Numerous drivers pulled over during crosswalk safety blitz

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Story Published: Jun 30, 2009 at 1:09 PM PST

By Kristina Nelson, KCBY News

NORTH BEND, Ore. - If you were driving along Virginia Avenue in North Bend Tuesday morning, you may have noticed extra police out on the roads.

It was all part of a North Bend Police Department's Pedestrian Crosswalk Enforcement Blitz.

NBPD conducted their second of four pedestrian crosswalk enforcements at the corner of Marion and Virginia Avenues.

According to K9 Officer Bill Downing, this is one of the busiest intersections in the area, which makes it hard for pedestrians to cross.

And that was evident in the short time our cameras were there.

"I think it's pretty evident here that people aren't paying attention and we got to pay attention. The thing is if you hit somebody, vehicle versus pedestrian, the pedestrian is not going to win. So we need to keep our eyes open and pay attention to these marked crosswalks as well as unmarked crosswalks," says Downing.

The blitz not only makes the roads safer for pedestrians, but also gives police an opportunity to give out citations for other laws drivers may be breaking.

"In these operations, we've actually cited people who didn't have drivers licenses, no insurance. Of course it's good to get people with no insurance off the roads, f they strike you vehicle, whose gonna pay for it?"

During the two hour blitz, 15 traffic stops were made, including six citations and nine warnings.

Violation of Oregon pedestrian law is a Class B traffic violation which is a $242 fine.

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