After receiving $100 fines for crossing the street without a walk signal or stepping outside the crosswalk, several ticketed students insist jaywalking enforcement is a waste of time.

Sophomore Kyle Busack said he was wrongfully ticketed for jaywalking.

“It angered me quite a bit,” Busack said. “I think I can judge when there are cars coming and if I’ll be safe.”

But University police Lt. Chuck Miner said with the large number of jaywalking complaints, police have no choice but rigid enforcement, which will continue on campus this year.

“It’s been a problem for several years,” Miner said. “It’s something we’ve stepped up on at the beginning of the (school) year.”

Busack said there are other issues police should focus on and that the fines should be lowered.

The fine for jaywalking is currently $100, but Busack said regardless of enforcement, jaywalkers will not be deterred.

“It’s going to happen no matter what (police) do,” Busack said.

Sophomore Jeff Campbell – also recently ticketed for jaywalking – agreed jaywalking is inevitable, and he said his ticket will only make him more aware of police presence.

“I guess I was just dumb for not looking harder for cops,” Campbell said.

Regardless of student opinion, Miner said increased law enforcement will continue to ensure student safety.

“We are just trying to prevent somebody from being killed,” Miner said.

With approximately 60,000 students circulating campus, Miner said will be difficult to control all streets for jaywalking, but he said University police focus on high-traffic areas, where jaywalking is the most problematic.

These areas include streets that intersect with Washington and University avenues.

“We just want people to comply with the traffic control devices so that everybody stays safe,” Miner said.