Hackettstown Pedestrians Find Traffic Tickets Aren't Just for Drivers

Hackettstown drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks have been receiving warnings and tickets since two state grant-funded traffic awareness programs were implemented in town in July.

But the most recent spate of tickets wasn't just for cellphone-using or text-tapping drivers. Twenty-four pedestrians in total have gotten the surprise of their lives when they received tickets for jaywalking or crossing the street on a stop signal.

"It's amazing how many pedestrians know they're doing something wrong, but they do it anyway," said Sgt. Darren Tynan, who has been in on every outing of the "Stop For Pedestrian Multi Officer Decoy" and “Be Street Smart Campaign” initiatives.

"Pedestrians dart right out without looking both ways," Tynan said. "As a driver, you're not looking for that."

New Jersey is 14th in the nation in pedestrian fatalities—23 percent of all traffic deaths in the state are pedestrians, double the national average, Tynan said.

While motorists throughout the state have become much more aware of changes in laws that mandate drivers come to a complete stop while pedestrians have entered a marked crosswalk, folks on foot don't realize they should look both ways before entering the intersection. 

"It's just common sense," Tynan said.

Like the two state grant programs, keeping safe in public roadways is a joint venture for both drivers and pedestrians, the police officer said. Hackettstown is one of five communities in the state participating in the program.

Out of the 17 tickets handed out in the latest phase of the program implementation ending Nov. 13, 7 pedestrians were written up for jaywalking or failing to obey the crossing signal, Tynan said.

A jaywalking summons will cost violators $54, Tynan said. In his experience, he added, "They do pay the tickets."

Eight motorists were cited for failing to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, while one driver received a summons for using a cell phone while driving and another was ticketed for a moving violation.

Since the program began in July, 75 warnings were given to pedestrians and drivers; 26 tickets for failure to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk; 19 summonses for cell phone use while driving; and 14 other tickets for various moving violations, Tynan said.

He was happily surprised that town residents support eyeing both pedestrians and motorists to comply with the crosswalk laws. "I thought we'd be getting a lot of backlash, but we're getting complimented for our efforts," Tynan said. "Everyone is happy we're enforcing both parts of the law."

The traffic safety program will begin again within the next week or two, he added.