Pedestrians Usually Have Right Of Way

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A police officer dressed in a seven foot tall gingerbread man costume spent an hour walking back and forth across a crosswalk in California and ticketed motorists - thirteen of them to be exact, who failed to yield to him.

Can you imagine getting pulled over by man in a gigantic cookie suit? Also, why? Why the giant cookie costume? Wouldn't a badge and gun be at least as effective? Also, while I personally always stop for baked goods, what law did the motorists break?

Traffic laws vary by state, but in virtually every state, it is the law that pedestrians have the right of way at a crosswalk, so motorists and bicyclists have to yield to pedestrians. That said, if there is a walk/don't walk sign, pedestrians have to obey the sign. And many states have laws that prohibit pedestrians from walking on highways.

But if you are driving or biking, the law says it's you who must yield to the pedestrians, or you face a ticket, points on your license, and a big fine. In case you were wondering, I will refrain from a that's the way the cookie crumbles joke.