When is the last time you crossed the street without observing pedestrian laws?
Do you even know the laws regarding jaywalking? If you’re not sure – don’t worry, you’re not alone! Tickets for jaywalking are few and far between these days, but, growing concern over the public safety lead Los Angeles police to crack down on jaywalking this holiday season.
The specific areas where LAPD will be watching for jaywalkers are the Historic Core and Financial Districts, but pedestrians everywhere would do well to watch where they cross the street. Tickets in the amounts of $190 to $250 will be written for anyone who is caught not observing the law when crossing the street.
To be cited for jaywalking, you don’t need to be in the middle of crossing the street, or even intending to do so. According to Lt. Lydia Leos of the LAPD: “You could be cited for simply stepping off the curb while the countdown clock ticks on the other side of the street.”
Pedestrians crossing the street have been impeding traffic for awhile now, and the LAPD is looking to make sure that everyone follows the law and shares the road respectfully and responsibly. While pedestrians do have the right of way, there is a time and a place for them to exercise that right.
The Los Angeles Police Department intends to show that waltzing into the middle of the road whenever they please is not one of them.