Plainclothes officer Steven Nacewicz gestures at a driver who failed to stop as he was crossing Elm Street in a crosswalk this morning. Officers were conducting the first of a series of enforcement efforts at city crosswalks. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – Westfield’s community policing officers were out on Elm Street this morning to enforce crosswalk laws and found a few drivers whose habits may need correction.
Sgt. Stephan Dickinson, the commander of the community policing unit, said that police were awarded a $5,000 grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau for the program.
Dickinson said that the grant was initially used to buy three new signs to be posted at crosswalks and the rest of the money will be used to fund additional details such as one this morning to enforce the law at crosswalks.
After more than 15 minutes with a plainclothes officer walking back and forth across Elm Street in the crosswalk near Church Street, officers had not observed an infraction and Dickinson said “This is awesome. I love it.” as he observed the law abiding drivers.
However, the situation did not continue forever as, in the next 15 minutes, three drivers failed to stop and were pulled over by waiting officers.
Dickinson said that the officers who stop offenders will have the option of issuing written warnings or citations which will result in a fine.
He said that officers may also cite pedestrians who fail to use crosswalks when crossing the street.
Dickinson said that the grant will not only fund the effort today but will also fund “three or four” similar enforcement operations next week.
He said that he will submit a report to the safety bureau at the conclusion of the initiative, which will detail the number of vehicles and pedestrians stopped and the number of citations issued.
