‘The tickets are very harsh’

RCMP step up intersection enforcement during October

Const. Andrew Turpin, with the Windsor RCMP, is keeping a closer eye on intersections in the town throughout October.

An intersection violation might include failing to stop at a crosswalk for a pedestrian, running a stop sign or a red light, or cutting off a vehicle that has the right of way.

“We’re focused on those offences for the whole month and trying to raise awareness as well,” Turpin said while observing traffic at the intersection of Water Street and Gerrish Street in downtown Windsor.

And he’s been busy.

“About 20 minutes ago at this intersection, a woman stopped at the crosswalk right up there and waited,” he said. “A silver Honda went right by at about 55 kilometres an hour, right through, while she was waiting with her toes on the curb.”

Turpin then activated his emergency lights, waited for her to cross and pulled over the Honda.

“The incident was captured on video and he was charged. His fine amount was $697.50 and six points from his license,” he said.

“The comment that he made was that ‘he didn’t pay that much for the car he was driving.’ So, obviously, the tickets are very harsh.”

But, he adds, that’s necessary. “As I said, and as he understood, the penalty is there to try to prevent people from getting killed,” Turpin said.

The RCMP officer said these types of infractions happen in Windsor every day.

“As I had that car pulled over, we had a complaint come in that someone was almost hit in a different crosswalk,” he said.

Turpin said these infractions can be difficult to enforce, as many pedestrians who witness them often don’t report them.

He’s also handed out a few warnings as well.

“One woman I spoke with on Cole Drive, she didn’t cause a dangerous situation, but she did turn right on a red light — her way was clear, but she never did stop at that red light,” he said. “It’s treated as a stop sign, so yes you can turn right, but you have to stop first.”

Turpin said he’s hopeful that the recently rebuilt crosswalks in the downtown core, which have a reddish, cobblestone look, will make pedestrians stand out more.

Media relations officer Cpl. Dal Hutchinson said November’s enforcement focus will be winter road safety.