do and before anything tragic happens!

Additionally, you can see starts and stops, idling, and whether or not they leave the Geo-fencing you've set up. You can create a safety zone -AKA, Geo-Fence - to alert you when your teen driver leaves this predetermined safety zone.The iTrail monitors their position on Google Maps and reports back to you every 30-60 seconds.

With this GPS tracking device, parents can see when their teens drive, how they drive, where they drive, and what roads they drive on! The iTrail really is the best device currently on the market for parents of teen drivers!

Read more about monitoring your teen driver in our recent blog post.

Get our Ultimate Safety Checklist: Teen Driver Edition

We hope helps you relax a little more and enjoy your summer with a teen driver! Contact us at 800-590-4272 or sales@kjbsecurity.com to purchase your iTrail Solo GPS Tracking device today!

How to Choose Between WiFi and DVR Surveillance For Your Home or Business

Every day new home or business owners identify a need for covert surveillance. Their need for hidden cameras could be related to business inventory loss prevention, corporate theft, or personal and home security needs such as keeping an eye on valuable assets, the kids, the nanny or an elderly loved one. With more than 2 decades of experience making and designing spy cams, we get called to help with their decision making process.

One of the first choices you’ll need to make when you decide to purchase a home or business surveillance system is to choose between a Wi-fi or DVR camera. Both of these covert camera options come with benefits. There is no right or wrong choice. But there is a better choice depending on your needs and the situation.

Here are the different features of each:

A DVR Camera may be the better for your home or business if…

Need reliable DIY functionality.

Would prefer memory card recording for portable, transferable storage.

Very unlikely to be hacked since it’s not connected to the internet.

Good for short term surveillance.

No Monthly access fee.

No worries about bad connections.

Less expensive options available like our Zone Shield EZ products.

I want access to KJB Security's Choose Your Surveillance Tool

A Wi-fi camera may be the better solution for your home or business if…

You’re looking for a great long-term covert camera system.

You need to view live video anytime from anywhere.

You want to have multiple cameras in different locations and want to see them on one app.

Coming soon- Need to store large amounts of data storage on the cloud.

Would like to receive notifications when someone enters your home or business.

Need live viewing access for multiple people from any smartphone or tablet.

We always like talking with our customers and helping them identify the right camera for their home or business depending on their specific needs. Call or email us at 615-620-1370 or 800-590-4272 or sales@kjbsecurity.com and let's figure it out!

4 Ways to Stay Safe at Summer Festivals

Since the days of Woodstock, attending summer music festivals has been and continues to be one of America’s favorite summer activities. Every year a new summer music festival is added to the fabulous list around the country. Haven’t chosen your summer music festival yet? Elle Magazine has put together a great list of festivals around the country.

This year at most of the summer festivals you find the hottest bands- think The Weekend, Muse, Chance the Rapper, etc. You’ll also find, as you do every year, very big crowds of smelly people- young and old. In fact, you can find KJB Security’s very own president and her family at the Bonaroo Music Festival just outside of Nashville almost every year!

At KJB Security, Inc., our focus is alway on helping you protect what matters and keeping you KJB Safe! So we’ve come up with a few tips to help you or your loved one stay safe at summer festivals!

Stay safe by knowing your locations.

There are a few important locations that you should figure out as soon as you arrive and get set up. The first is a spot that is easy to find in case your group gets separated. The best place would be a landmark that can be seen from anywhere in the area. The second is the location of the medical tent in case of emergency! In general, it’s a good idea for you and your friends to be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Stay safe with GPS Tracking

Send your teen or college student off to the summer music festival this year with our iTrail GPS tracking device. Our iTrail Solo has a 14 hour battery life and can easily fit into your purse or backpack. You will receive location updates every 30 or 60 seconds. The best part? You can know when your tracker has left a specified area using our GeoFence alerts sent to your device!

Stay safe using the buddy system

Having a friend with you at all times will help you stay safe. It will also increase the likelihood of finding your way back to your tent or home base if you get lost! There are so many potential issues you can run into at summer festivals. Your friends can help keep you out of trouble and into having fun!

