PORT ANGELES — Patrol officers were out Wednesday afternoon looking for motorists who don’t stop for pedestrians waiting at crosswalks.
And Joan Miller of Port Angeles was one of the drivers who found herself on the business end of a $101 ticket, and she wasn’t happy about it.
Two Port Angeles Police officers and two Washington State Patrol troopers were on the lookout for crosswalk scofflaws, using a Port Angeles Police Department employee wearing bright clothing as a marked pedestrian.
They worked the main drags through town — First, Front and Lincoln streets.
When the officer pulled Miller over, he said the pedestrian had lifted one foot off the curb and put it down in the crosswalk.
Miller said she didn’t see the woman at the time because she was behind another car, but after getting the ticket, she followed the woman and the officers and watched them pull over two more cars.
“It’s ridiculous,” Miller said.
“I’m definitely concerned about the safety of people out here, but I’m also concerned about the rights of drivers.”
Miller called Port Angeles Police Chief Tom Riepe to complain and said she plans to fight the ticket in court.
Law: Drivers have to stop
State law says that if a pedestrian has indicated he or she wants to cross at a designated crosswalk, drivers have to stop or suffer the consequences, Riepe said.
In all, Port Angeles Police pulled over 24 drivers for failing to yield to a pedestrian, arrested one for driving on a suspended license, gave warnings to five and ticketed the rest, Riepe said.
State Patrol troopers pulled over 19 drivers, wrote 15 tickets for failing to yield, five for not wearing seat belts and arrested two drivers for outstanding warrants, said State Patrol spokesman Brian George.
The emphasis patrol is part of the Highway 101 Safety Project, Riepe said, who added that drivers who said they didn’t see the woman attempting to cross the street need to pay more attention.
“That tells me people aren’t thinking and watching for crosswalks,” Riepe said.
“They really need to be more aware.”