On Friday, May 6th, 2022 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the Medford Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a joint “Targeted Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operation” on E Jackson Street at Olwell Road.
The operation will focus on drivers failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians in the crosswalk. It is important to know this is an unmarked crosswalk in a school zone adjacent to Hedrick Middle School where speeds are posted 20 MPH. Fine amounts double for traffic violations that occur within a school zone.
Police say these operations are to raise pedestrian safety awareness through enforcement of pedestrian right of way laws with the use of a decoy pedestrian operation at targeted locations. Violators may be cited for failure to stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk or passing a stopped vehicle at a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Both violations carry a presumptive fine of $265.00. Drivers should be reminded there is a crosswalk at every intersection, regardless if it is marked or unmarked.
Drivers are reminded of the Oregon laws that require a driver must stop and remain stopped if a pedestrian is walking in your lane of traffic or the lane adjacent, remembering this applies on single and multi-lane roadways.
Oregon law also prohibits passing a stopped vehicle at a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection if the vehicle is stopped to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway.
Courtesy of MPD
