When she was pulled over by a police officer yesterday, Lisa Miller said she had no idea she had violated the newly revised pedestrian crosswalk law.

"I didn't even hear about this new law," said Miller, sitting in her car just past the State Library. "I didn't even see a pedestrian."

Police yesterday began enforcing the more stringent law, which is intended to reduce Hawai'i's rising number of pedestrian accidents and fatalities. Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Yu estimated that police issued dozens of citations islandwide but she did not have exact numbers.

During four hours at King and Ke'eaumoku streets, 20 citations were given out, according to police Lt. Jeff Bruchal.

Some pedestrians and drivers were fully aware of the crosswalk laws, while others said they were confused about the rules or didn't know about them. The law was enacted in May.

While Miller was among many motorists ticketed yesterday by Honolulu police for violating the law, she wasn't a part of the majority.

"It looks like the majority of the citations given today were to pedestrians," Bruchal, of the Honolulu Police Department's traffic division, said at a news conference.

TROUBLE AREAS

The islandwide effort to crack down on jaywalkers, pedestrians who don't obey traffic signals and motorists who violate the new crosswalk law began with traffic division officers concentrating on areas where there have been pedestrian fatalities.

Officers were stationed along King Street from Kalihi to Mo'ili'ili — and areas such as Dillingham Boulevard, just east of Waiakamilo Road, where an 82-year-old woman died while jaywalking in July, said Bruchal.

The new crosswalk measure was enacted in May but was not enforced until yesterday to allow people time to become familiar with the rules, said HPD spokeswoman Yu.

The purpose of the new law was to strengthen existing crosswalk rules by requiring drivers to stop rather than yield.

According to HPD, this year there have been 19 pedestrian fatalities, five of which were in a crosswalk.

"We're using all of our resources for this effort to enforce the laws for both drivers and pedestrians and to educate," said Bruchal.

A crosswalk violation can result in a $97 fine for drivers and a $70 fine for pedestrians who jaywalk or don't follow traffic signals.

Shirley Aquino of McCully frequently walks around her neighborhood and near University Avenue. The 32-year-old mother of two said her encounters with motorists while crossing the street have varied.

"Sometimes they will stop and let you cross," she said. But others "won't let you go and pass right by you."

STILL 'CONFUSED'

Aquino said she was unaware of the law and even after having it explained to her, said she was "confused."

"I don't know if they would follow that law," she said, adding that she hasn't seen any changes yet.

The state Department of Transportation is still working on radio and television advertisements that will help explain the new law. Scott Ishikawa, DOT spokesman, said those won't appear for one to two months. Meanwhile, he said, the state is mailing out fliers and planning events to tell people about the law.

John Kim, a 68-year-old taxi driver with The Cab, said he was well aware of the law and has changed the way he drives. "I understand it and I know if I get a ticket my insurance would go up," he said.

But Kim said it's not enough for drivers to follow traffic laws; pedestrians should, too. "When I drive in Waikiki, people walk whenever," he said.

Lt. Bruchal suggests that drivers show courtesy and that pedestrians not jaywalk or ignore the crossing lights.

"If both sides can be a little more courteous and law-abiding, it would greatly increase the safety of everybody," he said.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.