Police from the Hudson Valley announced plans to increase traffic enforcement of cars not stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks.

The Clarkstown Police Department says they’ve received a number of complaints of drivers not following the vehicle and traffic law allowing pedestrians to cross in crosswalks.

The department immediately plans to step up traffic enforcement in crosswalks in Rockland County.

According to Clarkstown Police, New York experiences a high number of pedestrian injury accidents and fatalities every year. The New York Vehicle and Traffic Law protects the safety of motorists and pedestrians alike. Pedestrians are given the right of way unless they demonstrate negligent or reckless behavior such as stepping in front of a moving vehicle without giving the vehicle enough time to stop or jaywalking.

The Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian law states that even when there is no traffic signal or working signal, a driver must yield to a pedestrian crossing within a crosswalk. Also, when any vehicle has stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle must not passed the stopped car.

If tickets drivers are to $150 fine plus a mandatory New York State surcharge of $93 for the first offense and 3 points on your license.

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