Enforcement: Fines levied in order to curb dangerous problem on Ste. Anne St. with students from Ecole Secondaire Népisiguit

I6

James Mallory
THE Northern Light

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BATHURST - The Bathurst City Police are handing out fines for students caught jaywalking on Ste. Anne Street near Ecole Secondaire Népisiguit.

Const. Judy Turple of the Bathurst City Police said jaywalking has been a major safety concern for the increasingly busy Ste. Anne St.

"All of a sudden, they would just run out in the street or groups of them would come across and the vehicle would have to come to a dead stop. It had become a very big safety issue," said the officer.

In recent years, Ste. Anne St. has seen commercial developments such as a new Wal-Mart, a Kent Home Improvement store and a strip mall. These businesses are all located directly across the street from the ESN high school and Place des Jeunes middle school.

Place des Jeunes students must stay on school grounds during lunch hour but ESN students are allowed off school property during the noon hour.

Turple said police have always been on the lookout for jaywalkers in the city but the situation on Ste. Anne St., especially during the ESN lunch hour, had become a hazard for pedestrians and motorists.

"That was our main area because we have been receiving so many complaints," she said. "That was the target and yes, they are watching for other places as well, but that was our main focus at this time because of the problems that we were having with the pedestrians."

Turple said the situation reached a breaking point when school officials at ESN were forced to inform students that jaywalking could result in a fine from police.

"In the presence of us, the vice-principal made a full announcement on the intercom that this was our final warning, that we were going to be issuing tickets and we have been issuing tickets," said Turple.

She said police issued three warnings and fined four students who were caught jaywalking the following few days after the announcement. The fine was $172.50.

Turple said she believes the issue has improved once students realized the police meant business.

"They've opened their eyes real quick. I think it was more or less, 'Yeah, whatever,' but now that it's become real and $172 is not cheap "¦ it has calmed down quite a bit."

Paul Thibodeau, principal at ESN, agreed that the message has been heard.

"I can say that it has improved because I haven't heard since then of any tickets that have been handed out for jaywalking since that day."

Thibodeau said he did not receive any complaints from students or parents in regards to the fines from police.

He said this initiative will hopefully improve the safety of students and the community.

"Just for their safety and the safety of drivers to prevent some accidents that can be prevented. For us, that's why it was so important to make that announcement in school before handing out those tickets," he concluded.