By Katie Evans
Provo and BYU police are enforcing citations against violators that jaywalk and drivers that are not yielding to pedestrians on crosswalks.
?We are trying to educate those crossing mid-street and to get people?s awareness,? said Campus Patrol Manager Lt. Aaron Rhoades. ?Just because they are in the crosswalk doesn?t mean they are safe.?
Utah law states if there is a light on each corner pedestrians must go to the intersection and cross.
?Pedestrians crossing on University Avenue at mid-block for example, are in violation of state law,? said Sgt. Alan Kuchar. ?Whereas in a residential neighborhood you can cross anywhere you want.?
Abigail Adams, a freshman from Salt Lake City received a jaywalking ticket Thursday for crossing Canyon Road near Helaman Halls. The ticket will cost her $50?$75.
?I?ve crossed that road twice a day every day the whole semester and I?ve never had a problem,? said Adams. ?By jaywalking I?m taking my own life into my hands, whereas when you are running a red light or speeding you are putting others at risk.?
Kuchar plans on going back to 1300 N. Canyon Road this week to cite more jaywalkers.
?It is a statewide law; I?m not giving any warnings,? he said.
Freshman Kristi Grover said the city should put crosswalks in places that people frequently jaywalk because it isn?t fair that people have to take up extra time just to walk to the light.
BYU Police are citing violators at the Tanner building crosswalk, the crosswalk from Wilkinson Center to the law school and the crosswalk by the Bell Tower.
Rhoades said the crosswalk enforcement has been effective so far as complaints from drivers and pedestrians have reduced.
