HEMET: City’s “Operation Sign Twirler” nets 16 citations, 1 felony arrest

HEMET — Despite the presence of uniformed police employees holding and twirling large signs reminding pedestrians to “use the pedestrian signal” at three different City of Hemet intersections along busy Highway 74, Traffic Team officers on motorcycles stopped 17 people who chose not to heed the warnings and decided instead to illegally and dangerously cross the road.

Also known as Florida Avenue within the city limits, the roadway has been the site of numerous recent major and fatal traffic collisions involving pedestrians crossing the road outside established cross walks, commonly called “jaywalking.” (See links below for more information about previous accidents.)

SEE RELATED: HEMET: 21 “jaywalkers” cited in pedestrian safety crack down

Hemet PD’s new Pedestrian Safety Campaign, launched by police officials earlier this month, was designed to raise public awareness, educate pedestrians and decrease pedestrian-related collisions in Hemet, according to police officials.

“Hemet has had far too many pedestrian collisions and too many people killed when crossing Florida Avenue,” Hemet PD Lt. Glen Brock – who oversees the department’s four person traffic team – explained after the program’s first safety enforcement operation, which netted 21 citations.

In spite of the programs “successful” kickoff on the 11th, just two days later another pedestrian was struck and critically injured when she ran into traffic on State Street, north of Fruitvale Avenue.

Although witnesses later stated the man who hit the victim never could have reacted in time to the woman suddenly and unexpectedly darting into the darkened roadway, officials are investigating whether the man was intoxicated at the time of the collision. Their investigation is ongoing.

During today’s portion of the ongoing education and safety enforcement program, many pedestrians noticed the police “sign twirler” and wisely decided to use the pedestrian signal and cross walk to safely cross the road. However, 13 pedestrians and 3 bicyclists were stopped and issued citations for failing to use the pedestrian signal or crossing the roadway unsafely, according to Hemet Police Sergeant Dan Reinbolt.

Additionally, one man who was stopped for a pedestrian violation was then arrested on an unrelated felony warrant after officers determined the jaywalker was a wanted felon.

See selection of recent Florida Ave. vehicle versus pedestrian accidents

SEE ALSO: Pedestrian crossing busy Florida Ave hit by motorist

SEE ALSO: Distracted bicyclist hit by truck hospitalized

SEE ALSO: Officials ID 58-year-old pedestrian killed while crossing Hwy 74

SEE ALSO: Man arrested in fatal hit and run that killed new father

During today’s operation, which began at 10 a.m., officials selected three intersections along Florida Avenue “where statistics show pedestrian and bicycle collisions are likely to occur,” Reinbolt explained in a social media release about the ongoing safety education and enforcement program.

For three hours, uniformed police employees held and twirled signs at the three Hemet intersections. The three feet wide by two feet high signs were intended to remind pedestrians what the “Walk” and “Upraised Hand” symbol mean, Reinbolt explained. The sign also included a message reminding pedestrians to push the pedestrian crosswalk button before attempting to cross the busy highway.

In spite of the “sign twirlers” and Traffic Team motor officers stationed nearby, some pedestrians still attempted to walk, run, or ride across Florida Avenue.

Many passersby honked and waved to the officers, thanking them for their efforts. Others – mostly pedestrians and adults riding children’s bicycles –  jeered and yelled that the officers, asking them why they couldn’t find anything “better” to do with their time.

The safety campaign’s first operation, purposely aimed at targeting pedestrians who chose to illegally cross Hemet’s busiest road was a huge success, Brock explained the day of the campaign’s initial roll out.

After the safety program’s successful first and second safety enforcement operations, officials say they plan “many more” similar operations, “working toward a goal of education and enforcement designed to address pedestrian safety and reduce collisions in the city,” Reinbolt explained after the City’s first operation the first week of April.

Other planned future operations include targeting distracted and impatient drivers who fail to stop for pedestrians crossing the street. In the past, San Jacinto Valley area law enforcement agencies have used memorable techniques to drive home their message, employing highly visible “pedestrians” in the form of an officer dressed up in a bright yellow chicken costume. Another recent operation used a CHP officer pushing a fully loaded shopping cart across Winchester Road/Hwy 79. At one point during that operation, a car nearly plowed into the officer, who barely managed to escape injury. (See CHP photo above.)

So, if you happen to be driving through Hemet or the San Jacinto Valley and spot a giant chicken trying to cross the road while pushing a shopping cart, don’t ask “why” the chicken crossed the road, just stop and let it pass on its merry way.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.