Police cracking down on pedestrian activity downtown

Looks like KCPD read Brad's story. Darin Snapp just sent out this press release, along with some safety tips for pedestrians and drivers.

Through Oct. 28, 2009, 10 pedestrians in Kansas City have been killed by vehicles, and another 165 have been injured. And in a few weeks – Nov. 19-21 – more than 20,000 additional pedestrians will be Downtown for the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC).

 

At the 2007 NCYC convention in Columbus, Ohio, a 16-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed on her way back to her hotel.

 

“We want to do something to raise awareness for pedestrians and motorists,” said Captain Scott Glaeser, commander of the Traffic Enforcement Unit.

 

So Nov. 9 through 13, police will be cracking down on those who violate crosswalk laws with extra police officers around Downtown – many of them in plain clothes – looking for and ticketing violators.

 

They will target both walkers and drivers breaking the law.

 

“These ordinances have been enforced before, but we’re putting an increased

emphasis on them now because of increased pedestrian accidents and all the new Downtown development,” Captain Glaeser said.

 

This upcoming Downtown Crosswalk Crackdown will be the first of several, and police will focus on other areas in the future.

Comments

[Street]

This was actually planned for the NCYC convention, but they couldn't have timed Brad's story any better.

[cripjak]

They should do more about pedestrians selling crack.

[Jane]

How about predestrians that scream into their cell phones. Can cops ticket them or can we just wack them upside the heads?

[ScooterJ]

They could solve the city's budget crisis by just ticketing all the jaywalkers between 10th & 11th on Main.

[Stifled Freedom]

parking tickets galore....not cracking down on pedestrians. Sounds like they just dont any anyone down there.

[Jellybean]

How about the lil thugs that saunter slowly into the crosswalk while staring at you menacingly, sometimes even slapping or grazing their hand across your car's hood? Can we just bump them a little?

[Kevin]

The pedestrian deaths have been along Indpendence Avenue, Broadway and Main Street in the central city NOT DOWNTOWN. KCPD is always looking for reasons to ticket people they know will pay the fine. Try ticketing the jaywalkers in the hood and see what happens.KCPD is a joke

[Searching]

JB... it's a come on. You might as well.. it's been awhile...

[Searching]

Kevin.. so, it's mainly hookers that have been getting hit?

[kevin]

Maybe we should just get rid of all the traffic lights in the urban core and post a police officer in the intersection to control traffic and pedestrians like thye do in big cities.At least they will be working for their paycheck then