Beware The Curb Jumpers

It makes me laugh how people can find something wrong with officers enforcing pedestrian violations.
The mentality of these two "victims" is ridiculous.
They think the police should only enforce serious crimes, such as murder?
When does the lunacy end?

I want to feel safe walking down the street. That said, if the small infractions are enforced, the community will be a safer place.

Wake up.

Trying to cross Watchung Plaza numerous times over the weekend, it was mind boggling to me that 9 out of 10 cars not only didn't stop -- they floored it to "beat" me to the intersection so they wouldn't even be faced with the potentially day wrecking decision about whether to halt for 5 seconds and let me cross. Incredible. If the cops really want to stop this they should do what they did with the "block the box" campaign in NYC a few years ago. . . make the penalty severe enough and publicize it. 2 points on your license and a $500 fine. That would change behaviors in hurry. Setting up a lemonade stand for 2 days ain't going to change anything.

I have to say that when I visit other states, this isn't even an issue. Drivers actually stop and let you cross safely...what a concept! But in NJ and NYC? Fuggedaboutdit! NYC taxi drivers have to be some of the WORST drivers on the planet.

I'd like to see some videos of what the cops are doing so we can judge for ourselves if their "enforcement" is reasonable. Of course our public servants are providing visibility into their activities to the public they serve and are ostensibly protecting, aren't they?

That said, I think there are more terrible drivers on the road than ever, and there's plenty of legitimate reasons to give tickets without mounting ridiculous sting operations. Want to snag drivers failing to yield to pedestrians? Sit and watch a crosswalk that actual pedestrians use. Should be a lot cheaper - only one cop needs to be on that job.

What a jerk. Somehow I went through the same crosswalk "trap" and managed to stop and allow the pedestrian/undercover cop to cross. It was only after that I saw other cars pulled over and realized it was a much-needed enforcement of the law. Yes, pedestrians do just step into the crosswalk. It is not often they are wearing neon, jumping up and down and waving flags to warn you. I assume these individuals drive everywhere and have never experienced the challenge of crossing a street in Montclair. Thank you, Montclair police, for ticketing these violators. I consider my tax money well spent.

Well, I would tend to agree if I had not been ticketed just this morning by the same operation on Valley Road in Upper Montclair. I literally did not see anyone in the cross walk. My children in the car did not see anyone. Granted, I know there must have been someone I am sure it is legal but its questionable. They literally got every single car behind me as well. Funny thing is I am carefull at crosswalks, I do stop for people, I drive extra slow in residential areas. I'll take my ticket but I have to agree the time might be better served staking out dangerous sidewalks and catching real offenders in the act.

I am all for enforcing pedestrian violations just to be clear, I just dont think the officers are indicative of real life scenarios. If you step into a cross walks seconds before car enters that car doesnt have enough time to stop without potentially causing havoc behind him.

Well, I would tend to agree if I had not been ticketed just this morning by the same operation on Valley Road in Upper Montclair. I literally did not see anyone in the cross walk. My children in the car did not see anyone. Granted, I know there must have been someone I am sure it is legal but its questionable. They literally got every single car behind me as well. Funny thing is I am carefull at crosswalks, I do stop for people, I drive extra slow in residential areas. I'll take my ticket but I have to agree the time might be better served staking out dangerous sidewalks and catching real offenders in the act.

I am all for enforcing pedestrian violations just to be clear, I just dont think the officers are indicative of real life scenarios. If you step into a cross walks seconds before car enters that car doesnt have enough time to stop without potentially causing havoc behind him.

Well, I would tend to agree if I had not been ticketed just this morning by the same operation on Valley Road in Upper Montclair. I literally did not see anyone in the cross walk. My children in the car did not see anyone. Granted, I know there must have been someone I am sure it is legal but its questionable. They literally got every single car behind me as well. Funny thing is I am carefull at crosswalks, I do stop for people, I drive extra slow in residential areas. I'll take my ticket but I have to agree the time might be better served staking out dangerous sidewalks and catching real offenders in the act.

