Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Pedestrian safety

Wiki Wednesday: The Crosswalk Violator Crackdown

If New York could set up red light cams and speeding cams at its discretion to catch scofflaw motorists, there's no doubt the city would be a much safer place. When it comes to automated enforcement, however, the state legislature holds many of the cards. Fortunately, there are other techniques available to NYPD to better protect pedestrians -- techniques that don't require Albany's blessing. One of them is the "Crosswalk Sting," described by Andy Hamilton in this week's StreetsWiki entry:

crosswalk_infringement.jpgWe're walkin' here! Photo courtesy of Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center Image Library, Dan Burden.

A Crosswalk Sting or "pedestrian decoy operation" is an enforcement and
public education action in which plainclothes police officers cross at
marked or unmarked crosswalks, and drivers who fail to yield to them are
given warnings or tickets. An important aspect of the action is
notifying the media ahead of time to ensure good coverage of the
crosswalk sting, providing broader community awareness. Crosswalk
stings have been found to significantly increase yielding by drivers.

Skeptical that this technique would have much of an effect in a big American city? It's certainly no substitute for automated enforcement, but in Miami, Andy reports, one study documented safer driver behavior in the wake of crosswalk stings:

Extensive anecdotal reports suggest police and residents find thatcrosswalk stings increase yielding by motorists to pedestrians incrosswalks. Very few controlled studies have been performed. A 2004study of a sting operation in Miami, Florida, found that crosswalkstings did in fact increase yielding.  Further, the researchersfound, "these increases were sustained for aperiod of a year with minimal additional enforcement, and that theeffect generalized to untreated crosswalks... as well as crosswalks withtraffic signals."

How great would it be if an NYPD sergeant tipped off the Shame Shame Shame crew (although maybe Arnold Diaz isn't the man for the job) and busted some crosswalk violators on New York's mean streets? That officer would be a hero in my book.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Budget or Budge It? Gov. Hochul Continues Dawdling on the MTA Capital Plan

Gov. Hochul kicked off the state's budget process on Tuesday by doing exactly the opposite of what you do when you make a budget.

January 22, 2025

Council Transportation Chair Tells DOT That She’s Sick of the Streets Plan Excuses

Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers criticizes DOT's Streets Plan failure.

January 22, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: Mayor Culpa Edition

"The party left me," Eric Adams told Tucker Carlson about the Democrats. Plus other news.

January 22, 2025

‘Progressives’ Turn Council’s Transportation Policy Over to Republicans

Roadway safety is simply not a priority, a Streetsblog analysis reveals.

January 21, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Drill, Baby, Drill Edition

There were a few references to some cherished livable streets issues in the 47th president's inaugural speech.

January 21, 2025
See all posts