Pedestrian safety legislation filed by State Senator Mike Fasano and State Representative Rick Kriseman has passed its first major hurdle. It passed the Florida Senate on March 13 with an unanimous vote. The House companion measure is working its way through the committee process with unanimous support in that chamber as well.
Prompted by concerns raised by Representative Kriseman in his legislative district, the bill clarifies the requirement for drivers to stop before entering a crosswalk when a pedestrian has entered a crosswalk with a permitted signal or where signage indicates pedestrian right-of-way, and remain stopped to allow the pedestrian to cross the roadway.
Additionally, the provisions apply when the pedestrian is in the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so close to the vehicle as to be in danger. Any violation of these new provisions would be a non-criminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation for the operator of a motor vehicle ($60 plus court costs as assessed by the county and 3 points assessed on the driver’s license).
“Pedestrians who legally enter a crosswalk should be able to do so without the fear of being injured by motorists who do not follow the law,” Senator Fasano states. “I hope that the moving violation that a driver may be charged with will be enough of a deterrent to drivers that they will pay greater attention to those who lawfully use crosswalks.”
Upon completion of the committee process in the House the bill must come to a final vote in that chamber before it is sent to the governor for his signature.