I am all for enforcing pedestrian violations just to be clear, I just dont think the officers are indicative of real life scenarios. If you step into a cross walks seconds before car enters that car doesnt have enough time to stop without potentially causing havoc behind him.

Crosswalk sting is on Valley today near Starbucks. Cop stepped out with a good amount of warning and made himself easily visible (no hiding behind park cars or anything like that mentioned above). Anyway, stopped for him and so did the car coming in the other direction. There were about 6 cars pulled over and being ticketed. I understand the fine to be $130 and 2 points. Can't wait to see if they pull over a school bus or police car, both of which I've seen blow through crosswalks with pedestrians on numerous occasions!

The writer of the letter and the angry blogger are forgetting one thing: the cops were protecting the citizens from both of THEIR careless, illegal ways.

I thank the cops here for doing something that has a direct impact on the lives of the citizens.

The "notion" that cops should be off fighting some other crime is dumb.

That these fools were pulled over-- good for them. Next time follow the law and YIELD.

(As I've posted before, this town- like most- are heading for a horrific traffic tragedy with all the distracted drivers zooming through...)

Does anyone actually believe that they are wrong? Is it possible that you are so programmed to driving through the streets not looking for pedestrians that you do not realize when you do not see them?

Maybe we should ask Baristanet to sit with the police and give us a little insight as to who is doing it the right way.

My guess is that the police have been trained and have done the legal research in this area.

Do the police video-record these sting operations? If so, can we view them?

I was sitting outside at Gina's on Walnut and saw this particular sting. So few people yielded to the decoy, it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

I checked out "steaming mad's" blog, which he describes as "my take on how people, cultures, organizations and companies stand in terms of the ways they promote themselves, show accountability, deal with crisis, track progress, and...measure up in today's ever changing world." Reading his blog, I think this Moed character could use a few accountablity lessons himself. It is no wonder my kids are scared to death of crossing our street. With clueless guys like him driving around, it is pretty clear some people will never get it, even after a traffic ticket. I wonder if he'd bother stopping if it was his own kids trying to get across a crosswalk?

Next we can as Baristanet to "sit" with the fire department to see which house is really on fire vs. a false alarm.

After, Baristanet can "sit" with the Sanitation Dept. (perhaps even ride on the back of the Garbage truck?) to tell us who is not recycling properly.....

Perhaps we should just let the cops do their job. Like always, if you feel you were wrongly ticketed there is an appeals process.

But the folks here don't seem to be saying they were ticketed wrongly, they were just mad they GOT CAUGHT.

Tell it to the Judge!!!

It will be interesting to see if this sting operation is still going on in September when the middle-schoolers invade Valley and Bellevue again.

Hopefully next will be the accident prone and car parts covered corner of Pine St and Claremont Ave...
Since I have moved to Montclair from Brooklyn i have seen more accidents there then in my whole 30 yrs of life (I've only been here 4 yrs)

I'm with you prof.

I want to take a day off and sit in court with these "victims" and see what the judge thinks.

I'll meet you there.

I agree with strong enforcement of laws that protect pedestrians and cyclists but this whole sting opperation is a waste of resources. Things will go right back to the way they were when the grant runs out. How about cops on patrol writing these kinds of tickets every day? There are more than enough real life situations with actual pedestrians in crosswalks where people don't stop. There's no need to create violations just for show.

Yet another reason to stay away from Montclair.

Those new speed humps on Upper Mountain have proven to be very effective...and probably cheaper too.

Do you think Kenneth Duckett would stop for pedestrians?

My congrats to the police on the enforcement. I would like for them to next target cell phone users (while driving) in a very public way such as this.

If you think crossing the street in NJ is dangerous, try doing it in Rome, those vespas stop for no one.

In general, though, I've found drivers around Upper Montclair to be more considerate on average. Several times when I've gone to parallel park, the car behind me has waited for me to do so instead of zooming by.

(Mitty, you cannot be serious, eh? C'mon. I don't care for your attempt at-- whatever it is you were trying for... Inappropriate and dumb come to mind...)

(Mitty, you cannot be serious, eh? C'mon. I don't care for your attempt at-- whatever it is you were trying for... Inappropriate and dumb come to mind...)

