Document text
Pedestrian sting snares drivers A Medford police officer watches traffic from his motorcycle as another police employee walks through an East Fourth Street intersection in downtown Medford Monday. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune Monday Apr 30, 2018 at 5:56 PM Apr 30, 2018 at 6:02 PM Local report A police crosswalk enforcement operation Monday targeting downtown Medford drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians netted five drivers who failed to stop, and picked up some cellphone violators as well. The Medford Police Department’s latest Targeted Pedestrian Enforcement Operation tested East Fourth Street drivers at the North Bartlett Street crosswalk between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. In the operation, a decoy pedestrian began to cross the street at a crosswalk as vehicles approached, and those who failed to stop and remain stopped were pulled over and cited, according to police. The five citations were for failure to stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Under Oregon law, the citations carry a base fine of $265. Police also handed out citations for improper use of a cellphone while driving, an offense under Oregon law that carries a base fine of $260 for first-timers not involved in a crash. The sting also netted citations for failure to carry proof of liability insurance, driving while suspended, improper turn, no operator’s license, driving a vehicle with visible emissions and failure to renew registration as well as five verbal warnings for various traffic infractions. These operations join public education as a two-pronged approach to getting drivers to stop for pedestrians crossing roadways, police said. In intersections not controlled by traffic lights, Oregon law requires that a driver must stop and remain stopped if a pedestrian is walking in his lane of travel or an adjacent lane. Oregon law also prohibits passing a stopped vehicle at a marked or unmarked crosswalk at any intersection, including those with traffic lights. The operations are funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation.