Roseburg police step up crosswalk enforcement
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ROSEBURG, Ore. -- As kids get back to school next week, the Roseburg Police department is stepping up emphasis on crosswalk awareness.
The department put out patrols on area crosswalks, to try and curb the problems with drivers not stopping for pedestrians.
Four hours into the operation Thursday morning, 26 drivers were cited for failure to observe pedestrians on SE Stephens Street.
Sergeant Aaron Dunbar says drivers must yield when a pedestrian has stepped off the sidewalk and there is opportunity to stop.
Dunbar says that this also applies to what Oregon law defines as unmarked crosswalks. "In any intersection, law still says there's a crosswalk there even if it's not marked."
This is a way to stop bad driving habits before city streets will be littered with school kids.
Failure to yield to a pedestrian costs drivers $287.
Dunbar says more emphasis patrols are planned and the public will be notified.