Three cheers for the Montclair police. Enforcement...wow!

Can someone please clarify for me, whether a pedestrian is permitted to blithely step in front of a moving car and expect it to stop on a dime (and probably get rear-ended in the process). What exactly are the criteria for a ped to look out for his/her own personal safety? This is my fear, that a ped will in fact step out in front of me (and it has happened, thankfully with no tailgater behind me).

From the Statute:
"...but no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. Nothing contained herein shall relieve a pedestrian from using due care for his safety." NJSA 39:4-36. If what one poster said is true, that the officer snuck out from behind a parked car right in front of them, then that seems like dirty pool.

The statute does not say that I need to stop for someone standing on the curb. Maybe that person is waiting for a ride, so should I stop? But it seems that from the commentary over the years on this issue that I *should* stop for people on the curb.

Y'all can yell at me if you want, but I am just looking for answers, truly! I'm not out to run people over and I have certainly been the almost-crunched pedestrian many times. However, I usually cross at a light even if I have to walk half a block to get there because then there is no question.

If I ask for an interpretation in writing from Montclair's Finest, do you think I'd get one?

Hey Cheese...the police would never crack down on all the cell phones in use as I can't remember the last time I passed a cop that wasn't on a cell phone (without using a hands free device I might add).

"But it seems that from the commentary over the years on this issue that I *should* stop for people on the curb."

I do this all of the time.

Anecdotally, I have not yet been snagged in "Operation ticket all Montclair drivers who have been entrapped by the local police for enforcing a law that is terribly arbitrary in its wording therefore I am not guilty, see you in court Mr. Officer"

Obviously you do not have to stop for a pedestrian standing still on the curb.

New Jersey Law is YIELD to pedestrians.

If someone is actively crossing the street they must be allowed to cross. The pedestrian should not have to stop to allow the car to go by.

If I am crossing, and the car is coming toward me, I'm going to stop so I don't get run down.

Maybe that is what these people are seeing as they drive by.

Montclair police have been enforcing the cell phone law. I got caught on that one too but no complaints I WAS on the phone and the ticket served its purpose and I never did it again.

I also dont disagree with pulling over people for violating pedestrian laws but like I said niether I nor the other three people in my car saw a pedestrain (aka cop) in the cross walk before I entered it. I just wish it had been more realistic of a scenario. Regardless, I got a ticket and I will be paying it, I am just not sure I will be any safer of a driver for it. Not because I dont care, I do. I drive slowly and always stop for peds and have never ever come close to running anyone over and I will continue to do so.

I dont plan to make a deal, I won't fight it in court (although I might appear on the chance I might get a point reduction) I suppose if it changes peoples habits and saves lives then it was worth the ticket.

I'm sure the decoys are not lying dead all over town. They must be stopping to avoid tire marks on their chest.

"Regardless, I got a ticket and I will be paying it, I am just not sure I will be any safer of a driver for it."

It's not about making you a safer driver but an ultimate and easy cash grab for the township.

I am happy the cops are enforcing this law. I have almost been hit several times trying to cross at Grove & Oxford.

Cars go speeding by and don't even bother to slow down. This weekend many cars did stop for me to cross while other kept driving by.

By the way...I am not on the curb...cars cannot see me because of the parked cars on Grove so I walk out where I am in clear sight...this also proves to be dangerous b/c cars clip the corner while turning down Oxford...they are all totally unaware of people at this busy cross walk.

My husband and I were out walking the dog and heading back across the street to our apartment when one car stopped to let us cross while another car (heading in the other direction) barely slowed down and then spead up as we passed the front of her car...

In regards to the anger posters...I also went through the traps at Walnut & Forest and Grove & Oxford...I was amazed at how many cars had been pulled over...I was not becasuse I actully stopped to let the ped cross...the traps have made me much more aware of the cross walks...hopefully other drives feel the same way.

It wouldn't be such an "easy cash grab", Steve from Yellowstone, if people actually obeyed traffic laws. You can thank your fellow citizens for making the project such a cash cow.

Wait. Girl? You got a ticket for talking on a cell phone AND for not yielding??

