The mother of a John Eaton Elementary School student hit by a driver in a Cleveland Park crosswalk has asked the city to punish drivers more strictly for hitting pedestrians.
Nancy Szemraj’s daughter Grace, 11, was crossing Connecticut Avenue Northwest at Macomb Street in June when a driver ran a red light and hit her, Szemraj said at a D.C. Council hearing Friday about pedestrian and bicycle safety. Grace suffered injuries including a broken pelvis and extensive burns.
Grace crossed the street while the walk signal was in her favor, Szemraj said.
Szemraj urged the council to consider higher fines that depend on the circumstances of the incident.
“The fines and points on your license for hitting but not killing a pedestrian need to be significant,” she said.
The fine for running a red light is $75 to $150, while the fine for hitting a pedestrian is $250. The city rarely pursues out-of-state drivers to collect the fines or levy points, she said.
Szemraj also asked the council to investigate the city’s practice of not pursuing out-of-state drivers.
The video of Szemraj’s testimony is embedded below. [Hat tip to Greater Greater Washington.]
EVERYBODY needs to be careful and obey the laws when they’re out and about – drivers, pedestrians, bikers, joggers, everyone. I’m a full-time pedestrian – I cross at crosswalks WITH the walk signals. If it’s dark or inclement weather, I carry a lit flashlight when crossing the street so drivers can see me. And it never, ever fails, every single time some moron will run the red light/stop sign and almost run me over. And many times they’ll flip me the finger for being in THEIR way! The young girl mentioned in this article shouldn’t have to suffer what she’s been going through because someone thought “the rules of the road are for everybody but me.” I say higher fines AND community service or even jail time are needed for people who deliberately break the law.
As of Feb 1st it’s now 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine for making an “unreasonably loud noise”
http://dcstudentsspeak.org/2011/02/02/dc-students-speak-strong-opposes-new-dc-noise-ordinance/
But only a $250 fine for hitting a pedestrian ????
I’m with Szemraj. Let’s get our priorities in order here.
ya. I’m Ok but to this day I want to be picked up on June 14