Undercover Crosswalk Operation Nets Portsmouth Police 36 Citations in 8 Hours

Last week, thirty-six drivers in an eight hour period drove through a crosswalk in Portsmouth as this man entered the white stripes from the side of the road.

Each driver will now have to cough up $85 for the violation — motorists are supposed to yield for pedestrians in crosswalks — and each will likely think twice the next time they see a person looking to cross a street in this town.

The man, wearing a red shirt, red shoes, a baseball cap and a backpack slung over his shoulders is actualy a police officer.

Police said the officer worked undercover as part of a pedestrian protection initiative in response to complaints about drivers not following the rules of the road.

The officer entered crosswalks on Turnpike Avenue and East Main Road near Portsmouth High School, which is an obvious place to target motorists who fail to yield.

“Please keep all our pedestrians safe!,” the police department said in a post on its Facebook page. “Remember to yield to pedestrians crossing in our crosswalks especially now that school is back in session”

Photo courtesy: Portsmouth Police Department