Police — using a “decoy” pedestrian walking in a Eugene crosswalk — issued 27 citations Wednesday, May 6, as part of an interagency targeted patrol effort focused on pedestrian safety.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., officers monitored a crosswalk at 17th Avenue and Patterson Street, issuing 12 citations issued for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The violations are punishable by a $300 fine in Eugene Municipal Court, police spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin said. Police issued seven warnings for the same violation.

In January, a bicyclist died after being struck by a vehicle while riding across Patterson Street at 22nd Avenue. The death of 30-year-old University of Oregon doctoral student Erick Njue — as well as other recent pedestrian and bicyclist deaths — led to a call from transit safety groups for safer streets.

Eugene police Chief Chris Skinner and the police department recently announced a priority to increase traffic safety efforts, and on Wednesday were joined by officers from Springfield and the University of Oregon police departments.

“This area in the West University [neighborhood] has a lot of foot traffic. Crossing both Hilyard and Patterson can be quite dangerous for a lot of the people that are out here on foot,” Eugene Traffic Safety Sgt. Nate Pieske said in a video statement. 

Pieske said police used a “decoy spotter” walking east to west in a marked crosswalk. One goal of such a targeted effort is to increase awareness about crosswalk safety laws, Pieske said.

Police on Wednesday also issued two citations for passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk, as well as one warning.

Drivers were also issued citations and warnings for distracted driving, speeding and other traffic-related violations, as well as equipment citations such as defective lighting and illegal window tint, McLaughlin said.

Others were cited for failing to register a vehicle or improper display of a license plate sticker, she said.