Jeez....

Why shouldn't everybody just start slowing down? What's the harm? What's the hurry? C'mon, smell the roses.

I am LOVING this enforcement campaign, as a pedestrian and especially as a driver. Now I unabashedly come to a full stop when I see a pedestrian on a crosswalk--and I don't even check to see if he or she is wearing standard-issue cop shoes.

The other day while crossing a crosswalk I stepped way out into the street only to have a woman in an SUV and with a cell phone pressed to her ear run over my toes. It was some consolation to think that she might have had a fight or flight response afterwards while wondering if I was an undercover cop (sometimes they disguise themselves as marsupials).

The program is being funded by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety through federal money so some people can put their worries to rest that Montclair is using taxpayer resources for this sting.

The workshop was mostly to instruct the officers on the pedestrian crossing law because there was some question on the enforcement and they get better perspective when they become the pedestrian. The officers are sent out into the crosswalk with more than enough time and distance for a driver to recongnize them and react accordingly. If a driver misses them, its their fault.

If you get caught, the best thing to do is let the officer that has you pull over down the street instruct you on the law, apologize, take the warning, and learn from it. If you get argumentative, or try and deny that you did anything wrong, you are getting the ticket.

The program is being funded by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety through federal money so some people can put their worries to rest that Montclair is using taxpayer resources for this sting.

The workshop was mostly to instruct the officers on the pedestrian crossing law because there was some question on the enforcement and they get better perspective when they become the pedestrian. The officers are sent out into the crosswalk with more than enough time and distance for a driver to recongnize them and react accordingly. If a driver misses them, its their fault.

If you get caught, the best thing to do is let the officer that has you pull over down the street instruct you on the law, apologize, take the warning, and learn from it. If you get argumentative, or try and deny that you did anything wrong, you are getting the ticket.

Despite the high numbers of people getting pulled over, I have noticed a difference when crossing streets that are light free (along Midland and Grove, specifically).

That said, I think they should take this one step further and force every person who runs the cross walk to watch this PSA.

prof,

gosh no, my cell phone ticket was right after they passed the law. I have no beef with that one and I did learn a lesson. I have not used my cell while driving since, I should not have done so the day I got the ticket.

and to whoever posted that if you don't complain you will get just a warning- not true at least in my case. I complied completely without any complaint to the officers. I wasn't upset with them, they were doing thier job and were respectful to me. Furthermore my kids were in the car, baristanet appropriate forum to complain about sting operation, in car in front of children not so much.

Just passed the statistics sign in Edgemont Park. The official % of drivers that yielded to pedestrians last week was 17% which fell short of the record week in which 18% of drivers yielded. Only 1 out of 6 drivers yielding....yikes! The cops probably have to let a bad driver go for every one they ticket they're so busy.

Montclair Police - please write more tickets.

Baristanet - keep publishing articles on all of the tickets and fines that are being handed out.

Eventually the drivers in this town will get the message.

I live near a busy intersection (no traffic light) where the town placed a movable "Yield to Pedestrians" sign in the middle of the street. It is highly visible from about 100 feet away. When I cross at this intersection with my kids, only about 1 in 4 cars actually stop and allow us to cross.

I too was pulled over for talking on my cell phone. I also rolled through the stop sign, so he had me on two things.. Luckily he was nice and only gave me the ticket for talking on the cell. It was $130.00 but no points, as the failure to stop would have been... Learned my lesson for about a day...

Uhhh, Cuddles.

Please tell me your posting is a joke.

Or that someone has since taken away your car keys.

To Girl & others caught in this thing: call your insurance agent & find out what effect the extra points will have on your premium.

It may make sense economically to show up in court & take a plea deal to keep the points off. If your insurance goes up $800 for 3 years vs. copping a plea for $400 - well, you can do the math.

This may be redundant by now, but I wholeheartedly support the 'sting' operation. I walk to the Walnut Train Station every day and it is a crap shoot whether or not a car will stop when I'm in the crosswalk ... even when there are pilons with signs clearly stating that the law is that the car stop. As modern policing theories prove, when you address the smaller, so-called lifestyle issues, the larger ones fall into place.

