GILBERT, Arizona - August 20, 2009 - Gilbert schoolchildren and parents be warned: Police have their citation books in hand and are ready to crack down on jaywalkers.

As Gilbert-area schools reopened last week, school-resource police officers notified officials in Gilbert Public Schools and Higley Unified school districts that they would soon begin a crackdown on students who don't use crosswalks.

"What we try to do is educate the students first by notifying them and when that doesn't work, we will start issuing citations," said Sgt. Mark Marino, a police spokesman.

In an e-mail to students and parents, Higley High School Principal Larry Rother stated, "Gilbert officers informed school administration that they are conducting 'sweeps' of all high schools in Gilbert and may be ticketing students who are 'j-walking' after dismissal."

Patrol and motorcycle officers will be on the lookout for jaywalkers throughout the school year, Marino said.

"Our goal here is to keep the students safe," Marino said, adding students and parents were tipped off because "we want to do everything we can before we have to issue a citation."

The biggest offenders are older students, typically those in junior and high school, Marino said.

"We've had a bunch of close calls at some of the schools," Marino said. "No one has been hurt, but it's only a matter of time if we don't take some sort of action."

Arizona Revised Statute 28-793 requires a pedestrian to yield to oncoming traffic when crossing a roadway outside of a crosswalk. However, the law prohibits pedestrians from crossing intersections outside a crosswalk when traffic lights are present. The fine is $210.

Marino said the crackdown is twofold - to keep schoolchildren and drivers near schools safe.

"We talk a lot about enforcement on drivers, but we also have to focus on the students' behavior and safety practices as well," he said.