Columbia Basin Herald Online Newspaper

Local News - Moses Lake, WA - Grant County

Moses Lake police watch for crosswalk violations

Posted: Thursday, Jul 09, 2009 - 04:06:23 pm PDT
Email this story Printer friendly version
By Candice Boutilier
Herald assistant editor 
Candice Boutilier/Columbia Basin Herald
Moses Lake police are watching pedestrian crosswalks to ensure drivers stop to allow people to cross the street.

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department is providing additional patrols at pedestrian crosswalks for safety purposes.

The extra patrols are in response to complaints from the public and the recent death of a Moses Lake woman struck by a pickup truck while attempting to cross Broadway Avenue.

“We may be using ‘plain clothes’ officers for this emphasis,” police Chief Dean Mitchell said.

Police are concentrating on West Broadway Avenue and West Third Avenue, he said. They are looking for vehicles failing to stop for pedestrians, and pedestrians who walk in front of vehicles who are unable to stop.

Failure to yield to a pedestrian will result in a $124 fine, Mitchell said.

“Drivers must stop when a pedestrian enters the crosswalk and remain stopped until the pedestrian clears the entire width of the direction the vehicle is traveling,” he said.

He requests drivers yield to pedestrians walking through an unmarked intersection and asks pedestrians to use crosswalks rather than use unmarked intersections for safety purposes.

To report a violation, people may call 509-762-1160. Be prepared with the vehicle’s license plate number, description of the vehicle and location of the violation.


Email this story Printer friendly version
POST YOUR OPINION

(optional)
   
* All comment posts will encounter a possible delay of up to 24 hours.

Ian wrote on Jul 23, 2009 9:02 AM:

" " Just don't walk out in traffic and assume that there is enough time for a motorist to see you and be able to stop. It's common sense son to look both ways and cross when traffic is clear .... "

I though I said it but looking back at it I see I had forgotten. The 3 times I almost got hit during my Jr. year, I was in the crosswalk, and all other cars had slowed down for me. The drivers just weren't paying attention. Also I NEVER walk on the street, that IS what the side walks are for. I was crossing the street at that point because no crosswalks were around. The lady was AT LEAST a football field away from us. "

Kathy wrote on Jul 13, 2009 5:58 PM:

" How about people using the cross walks ?? Or putting cross walks in where the is needs to be one. Like by Peninsule ELEMENTRY SCHOOL NOT DOWN THE ROAD WHERE KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO BE CROSSING. How about fining the people who just run across the street and don't both to walk all of a block down the road to use a cross walk... "

Fed Up wrote on Jul 12, 2009 12:14 PM:

" Police Chief Mitchell would rather have officers write traffic tickets than protect us from gang violence.

Why are we paying so much for officers when they only write traffic tickets (or have aa Austrailian contractor use illegal cameras to mail violators tickets). "

Ryan wrote on Jul 10, 2009 4:00 PM:

" I agree with Ian that at Division and Nelson drivers have disreguard for the cross walk, even when the 20mph school zone is in effect. You can stand on the corner all you want and no one will stop for you. You must make a attempt at crossing first then just hope people are going to see and slow down. "

Fed Up wrote on Jul 10, 2009 2:21 PM:

" Yes Ian, pedestrians have the right away but it shouldn't be abused. Just don't walk out in traffic and assume that there is enough time for a motorist to see you and be able to stop. It's common sense son to look both ways and cross when traffic is clear .... and don't take your sweet time getting across - move it! If you are jay-walking, the above is even more important because motorists are not expecting to have people cross the road.
If you happen to be one of the teenagers that seem to think that walking down the road is within your rights. Wrong! That's what those sidewalks along the road are for.
Be safe kiddo! "

Ian wrote on Jul 10, 2009 11:50 AM:

" Wow, I'm glad they're finally doing something about this. My Jr. year of high school(2007-2008) I was almost hit 5 times. 3 of those times being in 1 day and 1 of those was by a school bus. 4 of those times was at the top of Division St. hill.
Unless I'm mistaken I'm pretty sure the Washington driver's guide states that pedestrians always have the right away, even not in a crosswalk(There are times when a cross walk isn't close by). Just the other day some old lady in a white car was speeding further down Division St. and almost hit me and my girl friend. She didn't even slow down at all and had plenty of time. "

me wrote on Jul 10, 2009 8:55 AM:

" This is a great thing...but also, and this may sound crazy, but people....PLEASE LOOK BEFORE YOU JUST STEP OUT INTO MOVING TRAFFIC, EVEN IF IT IS A CROSSWALK! "

Sue wrote on Jul 10, 2009 8:15 AM:

" That will be great to see, now add the speeders to the list and it would be better, to many times people are speeding up Broadway like they are still on the freeway. "

Fed Up wrote on Jul 9, 2009 10:41 PM:

" With all the gang violance and gun related crimes harming innocent citizens, it is great to see Chief mitchell is focusing his scarce officers on pedestrian crimes.

Advice to all, move out of Moses Lake before it is too late. Crime has overwhelmed our politically appointed law enforcement leadership. "

John wrote on Jul 9, 2009 6:39 PM:

" Thanks Guys. I've seen so many close calls. "

Ruth wrote on Jul 9, 2009 6:31 PM:

" I am so glad to hear the department decided to do an emphasis patrol for this. It is an especially good time, as our children are out of school, and we have more tourists visiting our city, which adds more pedestrians to our streets. However, not only would I like them to watch for and ticket people who do not stop for pedestrians, but think it is important that they cite pedestrians who cross in the middle of traffic. I have had close calls on many occasions on 3rd Avenue, both near Bank of America and the Post Office, with pedestrians darting out from between parked cars to cross in the middle of the street. "

Neil wrote on Jul 9, 2009 5:34 PM:

" Thank you MLPD for this measure. Several times I have had drivers actually swerve trying to clip me when I was in a crosswalk. The insults they yelled were in Spanish so I do not know exactly what they were calling me. Their hand gestures were in a universal language and well understood. But I do understand quite a bit of Spanish when it comes to slang and cusswords. I am none of the things you called me. I appreciate you trying to corral these dimwits. "