The Ridgewood Police Department conducting Pedestrian Safety enforcement
MOTORISTS in New Jersey MUST stop for pedestrians in a marked crosswalk. Failure to observe the law may subject you to one or more of the following:
2 POINTS
$200 FINE (plus court costs)
15 DAYS COMMUNITY SERVICE
INSURANCE SURCHARGES
NEW JERSEY STATUTE 39:4-36
Driver to stop for pedestrian:
exceptions, violations. penalties.
A. The driver of a vehicle must stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk, but shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals, or where otherwise prohibited by municipal, county, or State regulation, and except where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided, but no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.Whenever any vehicle is stopped to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.
Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
B. A person violating this section shall, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine to be imposed by the court in the amount of $200. The court may also impose a term of community service not to exceed 15 days.
C. Of each fine imposed and collected pursuant to subsection B. of the section, $100 shall be forwarded to the State Treasurer who shall annually deposit the moneys into the “Pedestrian Safety Enforcement and Education Fund” created by section 1 of PL 2005, c 84 (C.39:4-36.2)
PEDESTRIANS MUST obey pedestrian signals and use crosswalks at signalized intersections. Both carry a $54.00 fine for failure to observe the law.
(C.39:4-32 and 33)
I’d like to see some enforcement of :
“PEDESTRIANS MUST obey pedestrian signals and use crosswalks ” AND ‘no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle “.
I agree that pedestrians for some strange reason feel they can just recklessly lope into the street. If you don’t have an SUV you usually have absolutely no idea why the driver in front of you has slammed the brakes on possibly causing a bad accident all around. A little logic & courtesy would eliminate the need for these PR laden police stings. How come these public officials never enforce the “Right on Red ” law at the underpass & the corner of W.Ridgewood Ave? It looks like this will only happen after a disaster.
Judging by the comments so far, I think we have a very long way to go before driving skills reach those of our European peers.
Police: PLEASE ticket these drivers into submission. I see it as a tax on the stupid.
If you don’t like it here, why don’t you go back to Europe.
#4: Who said I came from Europe? I travel extensively and I can tell you that European driving standards are far superior to ours.
the big problem is people think they can just walk right into the road with out looking. and manny do it every day and the driver looks like the bad one, not fare.
How about clearly lining the cross walks?
I had someone jump out on front of me in a Glen Rock crosswalk and when I hit the brakes the driver behind me slammed into me. The pedestrian didn’t even stop to see if everyone was ok. The law needs to be changed.
It will be interesting to see how many drivers get ticketed vs. pedestrians. The police enjoy pulling over errant drivers and do so with a show of flashing lights and a quick beep of the siren for all to observe. It is very eye catching however when was the last time anyone saw such a display of force to ticket a pedestrian yet every day we all see pedestrians crossing mid-street on E. Ridgewood and other streets in the Village.
Regardless of laws, fines, or desire for drivers from other continents, the vehicle always wins over a pedestrian – so be alert, use the cross walk and don’t think a car can stop on a dime just for you.