Process servers are exposed to dangerous situations every day while delivering legal documents to hostile defendants. Furious recipients sometimes threaten, follow, or physically assault process servers during service requests. Because of this, having some form of reliable pepper gel or pepper spray is a must-have personal protection on the job. In this blog, experienced process servers compare the best brands available for defense purposes. Each of the recommendations takes into consideration range, accuracy, wind-resistance, and ease of carry for fieldwork.
Knowledge About Pepper Spray vs. Pepper Gel
Pepper spray is a dispersant in the form of an aerosol mist that contains oleoresin capsicum from chilli peppers. It burns bitterly in the eyes, nose, throat, and skin when touched. Effects last about 45 minutes, allowing process servers the time to retreat safely. Instead, pepper gel provides the very same active component in a thicker, stickier type of the product. The gel goes in a concentrated stream, minimizing the effects of blowback by the wind, and hence the potential for cross-contamination, to a great degree. Process servers working outdoors in the wind often use pepper gel in place of the traditional spray.
Brand One: Gel Red Pepper SABRE
SABRE is the number one pepper spray brand of choice by law enforcement officers worldwide. Their pepper gel delivers police strength protection with maximum stopping power in each canister. SABRE runs an exclusive in-house laboratory for High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to ensure that there is always a consistent strength for each formula. This lab eliminates the 30% failure rate found in the products of competing brands. Process servers like the approximately 20-foot range and reduced wind blowback significantly. The small size clamps easily into belts, pockets, or process server bags for easy access.
Brand Two Fox Labs One Point Four
Fox Labs makes the strongest legal pepper spray formula available on the market. Their One Point Four formula has a 5.3 million Scoville Heat Unit for maximum stopping power. It blows a powerful stream that reaches about 17 feet to threatening targets in an effective manner. Highly processing servers against extremely hostile defendants, Fox Labs is frequently the solution of choice for superior strength. To test this idea, we simply proceeded with creating an apparatus for testing. The canister easily fits into a pocket or the console of a vehicle for instant accessibility to the tester. However, this product only comes in spray form and not in gel form, which raises the risk of greater blowback from the wind.
Brand Three: Mace Brand Triple Action
Mace invented pepper gel, and they are a trusted name in personal defense products. Their Triple Action formula combines OC pepper, CS tear gas, and UV marking dye. The UV dye provides a hidden mark of an attacker, which helps police to finger suspects after an attack. Triple protection of process servers is valuable during evasive defendant high-risk service attempts. Mace offers both a spray and gel version, which gives process servers flexibility for different environments. Their products remain affordable without compromising quality or reliability for everyday carry.
Brand Four: POM Pepper Spray
POM is a portable pepper spray that uses lightweight plastic and fits in a discreet everyday carry. The thin canister looks like a marker, fits easily in any pocket, and attracts no attention. Process servers who like to be protected and inconspicuous opt for POM for its sleek and minimalistic look. The flip-top safety mechanism effectively prevents accidental discharge from occurring inside a bag or a pocket. POM provides a high stream hitting about 10 feet, reaching out to threatening targets with accuracy. Its small size makes it suitable for process servers that provide papers in professional environments.
Brand Five: SABRE Crossfire pepper gel
SABRE Crossfire is unique because it can spray accurately at any angle or orientation. Process servers sometimes must deploy defensive spray when falling, running, or crouching. The Crossfire technology ensures consistent delivery no matter the position of the canister during emergency situations. Its gel formula makes it safe to use during indoor service without fear that it will affect local bystanders. The 20-foot range provides process servers with some distance from aggressive defendants that can be valuable. This product is one of the best products for home defense and for professional fieldwork.
Legal Considerations for the Process Servers
Pepper spray is legal for defense in all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C. However, some states restrict canister size, formula strength, and the age of the buyer. Process servers must research the laws where they operate prior to carrying pepper spray or gel products. Convicted felons cannot legally purchase pepper spray under federal law in any state. Using pepper spray in an offensive rather than defensive manner may lead to criminal assault charges. Process servers should enforce these products only if there are real threats to personal safety.
Process Servers: Best Practice
Process servers should have pepper gel or pepper spray on hand and ready if needed, not locked away in bags. Practice with expired canisters allows them to rehearse high-stress emergency situations and build muscle memory. By choosing products with safety mechanisms, they can avoid accidental discharge while performing ordinary daily tasks. Process servers should replace canisters before expiration dates to ensure maximum formula potency. Retreating as soon as possible after deployment is the most secure course of action under all circumstances of a defensive situation.
Conclusion
Process servers can benefit greatly from carrying good pepper gel or pepper spray on the job. SABRE, Fox Labs, Mace, POM, and SABRE Crossfire each have different benefits in the field. Pepper gel offers superior wind resistance and range for outdoor service attempts specifically. The advantage of pepper spray over pepper gas is its rapid effect upon contact, easier deployment, and greater area effect for covering the aggressor in an indoor setting. Choosing the right brand depends on each process server’s environment, preferences, and danger level.
Contact our professional process servers today for reliable and safe court paper delivery services. Our experienced team carries proper defensive equipment while carrying out the service of serving documents professionally. Contact us to discuss how our process servers can provide for your legal service needs efficiently.
