Hundreds cop fines for ignoring rule around new light rail

More than 250 pedestrians have been hit with fines over the course of a month for breaking a crucial rule regarding Sydney’s new light rail route.

Police have cracked down on pedestrian behaviour around Sydney’s new light rail route with hundreds of people copping fines for breaking one crucial rule.

Between December 2019 and January 2020 NSW Police conducted a Pedestrian Compliance Operation around the light rail route in the CBD and Kensington areas.

As a result of that operation 253 infringements were issued to people for not complying with traffic signals.

This type of offence results in an on-the-spot fine of $76, with police saying the operation is aimed at reducing the risk of injury to pedestrians.

Police have been cracking down on pedestrians disobeying traffic signals near the new light rail route. Picture: Simon Bullard/Daily Telegraph

More than 250 infringements were handed out during the month-long crackdown. Picture: Simon Bullard/Daily Telegraph

“This operation aims to reduce the risk of collisions involving pedestrians through education and enforcement at locations identified as high-risk areas,” NSW Police said.

“So far this year, three pedestrians have died on NSW roads.”

A photo of a woman being issued a fine by an officer at a light rail crossing outside Central Station was posted to Reddit on Monday, sparking a debate about whether handing out fines was fair.

Many users claimed it was “revenue raising” and that police should be issuing warnings instead of fines.

“But how about issuing warnings instead of fines? Surely that will get the point across just as well?” one person asked

“The fines are completely unnecessary and people are right to be calling this out as a revenue raising exercise.”

People were divided over whether the fines were fair. Picture: u/Wseries/Reddit

Another person agreed, claiming penalising pedestrians for this offence was the “epitome of a nanny state”.

However many users disagreed, arguing that the police were clearly visible and it was a matter of safety.

“Not revenue raising when it’s trying to promote public safety,” one person said.

“Was walking behind a chick that clearly saw these cops this morning, jaywalked anyway then acted surprised when she got a fine. There were about six of them in high vis, couldn’t have been more obvious,” another wrote.

Police are urging people to always use pedestrian crossings, wait before all vehicles are stopping before walking across the road and avoid being distracted by your phone when crossing.

Originally published as Hundreds cop fines for ignoring rule around new light rail