Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Requesting the Wisconsin Judicial Conference review, support and work towards implementing a significant increase in forfeitures for failing to yield to pedestrians.
Body
WHEREAS, pedestrians are young, old and every age in between, some are in strollers, some have difficulty walking and need the help of canes, walkers, wheelchairs and some have been pedestrians some time during the day just getting to their car: and,
WHEREAS, a pedestrian's rights, and the responsibilities of a driver towards a pedestrian crossing the street, are the same whether or not the crosswalk is marked with paint, and regardless of the type of markings used: and,
WHEREAS, pedestrian travel is an important form of transportation and walk trips accounted for 13.5% of all person trips in the City of Madison according to a special county add-on sample of the 2001 National Household Transportation Survey (NHTS); and,
WHEREAS, walking is also an essential part of all trips, whether they are made by car, bus, or bicycle (e.g., walking from the parking lot to the store or from home to the bus stop); and,
WHEREAS, the most successful Madison neighborhoods provide safe pedestrian crosswalks with critical access to neighborhood or commercial district destinations, including schools, libraries, parks, recreation, shopping, and work and are also essential to a successful and accessible transit system; and,
WHEREAS, the enforcement of motorist laws related to pedestrians is minimal due to staff and financial constraints; and,
WHEREAS, traffic enforcement needs to be focused on local streets where most pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes occur; and,
WHEREAS, one solution is to increase the initial fine for failing to yield to a pedestrian; and,
WHEREAS, the current bail deposit according to Wis. Stat. Sec. 346.24(1) is currently $75 and an increase for the first offense fine to $150 would reflect the seriousness of the offense,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Madison Common Council requests the Wisconsin Judicial Conference review, support and work towards implementing a significant increase in forfeitures for failing to yield to pedestrians.