New Jersey Towns Cracking Down On Drivers At Crosswalks
NORTH BERGEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - Next time you're driving past a crosswalk, make sure you come to a full stop or else it could come with a hefty price tag.
North Bergen has joined Teaneck, Hackensack, Clifton, Fort Lee, and other towns in making sure it's safe for pedestrians.
It's not about writing tickets to make money for the town, North Bergen Police Lt. Robert Farley, Jr. told WCBS 880 reporter Levon Putney.
New Jersey Towns Cracking Down On Drivers At Crosswalks
"We're trying to make pedestrians as safe as possible, in both education and enforcement," he said.
That's why, aside from the enforcement half, Farley said they also go to local schools to talk to kids.
"We educate kids on crossing the road safely," he said, saying they educate them when they're young and hope they'll take those lessons with them as they grow.
The state gave grant money to North Bergen and over two dozen other North Jersey departments for a two-pronged crosswalk safety approach - part for education and part for enforcement.
"We do run pedestrian decoy operations," he added.
That's where, in a little over a month from now, officers will watch as a cop wearing plain clothes walks in a crosswalk to see if drivers stop, and will issue a ticket if they don't.
"Be alert and be aware," Farley said.
In addition to a hefty fine, you might get two points on your license.