Anyone who has gotten ticketed with this "sting" needs to go fight it. The case has been made that an inconsistant signage is reason to void the tickets. It would be one thing if all of NJ let alone Essex county had a uniform signage on pedestrians, but they don't and ergo no violation can stick. Good luck in the fight.

signage doesn't make the difference. The law is to yield to pedestrians entering the crosswalk. A municipality doesn't have to put out any extra signed other than have the crosswalk marked.

"Just passed the statistics sign in Edgemont Park. The official % of drivers that yielded to pedestrians last week was 17% which fell short of the record week in which 18% of drivers yielded. Only 1 out of 6 drivers yielding....yikes! The cops probably have to let a bad driver go for every one they ticket they're so busy. "

I doubt it, I suspect they have ticketed more good drivers than let bad drivers by. The ones who don't get ticketed at those stings are the ones who saw it coming ahead of time. I find it hard to believe that 83% of drivers observed in Montclair are intentionally illegal drivers. With those stats people would be run down daily in crosswalks and I have heard of no such occurences- umm ever.

I agree I hope they do have video then all the naysayers could understand that this is not in every case a cop out in the middle of the street attempting to cross in plain sight. It could have happened to anyone, really. I thought I was someone who stopped in all cases for pedestrians and I got a ticket. Maybe I just didnt know you need to stop even if you dont ever see said ped. From now on, I will be the one just stopping at every crosswalk in town even with no peds in sight. Please dont honk impatiently at me, understand I just cant afford another ticket.

Good luck with the cause, Up2Date. You're going to need it.

It's not a county or state law nor does it have anything to do with signage. It's a STATE law. Anyone who took a test to get a license to drive in this state should know this. Pedestrians are NO match for a vehicle. Amazing that even when common sense needs to be legislated there are many people who still feel the need to fight it.

It would be one thing if all of NJ... had a uniform signage on pedestrians

And those lines in the middle of the street are what, exactly? Is there some part of the state (or country) where they don't mean crosswalk?

If I were a judge / prosecutor and heard you trying to make that excuse; I'd take your license away.

"I find it hard to believe that 83% of drivers observed in Montclair are intentionally illegal drivers. With those stats people would be run down daily in crosswalks and I have heard of no such occurences- umm ever. "

Really, I don't find it hard to believe at all from driving in Montclair every day. And pedestrians have been killed by cars in montclair in the last few years, though it's a silly statement that someone has to be killed to prove drivers aren't stopping. Pedestrians are so used to the bad drivers, they just sit and wait until someone finally stops.

I don't think this "sting" is going to work in the long term. Other states would use funds for education, crosswalk improvements and other useful signals. Our town uses funds to pay for cops to fine residents and collect money via tickets. When the money dries up the enforcement is over and the pedestrians are still in same danger. The funds should be used for more permanant things.

Other states would use funds for education, crosswalk improvements and other useful signals.

Now that I agree with.

Really? I think $130 out of my pocket and 2 points on my license (with the increase in insurance) would be enough for me to be more careful in the future.

I doubt (as a previous post mentioned) that mostly "good" drivers are getting the tickets. While I'm sure there may be a borderline case or two where maybe a vehicle was blocking sight of the pedestrian, etc., in my case this morning, the cop stepped out with plenty of time to stop. The cops don't really need to "trick" people into tickets. My experience is that there are enough people blowing through crosswalks that they'll have their hands full anyway.

Agreed, mv07042. There are enough people breaking the law, too, to necessitate the 10 or so officers ready to ticket.

"I find it hard to believe that 83% of drivers observed in Montclair are intentionally illegal drivers. With those stats people would be run down daily in crosswalks and I have heard of no such occurences- umm ever."

Girl -- you're absolutely right. The figure of 83% of drivers in Montclair intentionally driving illegally is hard to believe. I would say it is closer to 90%. Case in point: every time I try crossing Park Street in Upper Montclair at a crosswalk, while holding the hands of my two small children, invariably at least 5 to 10 cars will speed past ignoring us (and believe me, we are well off the curb and in plain sight). And Grove Street is much, much worse. The fact that you have "heard of no such occurences" (your spelling error, not mine) probably says less about the dangers of being a pedestrian in Montclair and more about your talents of perception.

