Moses Lake police watch for crosswalk violations
Candice Boutilier/Columbia Basin Herald<br> Moses Lake police are watching pedestrian crosswalks to ensure drivers stop to allow people to cross the street.
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Police Department is providing additional patrols at pedestrian crosswalks for safety purposes.
The extra patrols are in response to complaints from the public and the recent death of a Moses Lake woman struck by a pickup truck while attempting to cross Broadway Avenue.
“We may be using ‘plain clothes’ officers for this emphasis,” police Chief Dean Mitchell said.
Police are concentrating on West Broadway Avenue and West Third Avenue, he said. They are looking for vehicles failing to stop for pedestrians, and pedestrians who walk in front of vehicles who are unable to stop.
Failure to yield to a pedestrian will result in a $124 fine, Mitchell said.
“Drivers must stop when a pedestrian enters the crosswalk and remain stopped until the pedestrian clears the entire width of the direction the vehicle is traveling,” he said.
He requests drivers yield to pedestrians walking through an unmarked intersection and asks pedestrians to use crosswalks rather than use unmarked intersections for safety purposes.
To report a violation, people may call 509-762-1160. Be prepared with the vehicle’s license plate number, description of the vehicle and location of the violation.