Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 15, 2013 Wyckoff Cops in Crosswalks campaign now under way In response to complaints from residents that drivers are not obeying the pedestrian crossing laws, Wyckoff Chief of Police Benjamin C. Fox has announced that the police department will begin aggressive enforcement of the pedestrian laws. As motorists drive through Wyckoff, they may encounter pedestrians attempting to cross the road. It could be someone pushing a baby stroller, children attempting to get to school, an elderly couple walking slowly, a man in a kilt with a bagpipe, or four police officers who look absolutely nothing like the Beetles. Motorists must stop for all pedestrians. New Jersey law requires that all drivers stop and stay stopped for pedestrians crossing the roadway in a marked crosswalk. Drivers approaching from the rear of a car stopped for a pedestrian cannot overtake and pass the stopped vehicle. The exception to the requirement to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk is when the driver is traveling straight through a green traffic signal. Pedestrians cannot enter the roadway when a vehicle is approaching and is so close that it is impossible for the driver to stop or yield. Drivers should be especially cautious when making left turns. Before making a turn, drivers are typically focused straight ahead to determine whether they can turn in front of approaching traffic. However, motorists must be observant of pedestrians crossing on the adjacent street as they make the turn. The New Jersey pedestrian law states that, in the event of a collision between a pedestrian and vehicle when the pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, there shall be a permissive inference that the driver did not exercise due care for the pedestrian’s safety. As part of the Wyckoff Police Department’s “Cops in Crosswalks” program, decoy officers in plainclothes will be assigned to intersections. They will repeatedly cross the street looking for approaching drivers who fail to stop. Violators will face penalties of $200 and two points. Wyckoff police officers recreated the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road crossing in an effort to motivate drivers to seriously think about the importance of obeying the pedestrian safety laws and contributing to a safer community. Pictured: Sergeant Robert Mackay (George), Chief Benjamin Fox (Paul), Sergeant Jack McEwan (Ringo), and Lieutenant Charles Van Dyk (John). Wyckoff Township Administrator Robert Shannon is pictured in the background in a kilt playing ‘Yellow Submarine’ on the bagpipes. (Wyckoff police photo by Lt. David Murphy. Volkswagen courtesy of Joe Heidt Motors, Ramsey.)