Stung at crosswalk

FOR THE RECORD

An article in the May 11 issue of the Daily Pilot, “Stung at Crosswalk,” should have stated that it is a violation for the driver of a motor vehicle to fail to yield to a pedestrian at any point in a crosswalk.

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Think you can stop traffic?

Two Costa Mesa police employees took their chances Wednesday at a crosswalk at 17th Street and Westminster Avenue as part of an undercover sting to spread awareness about the need for motorists to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

People said the crosswalk at the busy intersection is a problem, and police have received numerous complaints that it’s too dangerous for pedestrians to cross there.

“I’m an old lady, and I want to know why nobody stops,” said Newport Beach resident Marilyn Paulsen, 77, who walks often in the area.

Paulsen said she was glad to see police conducting the crosswalk enforcement Wednesday and personally thanked the police officers there. She said she was almost hit by a car while crossing Newport Boulevard recently.

Police wrote 61 citations to motorists who failed to stop when the two decoys walked in the marked crosswalk during the three-hour sting Wednesday.

“Summer’s around the corner and we basically want to get the word out,” Costa Mesa Sgt. Rob Sharpnack said.

The officers, one dressed in a bright yellow shirt and the other wearing a red top, took turns crossing busy 17th Street in the marked crosswalk. Officer Ken Noble was already at the middle point of the crosswalk when a black sports car sped through, missing him by just a few feet. A Costa Mesa motorcycle officer pulled the driver over in a nearby shopping mall and gave him a ticket.

Motorists are required by law to stop for a person in a crosswalk. If the pedestrian is at the middle point of the crosswalk, a car must stop and give the pedestrian the right of way. If a vehicle stops for a pedestrian in a crosswalk on a multi-lane road, it’s also illegal for another vehicle to overtake the car that is stopped, said Costa Mesa Lt. Dave Andersen.

Police said stings like these are effective in creating public awareness about crosswalk safety.

“They see the lights, they hear the sirens,” Sharpnack said.

Wednesday’s sting wasn’t designed to trick anyone, Andersen said. The decoys were instructed to wear bright clothing to be especially visible in the crosswalk and did not purposefully jump out in front of cars.

“Fairness is the key,” he said.

Some motorists who were given a citation Wednesday said they didn’t see the person crossing the road, Costa Mesa Sgt. Rich Allum said.

“Half of them say, ‘What pedestrian?’ ” Allum said.dpt.11-crosswalk-2-CPhotoInfo1D1QR36E20060511iz2t3lnc(LA)Costa Mesa Sgt. Rich Allum cites a driver pulled over for driving through a crosswalk while a pedestrian was walking across the street, for which the fine is $175. dpt.11-crosswalk-1-CPhotoInfo1D1QR35E20060511iz2t0jncPHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Christina Goodfellow of the Costa Mesa Police Department crosses 17th Street at Westminster Avenue on Wednesday. The Police Department conducted a sting to ticket motorists who didn’t yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.