South Lake Tahoe Police Step Up Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Enforcement

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department will conduct targeted pedestrian and bicycle safety law enforcement this summer in order to reduce accidents. They will be deploying officers on bicycles and motorcycles to educate the public.

In 2013, the South Lake Tahoe Police department conducted 42 injury traffic collision investigations that involved serious and/or fatal injuries. 10 of those collisions involved bicycles and 5 involved pedestrians.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department’s intention is to make the city a safer location to visit and in which to live by targeting the violations that cause the collisions in identified problem areas.

Some of the traffic laws that are going to be our focus are as follows:

City Code 26-1 Pedestrian use of crosswalks
No pedestrian shall cross Highway 50/Lake Tahoe Boulevard within the city of South Lake Tahoe between its intersection with State Highway 89 and the California-Nevada state line at any point other than within a properly marked crosswalk.

California Vehicle Code section 21950(a)
The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk.

California Vehicle Code section 21650.1
A bicycle being operated on a highway or the shoulder of a highway shall be operated in the same direction as vehicles are required to be driven.

California Vehicle Code section 21200
A person riding a bicycle must obey all traffic laws including stopping at stop signs and red traffic signals.

California Vehicle Code section 21200.5
It is unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle on a highway while under the influence of alcohol or any drug.

California Vehicle Code section 21201
A bicycle being operated on a highway or sidewalk during hours of darkness must be equipped with a headlight and a red rear reflector.

California Vehicle Code section 21212
A person under the age of 18 years who is operating a bicycle or skateboard must wear a helmet.

California Vehicle Code section 27400
A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more traffic safety information, visit the California Office of Traffic Safety at www.ots.ca.gov