Cutting across the street to save time on the way to class could end in fines for UNM students.
During February, officers from the Albuquerque Traffic Unit began enforcing the city's jaywalking law as a means of establishing awareness after an accident that left two pedestrians dead on Dec. 6.
"Jaywalking is probably considered similar to spitting on the sidewalk," said APD spokesman Det. Jeff Arbogast. "It is important to raise awareness, and hopefully, people will understand the dangers of a car versus a flesh-and-bone human being."
Having seen many of the end results of pedestrian-related accidents, Arbogast said UNM's Department of Emergency Medicine funded the Pedestrian Enforcement Tactical Operation with a grant. He said the grant will allow APD to focus on pedestrians and motorists who are placed in danger because of jaywalking.
Arbogast said any number of traffic incidents is unacceptable and the city should not be seeing any fatalities as a result.
APD focused primarily on the city's areas where pedestrians are involved in car crashes, specifically between San Mateo Boulevard and Rhode Island Street along Central Avenue and Lomas Boulevard.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
With many UNM students walking to and from campus every day, many say it has become a matter of convenience to cross the street wherever they can.
"Who wants to walk from Smooch's all the way up by Frontier just to cross the street?" asked UNM senior Brian Curley.
Many UNM students say they have jaywalked and say they feel APD is attempting to target part of a ridiculous law.
"Most human beings have enough sense to know when to cross the street," said Santa Fe resident Adam Willson.
Arbogast said everyone has jaywalked, and the problem is too many drivers in Albuquerque don't care about the safety of pedestrians or other motorists, making crossing the street even more dangerous.
The Albuquerque Traffic Unit issued 204 tickets for pedestrian violations in February alone, including 102 for improper use of a crosswalk, 75 for failing to regard the "don't walk" signal and 27 for walking in the street or shoulder instead of the sidewalk.
A typical citation could cost pedestrians about $70.
Anything other than crossing an intersection in a crosswalk when you have the green hand is means for a citation, Arbogast said.
He said crosswalks are designed at intersections specifically for pedestrians and their safety. But, he added motorists should know as they approach the intersection there is a high likelihood of a pedestrian entering.
Included in the 204 tickets were 67 tickets to motorists who did not yield to pedestrians who were correctly using the crosswalks.
"A person in a car should recognize they are in a powerful machine," said Jenny Halpern, a UNM graduate student. "Pedestrians should always have the right of way."