Stay safe by staying healthy!  
There are just a few things to remember to stay safe in the hot summer sun at an outdoor festival.

• Have lots of water on hand
• Have lots of sunscreen on hand
• Don’t over do it on the alcohol! 
• Don’t forget to eat! 

Contact us at 800-590-4272 or sales@kjbsecurity.com to learn more about our iTrail GPS Tracking devices. Enjoy your summer festival and stay safe!

5 Ways Home Automation and Security Work Hand in Hand

Over the next couple of months KJB Security will be transitioning our ENTIRE line of SleuthGear Wi-Fi cameras to SG Home automation with our new SG Home App. Home automation and security work hand in hand. This merger of your favorite home and business security products with the new world of home and business automation brings with it some great features and advantages that will make your life so much easier.

Here are 5 ways home automation and security work hand in hand.

Home automation keeps safety within your control 24/7

With our SG Home app you now have 24 hour / 7 days a week remote live viewing from the palm of your hand. Yes, this means you can be 2,000 miles away on a beach sipping a fruity drink while viewing your home our business interior or exterior to make sure everything is secure! Or you can be at an event and check in on your kids anytime you need to simply with a glance at your phone. Keep an eye on everything: Your home, business, kids, pets and valuable possessions from your tablet, PC or smartphone. Don’t like what you see? One touch recording allows you to quickly record and share video or snapshots of the scene. Anytime… from anywhere.

Home automation is secure

We’ve made sure you will feel secure every time you check on your home or business from your SG Home app by enabling password protection. Furthermore, hidden SSID means that your camera's location is completely hidden from intruders. And last but not least, built-in battery operated covert camera models are available, including outdoor cameras, for an additional layer of security. Get up to 90 days of standby battery life in these hidden cameras that blend into your home, office or outdoor environment.

Home automation simplifies your life

One touch recording allows you to quickly record and share video or snapshots of the scene. Our SG Home long life battery models offer up to 90 days of standby recording. One touch recording allows you to quickly record and share video or snapshots of the scene. Plus switching from the EZ See app used by our old products to the new SG Home app will make setup a snap.

Home automation alerts you immediately

Our new SG Home app sends push notifications when the camera is activated by something entering its area! You can quickly wake up the camera to check the scene remotely from the SG Home app with Wake PIR. Afraid of false alerts? We’ve got that covered. Our latest technology has PIR sensors for fewer false alerts.

Our Home Security Automation will soon include Cloud recording!

KJB Security will soon be first in the WORLD to offer cloud recording for hidden cameras! With cloud recording you will be able to access your recorded videos from any device connected to the internet. Also, your files won’t take up valuable space on your hard drive. Finally, with cloud recording you can have peace of mind knowing your files will always be safe from hackers or computer failure. The future of cloud recording for Wi-Fi covert security cameras will be here very soon!

Contact us today at 800-590-4272 or sales@kjbsecurity.com to learn more about our Home Automation Security Products!

Four Ways To Stay Safe On Your Next Camping Trip

Spring is here and the weather is perfect for camping and hiking! When planning our camping trips we tend to focus mainly on what to bring and where we are going to go. There are many resources available online for planning camping trips like  Reserve America and, of course, the National Park Service. You can browse and book your favorite camping spot anywhere in the US!

Safety is often at the bottom of our checklist when planning your camping trip. Maybe we assume campground management has thought it through and there's no need for additional planning on the campers part. Or we’re just so excited about all the impending fun that we don’t want to think about potential safety issues! With just a little forethought and pre-planning we can relax and enjoy our camping experience and feel safe!

Four ways to stay safe on a camping trip:

1. Stay safe by protecting your valuables from theft

Lets face it, our stuff is more vulnerable at a campsite for the simple reason that tents don’t have locks! Once you get everything set up and situated you want to be able to go out and explore and not have to worry about what you leave behind! Articles like this sadly remind us that on campgrounds our ‘stuff’ is often not as safe as we may want to think.