I have very little respect for police when it comes to traffic violations, and here's why: They don't follow any of the rules themselves. Driving down Bellevue toward Shoprite one day, there was a police car in front of me. As we came to the Bellevue and broad street light, I chose the middle lane to go straight into Shoprite. The light was red, with the police car waiting at the light in front of me. Another police officer came driving down broad from clifton area, saw her colleague in the police car in front of me, and made a right onto bellevue from broad. Then, much to the surprise of drivers coming down Bellevue, this police officer makes an unsignaled illegal u-turn to get behind me, right thru an area painted with white striped lines. Then, as the light turned green and everyone proceeded straight to shoprite, the cop behind me tried to pass me as we entered the shoprite parking lot!! This also nearly caused an accident, since there were cars going the other way. As I enter the store, I see these 2 knuckleheads talking from their cars, parked right in the middle of the lot, not in spaces. After shopping, I exit the parking lot, and notice the same two pigs sitting in their cars at the end of one of the residential streets that spill onto broad street. They're both facing the same way, blocking traffic on the same street; I guess they were waiting to pull over a speeder.

Really, 90% of all drivers in Montclair fail to yield? I dont know the facts though, it was just my opinion, so maybe I am wrong, that just seems like a very large number. That is stating almost ALL drivers including those posting here are offenders. Granted I am sure it is a large number, I was merely stating that one would think, and it was just my opinion, if it were that high then one might expect a higher number of serious incidents. I did not mean to imply we should wait for accidents to do anything or that I dont agree its a problem in Montclair.

But just for the record- I of course think every one should yield, its the law and its common courtesy. I would hate to have to read about any terrible accident due to failure to yield. (or any other reason) I don't think I have a perception issue, I don't think I can percieve of accidents occuring or not occuring, I can only be aware of the fact an accident occured or did not occur. And in retrospect on my comment its irrelevant how many accidents there are, if crosswalks are dangerous.

In an earlier statement I said if the tickets help saves lives then I considered my ticket worth it. My stance was agreeing with making crosswalks safe, not to the contrary.

Easy Rider,

Did you call the police dept. or is this your outlet?

Perhaps, just perhaps, they were doing something that required them to act this way. Remember, cops don't usually tell folks why they're doing what they do...

That you have no IDEA what was going on, perhaps your limited moment didn't show the whole picture.

I remember when someone guys stole and crashed a car into a nearby house, all we saw were cops driving around without lights, cutting folks off, speeding and stopping.

It wasn't till later that we realized what they were doing.

Think active enforcement of traffic laws doesn't work? Do you also think it's a good idea to drive faster than 37 mph in Cedar Grove? Or on Ridgewood Ave in Glen Ridge?

Seriously, watch the PSA posted by Generically named Mike.

Come ON.

No more crybabies, please.

That someone posting as "Easy Rider" actually referred above to cops as 'pigs' is extremely dismaying. The 60's have been over a long time, lad. Time to toss those archaic usages and attitudes alike. Lest you be mistaken for a sorry-seeming, know-nothing burnout from those days. (As opposed, however, to the many sorry-seeming albeit more contemporary know-nothings who populate this site.)

the iceman and traveling companions were in the berkshire mountains in western mass. and the people up there actually stopped for us in crosswalks.

i was nearly run down last week crossing Hoover Street by the Coach Deli by someone who was clearly not paying attention to the crosswalk and seemed annoyed when I pointed out politely (ok, not so politely...) that she should have stopped. Fortunately, the light ahead was red so I got my money's worth before she could drive off ;)

I try and cross Normal near MSU every evening and it is scary. I just watched the PSA posted by generically named Mike and I'd like every person who somehow thinks it's okay to TEXT and drive to watch it. I have seen this twice in the last week on Valley Road in Upper Montclair. Maybe I'm naive but driver's ed in 1978 hammered it in to me--driving a vehicle is a responsibility and you cannot do it AND something else.

