Heftier fines won’t curb jaywalking

If you don’t succeed, refile the same bill.

That seems to be the reasoning behind state Rep. Colleen Garry’s bid to drastically increase the fines for jaywalking within the confines of the commonwealth.

The Dracut Democrat tried to pass essentially the same legislation back in

2017, but after about two years of wending its way through the legislative process — including at least one revision — no further action was taken.

Other lawmakers have also tried to put teeth into jaywalking laws.

A year before Garry’s 2017 attempt, then Senate Majority Leader Harriette Chandler, a Worcester Democrat, wanted to increase the slapon-the-wrist fines currently on the books.

Chandler filed a bill that would have increased the fine to $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second and $75 for additional transgressions. That legislation likewise failed to gain traction.

Garry’s current bill, now before the Transportation Committee, would substantially increase fines for jaywalking — doubling them in cases involving cellphones or headphones.

Under existing state law, jaywalkers receive

$1 fines for the first through third offense, and $2 for subsequent offenses.

Garry’s jaywalking legislation would impose fines of $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second offense and

$100 for a third or subsequent offense in a year.

The bill would also allow cities to adopt a local option to impose fines on pedestrians who cross intersections diagonally if there’s no signal or marking allowing them to do so.

Also, under existing state law, pedestrians can cross without a crosswalk if the nearest one is 300 feet or farther. Garry wants to eliminate that distance factor.

That might come in handy for those trying to reach 10,000 daily steps, but not for pedestrians seeking the most efficient way to get from point A to B.

We understand the reasoning — and frustration — behind Garry’s legislation.

A practicing lawyer when not representing her Dracut and Tyngsboro constituents on Beacon Hill, she no doubt has experienced the exasperation of trying to drive around scofflaw pedestrians crossing downtown Lowell streets without regard to traffic signals or designated crossing areas.

And we also agree that distracted walking can lead to serious injuries.

Certainly, a few dollars out of anyone’s pocket — in those rare instances when police actually fine a jaywalker — isn’t much of a deterrent.

Plus, in most cities and towns, paying that fine involves a cumbersome process through district courts, which have far more serious matters to deal with.

Perhaps, if enforcement of Garry’s bill was confined to a city’s or town’s center district, retained that 300-foot crossing provision and included a series of warnings before issuing a citation, it might have a better chance of passage.

Falling that, we’d suggest legislation that mirrors the city of Lowell’s approach to the problem.

In the spring of 2016, the city began to strictly enforce rules on jaywalking and improper use of bicycles and skateboards on downtown sidewalks.

Like everywhere else, policing jaywalkers occurred more by happenstance that premeditation.

But now, at least when writing a citation, Lowell Police had an expedient way to deliver and track that violation.

The city created new books of tickets that police officers could use for jaywalking and other offenses, circumventing the district court process.

And a database also allowed police to track a fine’s payment.

Lowell also initiated preventative measures, including larger signage notifying potential violators that bikes and skateboards aren’t allowed on downtown sidewalks.

The city also spread its anti-jaywalking message throughout downtown businesses and nearby Lowell High School.

In curbing jaywalking, strive for the possible — not perfection.