So what should you do with your ‘stuff’ while you’re out exploring? We recommend taking portable covert surveillance with you to the campground! Our Xtreme Life Plus Hidden Camera backpack will fit right in with camping equipment! It has 28 hours of continuous recording battery life, is Wi-Fi enabled, motion activates and is water resistant. It is truly the only product on the market for outdoor long term use!

2. Stay safe by protecting your body and health

Save yourself lots of potential frustration and pain by planning ahead for physical safety while you're on a camping trip! Here are a few things to remember to pack or do to keep your health and body safe:

• Be sure to bring sunscreen, hat, bug spray, medications and a First Aid Kit.

• Never use fuel-burning equipment such as gas stoves, heaters, lanterns, and charcoal grills inside a tent, camper, or other enclosed shelter. Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can build up and cause suffocation.

• The CDC Recommends the following: Before you leave, check the weather report, learn about security at your camp location, and tell family and friends your plans. Know who to contact at the camp to report issues that may come up.  

3. Stay safe by not getting lost

Camping and hiking go hand in hand. There’s nothing better to do on a camping trip than go explore the great outdoors all around you. We don’t realize, however, just how GREAT the space is around us. Heartbreaking stories like this are sad reminders that it can be easy to get lost, even if we’re not too far away from our campsite. It’s even more difficult to be able to send our kids out into the wilderness to explore by themselves.

Almost every outdoor enthusiast will say their number one piece of advice for a safe hike is “Never hike alone.” That goes for a two hour jaunt through a park on Sunday afternoon and a week-long trek through the back country. The iTrail GPS Solo goes hand in hand with never hiking alone.  It sends location updates every 30 or 60 seconds and has 14 hours of battery life. It is very durable and easily fits into a child's backpack! And the best part? You can know when your hiker has left a specified area using our GeoFence alerts! Finally, it has CDMA for the most coverage in the USA! Think about outfitting all members of your hiking party with one.

4. Stay safe by protecting your environment from wildlife

No matter where you decide to camp in the US, you will need to prepare for wildlife. Wildlife can be a great source of fun and excitement on camping trips. On the flip side, they can also present potential danger for your stuff, yourself and your animals. Here are a few recommendations for staying safe from wildlife:

• Keep your pet within your sight and on a leash at all times.

• Don’t ever touch or get too close to a wild animal. Even if they seem tame as they can carry rabies or other diseases. They can also attack or bite if they feel threatened when you invade their space.

• Never get between a wild animal and its babies.

• Never feed a wild animal.

• Bring good food storage and be familiar with campsite food storage guidelines.

We hope these tips help you as you plan your camping trip so you can relax and enjoy it!

BONUS: Call us ( 800-590-4272 ) at and mention this blog post to get a special price on a iTrail Solo tracking and XTreme Life Backpack bundle!

Give me access to your super helpful Great Outdoors Safety Checklist!

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

ISC West Follow Up

Wow! The only word to describe ISC West 2017 is SUCCESS!

Our Kill Marry Kiss breakdown of ISC West:

• Kill- The dry weather out in Vegas! Got so dry I lost my voice! (Jill)
• Kill- Our flight. Was delayed until 2am in the morning. UGH! (Neil)
• Marry- Our customers! We had so much fun with them in at our booth! (Neil)
• Marry- The show closing bell! (Jill)
• Kiss- Crystal from LawMate as she did a great job in our booth! (Neil)
• Kiss- The new delta X! It was a huge success! (Jill)

Neil with Crystal and Peter

We met with a wide variety of customers from installers, law enforcement, resellers, end-users, corporate security, loss prevention and much more. Everyone was very pleased to find KJB as we were the only company offering the wide range of security and Surveillance tools at ISC West.

