Shrewsbury Police To Conduct Plainclothes Crosswalk Patrols

SHREWSBURY, MA — Shrewsbury police this month will begin emphasizing crosswalk laws using plainclothes officers.

From May to August, local police in teams of two will watch for traffic violations around crosswalks. One of the officers may appear to be a regular pedestrian while another officer will be nearby in a marked Shrewsbury police cruiser, according to the department.

Under state law, drivers must allow pedestrians to cross in the crosswalk on either the same half of the road as the vehicle or if the pedestrian is approaching from the opposite half of the roadway within 10 feet of the vehicle's lane.

Failure to obey the law can mean a $205 fine, although Shrewsbury police say they will try to emphasize education.

"The purpose of this campaign is to increase safety for our pedestrians, and increase awareness and education for our drivers. We ask that all motorists be vigilant and aware of pedestrians and crosswalks throughout our town all the time," the department said in a news release.

The crosswalk patrols will happen on top of normal police patrols in town. A grant from the grant funding from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security is funding the special enforcement.