It’s official — jaywalkers in Richmond will now face a $50 fine if they cross an arterial road outside of a crosswalk.
The City of Richmond’s traffic bylaw No. 5870 is now in effect, in a bid to enhance traffic safety, particularly for pedestrians.
Richmond city council unanimously passed the amendment in October, which includes pedestrians who cross at a dedicated crossing when not permitted to (ignoring the ‘Don’t Walk’ sign).
Other notable changes include:
Drivers failing to yield when a crosswalk is occupied will now face a fine of $150 (up from $109);
Motorcycle, moped and bicycle parking: Allows the creation of dedicated on-street parking spots for the exclusive use of these vehicles at intersection corner clearances in the City Centre and Steveston Village areas;
Temporary storage containers: Allows placement of temporary moving and storage bins on certain city roadways and boulevards by permit for a fee of $30 per day.
The definition of jaywalking had been removed from the provincial Motor Vehicle Act, meaning municipalities were required to impose their own bylaws.
According to the RCMP Traffic Section, as noted in a report to council in the fall, there have been 14 pedestrian fatalities in Richmond over the last five years. Four of those occurred outside of a crosswalk.
