Police targeting jaywalkers

Hamilton police are going after downtown pedestrians next week as one of a number of initiatives to mark Canada Road Safety Week.

Officers will be watching for all the usual safety hazards, drinking and driving, speeding, seatbelts and car seat installations as well but Constable Claus Wagner says pedestrians who dart out on a ‘Don’t Walk’ signal will get special attention.

Pedestrians, says Wagner who is the police traffic safety and centralized breath testing unit co-ordinator, don’t always have the right-of-way as they may think.

And, he says, there is a problem in the downtown core and people who walk out into traffic do nothing for motorists’ nerves except make them angry and that can lead to other problems.

Comments

[Bill Bell]

What is it in a police officer's training that could possibly qualify him or her to decide issues like this? Do the police govern this society or do we govern it as a democracy?

[Rodney]

What part of their training?

How about LAW ENFORCEMENT???? I suppose your version of democracy would allow you to defy the oppression of these law enforcement agents?