Our ISC West customers were excited about the following KJB Security initiatives:

• Our product line moving to a Cloud based solution!
• The new remote access and remote playback features of the SG-Home as well as the responsiveness to the app.
• The Delta X was a big hit, especially the GPS Car Tracker mode! The GPS mode is a selectable option within the Delta X’s software that identifies every SMS signal used by US based GPS trackers. Placed within the car while driving the Delta X will analyze each individual pre-selected SMS signal, allowing the Delta to monitor if such signals are being transmitted and detected and in what pattern this is occurring.

Until next year ISC West!!

4 Tax Deduction Tracking Tools for the Self Employed

Around this time every year, self-employed business owners can be seen doing the following:

• Digging around the car to find half torn, coffee stained receipts.
• Yelling out “Dang it, I’ll just have to take the standard mileage deduction again!”
• Trying to figure out which room in your home you actually worked the most in this year. It’s always the largest, right?
• Scrolling through that latest and greatest expense-tracking app that was meant to help alleviate all of this hassle last year, only to find that it isn’t as ‘easy to use’ as was promised!  

Yes, every year we resolve to have a better plan and inevitably the plan seems to fail. Well, we’re here to tell you that you, the self employed business owner, are not alone. We’ve all been there… and done that.

And we’re also here to help by providing a list of 4 tools that will help you get organized and keep track of those tax deductions for next year! It’s never too late to try again.

4 great tax deduction tracking tools for the self employed...

1. Evernote

We love Evernote for staying organized! It’s one of our favorite tax deduction tracking tools! Here’s how tracking your taxes in Evernote works:

1. Create a folder for the current year’s tax deductions.
2. Throughout the year email or scan in any docs or receipts associated with deductions and save them in your new folder.

Next year you’ll have everything in digital format and all in one place and can easily ‘share’ the folder with your accountant or prepare your own taxes... if that’s your thing. Here’s a great blog series for keeping your tax docs organized using Evernote!

2. iTrail GPS Tracker

Keeping track of your mileage for all those business-related road trips may be one of the most difficult things to do when it comes to self-employed tax deductions! To do it correctly requires meticulous mileage logging every day. In reality, most of us probably find ourselves guessing on this one each year because it can be too much hassle.

In this Yahoo Finance article, Joshua S. Barger, vice president of tax services at Foundation Financial Group in Manhattan, recommends keeping thorough documentation of travel mileage, medical expenses and meals-and-entertainment expenses -- the categories IRS auditors are most persnickety about monitoring. "Whatever miles you've driven for business purposes, you need to keep proper logs," Barger said. "You need to write down what the odometer is when you start and then you need to write it down when you get home."

What if we told you we have a solution that will save you hours and hours of time and could help you put a little more more money in your pocket around tax time? The iTrail Snap will help you track your mileage and quickly generate mileage reports to add to your evernote folder (mentioned above).

(Sample iTrail report)

It’s a snap to deploy and runs off the battery of your automobile or truck. Move it from vehicle to vehicle in seconds. One tracking tool for multiple vehicle tracking.

Tracking milage on a whole fleet of vehicles? No problem. Our iTrail Convoy can handle it!

3. Mint.com

Let’s all face the music: It’s a very good idea to keep track of your finances in one place online. There are so many options to choose from for personal finance tracking today. You simply import and track all of your your accounts from investments to loans to banks accounts. It’s all in one place.

Our favorite personal finance site for tax deduction tracking is Mint. How do you use mint for tax deduction tracking? Simply add a ‘tax’ tag to any expenses related to taxes throughout the year. When it comes time to do taxes, just search for the ‘tax’ tag and all of those tagged expenses will be there on one page. Super easy and simple!

4. iDonatedit

Finally, we’ve found a great tax deduction tracking tool that will help you keep track of your donations! The iDonatedit app tracks and values your non-cash charitable donations. Track the date of donation, the charity, and the fair market value. Include a picture of your donated item to help you document your donation! You can easily email the donation report to yourself or your accountant around tax time.

We hope these self-employed tax deduction tracking tools help you in your resolve to do a much better job of keeping track of your taxes this year! For more information on using the iTrail products to track your vehicle or fleet mileage visit us online, email us at support@myitrail.com or give us a call at 800-590-4272!