PHOENIX (AZFamily) —Starting Friday, a new update to a city of Phoenix ordinance will allow officers to issue citations for people illegally crossing or stopping on the street.
City Ordinance 36-128 will allow officers to issue a ticket on first contact when they notice someone breaking this law.
Phoenix police say the change addresses safety concerns involving roads and medians, as they hope to reduce the number of injuries and crashes.
Officers will still retain full discretion and may continue to provide warnings, education or other appropriate enforcement based on the circumstances of each encounter.
The tougher enforcement comes as the city plans to spend $5.6 million to build 10 new pedestrian-activated crosswalks in high-traffic areas.
Phoenix is ranked fourth worst in the country for pedestrian fatalities, and a new report shows the problem is only getting worse.
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