Police sting involving rabbit costume sparks criticism in Glendale

A pedestrian sting operation in Glendale, in which a police officer dressed as a rabbit, has sparked controversy, with one councilman calling it “breathtakingly dangerous."

For an hour and a half, Police Officer Tom Broadway donned the eye-catching costume during an enforcement sting aimed at educating motorists about yielding to pedestrians walking along unmarked crosswalks. Police cited 24 motorists on suspicion of failing to yield as Broadway walked across Central Avenue.

“One of the violators said he was confused by it,” Sgt. Dennis Smith told the News-Press. “He said he hopped in front of him.”

Police said the sting was about more than just enforcement, with officers also taking time to educate motorists.

But the operation infuriated Councilman John Drayman, who said he learned of the sting only after it had taken place.

He called the enforcement sting a “stupid traffic stunt” that was “breathtakingly dangerous."

Read the full story here.

Photo: A car does not stop for a Glendale police officer dressed in a rabbit costume crossing the street at Central and Garfield avenues Wednesday. The driver was pulled over for not yielding to a pedestrian. Credit: Raul Roa / News-Press

-- Veronica Rocha, News-Press

Comments

[No Way]

Maybe this was necessary, because if these comments are any indication then you don't know the law, which reads (as posted below):

"Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard."

An unmarked crosswalk is any intersection, even if there is not a painted crosswalk. Jaywalking is when you cross in the middle of the street. It is always okay to cross at an intersection and pedestrians always have the right of way.