CHICAGO DRIVERS: Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalks or Face Fines Moving Violations!
CHICAGO DRIVERS: Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalks or Face Fines Moving Violations!
NEW POLICE STING TARGETS DRIVERS FAILING TO YIELD TO THOSE CROSSING ON FOOT!
If you drive a car in the City of Chicago you had better yield to those crossing the street on foot within marked crosswalks across the city. Not doing so could result in a large fine or a moving violation placed on your driving record!
This week Chicago Police began a new Crosswalk Enforcement Program on the Northwest Side of Chicago. It will expand to other Chicago Neighborhoods within the next few weeks.
As reported by Jon Hilkevitch in his "Getting Around" Column last Monday in the Chicago Tribune the plan includes plain-clothes police officers posing as pedestrians at busy intersections not marked by stoplights or stop signs. The officers would signal ahead to other uniformed officers down the block who would issue tickets – not warnings – to those who blatantly failed to yield to the"pedestrian" officer.
Fines could be as high as $500 according to Kiersten Grove Pedestrian Program Coordinator at the Chicago Department of Transportation.
At the same time new legislation is being discussed in the State Capitol of Springfield IL. Legislation pending in the IL State Senate would impose a $150 fine for drivers who fail to actually stop not simply yield at marked-crosswalk intersections. That legislation has already passed the IL House.
Currently eleven states plus DC have "must stop" laws for drivers. Present IL Law requires drivers to slow at crosswalks and stop only if necessary to yield to pedestrians.
Each year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates more than 6000 pedestrian-vehicle collisions happen across IL. An estimated 3000 occur each year in the City of Chicago. Most occur near school buildings or public parks.
Chicago Police will conduct crosswalk-enforcement operations within the next few days at 119th Street and Stewart Avenue 103rd Street and Prairie Avenue and 86th Street and Commercial Avenue all on the South Side of Chicago.
On Thursday a similar Police Sting was held on the Northwest Side of Chicago at the intersection of Peterson and Nagle Avenues. Offending motorists pulled over were fined between $50 and $500. The number of motorists pulled over and the severity of their fines or warnings has not yet been announced by the Chicago Police Department.
DEAN MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
