The City of San Antonio has begun a crackdown against some of the most annoying drivers you'll run into at busy intersections, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The 'Don't Block the Box' initiative will seek out and ticket motorists who 'creep' into the interchange when the light is red, frequently so they can get a roaring head start over other drivers when the light turns green.
Often, they do it as part of a slow motion effort to make a right turn on red.The initiative will also crack down on drivers who knowingly enter a congested intersection, only to find themselves stuck in the middle of the intersection by stopped traffic ahead.
Art Reinhardt, who runs the City's Transportation Department, says motorists who do this will have to pay."Currently by local ordinance, that is about a $200 fine that is enforceable," he said.
West Side Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, who proposed the program as part of her 'Vision Zero' initiative to try to cut down on the spike in deaths on City roadways, says people who 'creep' into the intersection not only block crossing traffic, they block pedestrians from crossing in the crosswalk.
That frequently forces them to walk into the intersection to get around the blocking vehicle, and leads to motor vehicle-pedestrian accdients.
Police Chief William McManus says officers will be equipped with plenty of tickets to write to motorists who violate this new law, and won't be afraid to use them.
"This will be something the officers will do in addition to what they are already doing," he said.
Reinhardt says an effort will be made to remove obstructions at intersections which may force drivers to 'creep' into intersections in order to see oncoming traffic.
This isn't the end of efforts to make roadways safer.Gonzales saysd the next step will be an attempt to lower the 'default' speed limit on local streets and roadways, which is now 30 mph, down to 25.
"We have among the highest number of pedestrian fatalities and motorist fatalities in the state," she said. "That is due to the high speeds on our roadways."
Ten intersections, one in each of the city's ten Council districts, will be testing grounds for 'Don't Block the Box.' From there, it will expand to intersections across the City.