D.C. Traffic Cameras To Police Crosswalks, Stop Signs

Would you race around an elderly woman en route to the elevator, cut her off, then gleefully shut the door in her face? Then don't do it in a crosswalk with a car. You can't get a ticket for the former -- but starting soon, in D.C. you'll get one for the latter behavior.

On Saturday, D.C.'s traffic cameras will start enforcing violations that go beyond traditional red light and speeding cameras.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the "DC Street Safe" program "is aimed at using new photo enforcement technologies to combat aggressive and dangerous driving habits that endanger some of our most vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicle drivers and passengers."

The new cameras will begin issuing warnings on November 23. After the first month, fines will be issued to violators. 

The MPD has produced a number of videos that try to translate street violations into the argot of office behavior, from coworkers annoyingly clicking pens to the aforementioned elevator malfeasance (see below.) You can watch all the videos here.

For more on the cameras, check out WAMU.