By SARAH BROACH

Staff Writer

Cars line up every day to allow students to walk across streets around campus, but it's not because the drivers have a choice.

"In the state of Louisiana, as long as it's legal, pedestrians always have the right of way in a crosswalk," Tech Police Capt. Raymond Merrit said.

Still, Merrit said intersections are not crosswalks.

"A crosswalk is in the middle of a road where there is not an intersection," he said. "At an intersection, you go by the light you're facing. If it's red, you wait for the cars to go. If it's green, you can walk across."

Pedestrians do not always follow the rules of an intersection, though.

"Sometimes we have to send people to stop pedestrians over at intersections like Railroad Avenue and Alabama Avenue because they are not being courteous, and cars are backed up all the way down the street," Merrit said.

Megan Payadue, a sophomore finance major, said the rules of the crosswalks can be an inconvenience for drivers.

"People in the crosswalk act like you're not waiting for them to pass and they walk too slowly," she said. "They make you late to class."

Krystle Ainey, a sophomore business management major, said she feels other systems should be looked into for the benefit of drivers.

"They should have those 'Walk/Don't walk' signs to regulate traffic in the mornings," Ainey said.

Ainey said it might also be beneficial to walkers.

"I saw a girl almost get hit once," Ainey said. "The driver was obviously in too big of a rush to wait."

Willie Williams, a freshman chemical engineering major, said some drivers get too crazy around the crosswalks.

"You should get your license taken away if you actually end up hitting someone," he said. "Some people just should not be driving."

Williams said he does relate to people like Ainey and Payadue who are in a rush sometimes.

"I understand sometimes people have somewhere to be," he said. "But it doesn't make it OK to almost hit somebody."

Merrit said new yellow signs were put up recently near crosswalks to draw more attention to the drivers and clarify that pedestrians have the right of way.

When accidents do occur in the crosswalks, Tech police handle the situation, and the driver is subject to either a Ruston or university fine.

"We give a $40 fine for reckless operation and a $25 fine for failure to use due care and caution," Merrit said.

Another fine of $25 exists for failure to yield to a pedestrian, according to Tech's 2004-2005 Vehicle Regulations Manual.

"It's the medical bills you really have to worry about if you hit someone," Merrit said.

He said fines are also given for jaywalking, but people often misunderstand what jaywalking actually is.

"Jaywalking is when you're at an intersection, walking from one corner to another corner diagonal from it instead of directly across the street.

"This is a problem because you're stopping all traffic when you do it," he said.

Even though pedestrians have the right of way, Merrit said they should still be careful. "Stop and look before stepping out onto the street," he said. "If a car is coming really fast, do not risk it."