Metro Police issue 117 citations in effort to protect pedestrians

Friday, Aug. 20, 1999 | 4:01 a.m.

Metro Police officers issued 117 citations to motorists and pedestrians Tuesday along Fremont Street in a special effort to protect pedestrians and bring attention to the growing problem of auto-pedestrian accidents.

"We will have more in the future," Metro spokesman Steve Meriwether said.

Members of the Downtown Area Command bike patrol and traffic division set up traffic enforcement on Fremont between Las Vegas Boulevard and 15th Street, issuing citations to drivers who failed to stop for pedestrians.

Also cited were drivers who weren't wearing seatbelts or didn't have proof of insurance.

Some pedestrians also were cited for jaywalking, Meriwether said.

According to Bruce Mackay, state education officer for bicycle and pedestrian safety with the Department of Motor Vehicles, Nevada is ranked fourth in the nation in pedestrian fatalities, and Clark County is ranked first in Nevada.

Mackay said statewide, 37 pedestrians have been killed so far this year, compared to 33 for the same period a year ago.

Of this year's deaths, 28 were in Clark County, compared to 24 at this time last year.

Mackay said officers in Reno often conduct sting operations, similar to Metro's recent special effort, only officers wear civilian clothes and cite motorists when they fail to stop.

Meriwether said Tuesday's focus was the result of officers in the area noticing an increase in the number of people in the area.

"They decided something needed to be done," Meriwether said.

He said similar efforts take place on The Strip, only not on as large a scale.