Police officers in San Francisco, California, are roaming the streets dressed as chickens to catch drivers breaking traffic laws.
Every day, people come close to being hit by cars in San Francisco, as motorists are forced to stop when someone enters a crosswalk. Under state law, a driver who fails to respect this right of way can receive a ticket of up to $400.
So last Monday, to catch errant drivers, San Francisco Police Lt. Jonathan Ozul dressed up as an inflatable chicken and repeatedly tried to cross a crosswalk. He explained to local media: svjet He gave drivers plenty of time to see him, targeting oncoming cars about 60 yards away.
“If you don't see someone dressed as a giant chicken, we really have a problem,” he said.
However, several people failed the test and were intercepted by two other officers further away who were flagged down by Lieutenant Ozul for a violation.
Monday’s operation wasn’t the first of its kind the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has carried out. In fact, it was the fifth in six months. And while the uniforms may differ, the goal remains the same: to ensure motorists are careful when approaching crosswalks.
“I don't want to [que mes agents] Get crushed. But if the suit is shiny […] “Can you miss it?” said Captain Amy Horowitz. svjet.
With each one yielding about 30 or 40 tickets, the operations appear to have had the desired effect, Jonathan Ozul estimates.
“It has an effect. Drivers seem to be more aware and more conscious. Certainly when they see chickens. […] He stressed that the other person who surrenders is another person who feels safe.
