Peabody police warn youth about walking, riding in street
Peabody Police Chief Jeff Pohlman has issued a warning to Peabody youngsters about walking and riding bicycles in the middle of city streets. The warning is, "Don't do it."
"Since school has started we've had more and more complaints about this situation," said Pohlman. "Mostly it's about the high school kids who walk four or five abreast down the middle of the street.
"But all ages of kids are doing it and it is going to have to stop."
Pohlman said students need to stay on sidewalks if they are walking. If they are on bikes they need to stay to the extreme right-hand side of the road and be prepared to yield to cars.
Pohlman noted many of the students who walk in groups and obstruct traffic are rude to drivers trying to get around them. "They shout obscenities or make obscene hand gestures," he said. "The cars have the right-of-way and the kids are creating an obstruction. Not only is the behavior rude and irritating, it is dangerous."
Pohlman said effective immediately Peabody police officers will begin issuing citations to the young people who are caught violating the law.
"The law provides for a hefty fine for this behavior and we have the option of assigning community service," Pohlman said. "We are putting the kids on notice."
