Show J Jaywalkers kers Ignore Arr Arrest st Tickets WE y E IMAGINE it came as a a considerable surprise to most peo peo- pie as it did to us to learn from a news story that approximately approximately all of the jaywalking tickets which have been issued by bythe bythe bythe the police department since the inauguration of their pedestrian pedestrian trian enforcement campaign last fall have been ignored by the law violators who were given the tickets The situation was revealed when City Prosecutor Karl arl King announced that his office wo would ld begin issuing warrants for the arrest of some persons who have failed to appear on jaywalking jaywalking jaywalking jay jay- walking charges Mr King said that after taking up the question question question ques ques- tion with several civic clubs and with city judges he had decided decided decided de de- de- de that a n pedestrian violation should be treated as any other violation Then he went on to say that violations had occurred since the inception of a police drive last September Septem- Septem ber ter to curb careless walking on city streets If there have been violations since last September and Borne persons issued jaywalking tickets have failed to appear in court on the charges that means that almost all of the violators violators vio vie have ignored the summons It is rather amazing to realize that there has been such flagrant disregard of f traffic tickets on the part of pedestrians It is difficult to believe there could be such flagrant disregard of tickets on the part of f mot motorists without action by the authorities authorities authorities ties long ago What is it that gives pedestrians any special status when it comes to failure to observe traffic safety laws 1 Why is it that law enforcement authorities feel it necessary to consult with civic and judicial leaders before deciding to enforce a law affecting pedestrians Is it the law or isn't it If it is lets let's enforce it If it isn't lets let's repeal it Traffic safety safely experts here and elsewhere have long ago reached the positive conclusion that traffic safety cannot be achieved without cooperation either voluntary or by compulsion compu compulsion sion on the part of the pedestrian It is also generally recognized recognized recognized rec rec- that pedestrian compliance with safety laws is one of the weakest phases of the traffic safety effort in Salt Lake City That being the case it should be obvious to enforcement authorities that pedestrian compliance with the law is absolutely essential to traffic safety We need a continuing program of pedestrian enforcement And if we arc are to have it we have to have more than newspaper editorials or police ar arrests arrests arrests ar- ar rests we have to have f full 11 prosecution by bYthe the judicial ties Apparently we have not had that full prose prosecution ution since last fall Were We're glad to note that the authorities promise we are going to get it from now on and on-and and we commend Prosecutor King and the c judicial judici 1 authorities for that decision belated though it itis is WP hope hoPa they they follow through rigorously on the policy fan fan- an announced nO and nd that they make it a continuous rather than a spas pas spasmodic spasmodic modi poli policy y We will be watching eagerly to see the results of this new new policy of full ull enforcement against pedestrian violators |