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Letter: Burnaby RCMP should absolutely be nailing jaywalkers

Editor: Re: Burnaby RCMP nailed a bunch of ‘jaywalkers’. But should they? NOW Opinion, Oct. 2 I was surprised to see that Burnaby NOW thinks that it is a waste of law enforcement's resources when they look for jaywalkers to ticket.
DTES tickets
Many Burnaby drivers have argued against a NOW blog that said police shouldn't focus any resources on jaywalkers. Photo Dan Toulgoet/Vancouver Courier

Editor:

Re: Burnaby RCMP nailed a bunch of ‘jaywalkers’. But should they? NOW Opinion, Oct. 2

I was surprised to see that Burnaby NOW thinks that it is a waste of law enforcement's resources when they look for jaywalkers to ticket.

As a driver in Burnaby, they shouldn't have to look very far. I live behind the Metrotown SkyTrain station and every day I see at least one pedestrian not only jaywalking, but doing so while focused on their cell phone or IPod.

It is a wonder that more of them are not injured by cars. Kudos should go out to the majority of drivers who are alert enough to see them, when the jaywalkers are not paying any attention to what is going on around them.

In some instances, they come very close to causing traffic accidents as they are crossing in areas where they are difficult to see and again not paying attention to what is going on around them. I am always happy to see a pedestrian make eye contact with me when they are crossing in front of me. It indicates that they are paying attention.

If we, the driver, hit a pedestrian, it is our fault. Yet no responsibility seems to lie with the pedestrian. As drivers, we are not allowed to text while driving - and rightly so. But there is no law that I am aware of that prohibits pedestrians to be distracted by cell phones while they are crossing streets, or even walking in general.

I am always wondering "where is a policeman" when I see these distracted pedestrians, as I never see any around. Even if I don't see them, I am happy to know that they are now out there looking for jaywalkers.

Charlotte Rittel, Burnaby