Fort Lee Tickets Jaywalkers, Should Ridgewood?

If you jaywalk in Fort Lee, you might be heading home with a pamphlet and an . The new enforcement and awareness initiative comes after three recorded pedestrian deaths and a total of 20 pedestrian strikes thus far in 2012.

The Fort Lee program stands a sharp contrast to Ridgewood, which has documented pedestrian safety troubles of its own but a decidedly less aggressive approach toward jaywalkers.

The focus in the village has been on through pamphlets and .

The level of traffic enforcement in the village has increased due to a newly-reconfigured traffic bureau, and community-based approaches like "Stop, Look and Wave" have also beared fruit in 2012, according to Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward. will continue to keep drivers on their toes for not yielding to pedestrians, Ward said.

While the last several years averaged between 20-23 strikes with, there have been five pedestrian strikes, only .

Though numbers in 2012 point to progress on pedestrian safety initiatives, any casual observer can see scores of pedestrians hopping out in front of cars on E. Ridgewood Ave.

What do you think – should the police be spending more time issuing tickets to those jaywalking in the Central Business District? Leave a comment, let us know how you feel.