Mother Of Cheyenne Student Killed In Crosswalk Supports Crackdown

A proposal to allow people caught speeding in neighborhoods where it is a problem to face double the usual fine has cleared a second reading in the Cheyenne City Council.

It passed unanimously and without being amended. It still faces a third and final reading before becoming law.

One of the seven co-sponsors of the measure, Ward III Councilman Richard Johnson, told Townsquare Media that  he got behind the measure "to have a more serious look at school crossings.''

Mother Of Cheyenne Student Killed In Crosswalk Backs The Proposal

Janelle Jones, mother of 13-year-old Mak Evans, who was hit and killed in a crosswalk near McCormick Junior High School, told Townsquare Media that she supports the proposal.

''I am 100 percent in support of this becoming a law and I applaud the council members behind this" she wrote in response to an email seeking comment on the proposed law.

''I have many thoughts on this issue and I am grateful that as a community we are now prioritizing the safety, not only for children but for pedestrians and bicyclists as a whole and working towards sustainable change. 

Injuries and death to law-abiding pedestrians by speeding and distracted driving are 100% preventable. We need to hold drivers accountable and to a higher standard.

Sometimes that means stricter enforcement. 

This would allow our law enforcement officers to give appropriate citations and hopefully minimize the amount of incidents as well as deter drivers speeding with costly fines.''

She added ''you cannot put a price on a life.”

Evans has since founded the "For Mak" organization, to raise awareness of crosswalk safety issues.

Under the proposal, people could sign a petition asking the city to study their neighborhoods for traffic concerns. If at least five people in a neighborhood sign such a petition, the city will conduct a study to determine if there are safety concerns related to speeding. The complaint forms for people who want to raise the issue will be available to the public through the city engineer's office.

If the study determines that unsafe driving poses a problem, the neighborhood could be designated a Critical Traffic Control Area. People ticketed for speeding in such an area would face double the usual fine for speeding in the city, similar to a ticket for speeding in a construction zone. Other measures, like temporary calming devices, might also be taken.