Crime & Safety
from next door Swarthmore
The Illegal Stop Sign
Robert Small, Swarthmore · The Illegal Stop Sign Around 4:30pm today, we were crossing Yale Avenue at Rutgers, walking towards town, with one of our canines. Because a white car was racing towards us, in the direction of Route 320, I brought up the stop sign that I have been using, so that we could cross. As he stopped, I realized this was a Swarthmore Police car, without a siren being used, and we were then told that I could be cited for illegal use of a stop sign, which carries a $150 fine. I brought up the very real possibility of cars not stopping at the pedestrian crossing, which has happened too many times. I then asked what should we do if a car refused to stop. He remained silent. We have been using the stop sign precisely because many drivers act as though they do not understand what a Pedestrian crossing means. Work is just starting this week on traffic calming measures at this intersection, but in a fairly slow manner. Complaints have been presented to Swarthmore Borough Council over the past few years by many residents, in order to procure these traffic calming measures. Should I risk a fine or my life?