The San Antonio Police Department said that at this time last year, 28 people had been struck and killed due to jaywalking. The problem is only getting worse this year with 31 fatalities during the same January to October period; this is why police officers are beginning to be more strict in enforcing violations.
During an Oct. 26 press conference at the Primrose at Monticello Senior Apartments on Fredericksburg Road, Chief William McManus announced the start of a one-week grace period for jaywalkers.
"Looking at the number of fatalities this year, as opposed to the number of fatalities last year, we saw that there was an alarming frequency with which these pedestrian fatalities were occurring," McManus said.
Now that the grace period is over, police officers will begin enforcing jaywalking. Violators could be charged with a Class C Misdemeanor and ticketed up to $200.
At least two jaywalkers were hit and killed by traffic at the senior apartment homes, calling for District 7 Councilman Cris Medina to take action. He announced a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk, or HAWK, will be installed in December.
"Council District 7 has been working closely with the city's Department of Public Works and the Texas Department of Transportation to fund and install a pedestrian hybrid beacon," said Medina.
He and residents of the complex hope the pedestrian crosswalk will eliminate serious injuries and death as a result of people crossing the road illegally.
