MORENO VALLEY,     California — Would you yield the right-of-way to Santa Claus if he was walking in a crosswalk? Many motorists didn’t stop and got an early Christmas gift in the form of a moving violation from the Moreno Valley Traffic Team Thursday afternoon.

Police conducted a pedestrian decoy program this week in response to complaints from the public and crossing guards about motorists failing to stop for pedestrians at intersections around the city. Under California law, motorists are required to yield the right of way to pedestrians in a cross walk, however, many roll right through them creating a dangerous situation.

On Thursday, Moreno Valley undercover police stood watch at the intersection of Eucalyptus Avenue and Running Deer Road. A police officer dressed up as Santa Claus walked into the crosswalk as other police officers observed whether the drivers would stop. Five motorists were handed out tickets for “failing to yield a pedestrian in a crosswalk,” and two vehicles were impounded as drivers had suspended licenses or were unlicensed.

“In previous operations many of the motorists stopped for these violations said they never saw the pedestrian in the crosswalk,” said Sergeant Jim Bengtson in a press release. “In an effort to make our pedestrian more visible, he was dressed today in a large “Santa Claus” outfit. Many motorists who were stopped today said they never saw the “Santa Claus” in the crosswalk.”

The police decoy program is conducted throughout the year at various locations throughout the city, Bengtson said. Questions about the program can be directed to the Moreno Valley Police Department Traffic Division at (951) 486-6900.

In Riverside County, there were 190 deaths and 7,632 injuries due to car crashes in 2010. In California, there were 2,520 people killed and 161,094 injuries in 2010 as well as 252,876 property damage claims resulting from car accidents including pedestrian crashes, motorcycle accidents and bicycle collisions.

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