The angry blogger wrote:

"It seems that we were all offenders of driving the normal speed through a green light in which there is a crosswalk"

According to the law, drivers should not be pulled over at a crosswalk in which the driver has a green light. See below from the Bike Montclair website:

N.J.S.A 39:4-36

39:4-36 Driver to yield to pedestrian, exceptions; violations, penalties.
a. The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals, or where otherwise prohibited by municipal, county, or State regulation, and except where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided, but no pedestrian
shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run
into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible
for the driver to yield. Nothing contained herein shall relieve a
pedestrian from using due care for his safety.

The angry blogger wrote:

"It seems that we were all offenders of driving the normal speed through a green light in which there is a crosswalk"

According to the law, drivers should not be pulled over at a crosswalk in which the driver has a green light. See below from the Bike Montclair website:

N.J.S.A 39:4-36

39:4-36 Driver to yield to pedestrian, exceptions; violations, penalties.
a. The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals, or where otherwise prohibited by municipal, county, or State regulation, and except where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided, but no pedestrian
shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run
into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible
for the driver to yield. Nothing contained herein shall relieve a
pedestrian from using due care for his safety.

Re: Being paid for...with Federal Money.
I for one would seriously doubt that claim. How would the Grant be written, to include Overtime, contribution to Sick Days, and Retirement/Medical provisions? I would presume it might (although I doubt it) pay the hourly wage component, and potentially a "factor" for overhead, but the Actuaries got it wrong when calculating pension/medical burdens for years. We are (as a town) something like $180 million in debt.
I may agree with the concept of the pedestrian rights, but to believe the thought of, "Federal Money = free", is simply wrong. You mean we (the town) did this without overtime? Then we are clearly "overstaffed".

This is really a behavioral modification for long term residents of NNJ. The way most cross a street is to time the cars from both directions with some considering as little a foot of clearance more than enough as cars wiz by 10 mph over the speed limit. It gets to the point that if someone in a car tries to yield, the pedestrian will get angry at having their "timing" screwed up. This worked pretty well in certain areas 40 years ago when there was way less traffic and most everybody was on the same page (we won't factor in out-of -towners for back then it was adapt or....all well).
I find this initiative a welcome relief as there are an amazing number of cars on the roads at all hours, nobody is on the same page anymore, doing only 10 mph over the limit will at best give you a long line of "close order drill" behind you and neighborhoods are much more dynamic as far as outsiders moving in. Most places around the country are much better at the mix of drivers yielding to pedestrians who, instead of stepping out to see if you'll stop (or thinking this is a game of Frogger), cross at an appropriate time.
There is no longer an excuse for the way people drive around here and after this I would hope they target tailgaters; time to wake up people.

WHK, are you way off, Grants

I always seem to remember that some of the most notorious criminals were apprehended as a result of a "minor motor vehicle violation". I wonder if Ted Bundy told the officer who stopped him: "Don't you have any real crime to fight?"

Some people need to get a clue that a violation is a violation.

Is this same thinking used in sports? "Come on Ref...what are you calling a hold on me for? Don't you have some real bad clipping going on that you should be looking for?"

I jogged by two of these operations on Grove and another on Walnut. If you are a driver and claim you didn't see the person in the crosswalk - more reason you deserve the ticket because you are not paying attention.

The uncover steps into the crosswalk but stands close to the curb (similar to a regular pedestrian) and as a driver you should see the person and stop to allow them to cross. If you aren't paying attention as you approach the intersection or adjusting the radio, cell phone, kids in the back seat - you will not have time to react. What is great about it is I watched the person standing in the crosswalk and 4-5 calls simply drive by without regard.

Drivers are more conscious of an intersection if there is a stop light or stop sign vs. a simple cross-walk. It is law, take your ticket and pay it and stop your whining. If you don't like the state traffic laws - give up your license.

I just came across this Star-Ledger piece, which throws an interesting light on the rights-of-pedestrians issue.

There's no specific mention for where the accident happened, but I'd conclude that Leary & boyfriend were not crossing at a marked crosswalk, which is why the driver wasn't charged even though Leary is dead.