Updated: Sun Feb. 15 2009 20:31:02

ctvbc.ca

The 2010 Olympics are being blamed for police sweeps and aggressive ticketing in Vancouver's poorest neighbourhood.

Vancouver's Downtown Eastside -- is where addicts can openly inject drugs on the street -- but jaywalking is an offense that comes with a ticket and a fine of $25 for people who can least afford to pay.

Activists say police are giving out more and more tickets to clean up the Downtown Eastside in time for the Games. And they claim the tactics are wreaking havoc for the most needy.

"I think that's ridiculous, they wouldn't do that on Granville, they wouldn't do that on Robson, and people do that over there," said local resident Paula Potter.

Vancouver police issued a flurry of tickets in the Downtown Eastside last year. Community groups say officers are targeting residents for minor infractions.

"We're seeing things like ticketing for jaywalking, spitting, and "illegal" vending," said Harsha Walia of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre.

It's being executed as part of the province's Safe Streets Act, passed in 2004 to crack down on aggressive panhandling, and championed by former Mayor Sam Sullivan. The mayor came up with his "project civil city" plan in response in order to deal with public disorder.

Last year, officers issued 467 tickets for violations under the safe streets act, more than double the previous year, the majority of them in Canada's poorest neighbourhood, the Downtown Eastside.

Residents say it's all about maintaining an image before the Olympics.

And there are plans to increase ticketing the area even more. According to the VPD's draft business plan for 2009, the target is a minimum of four street checks per officer per block.

"It's totally unfair and totally disrespectful," said Wendy Pedersen of the Carnegie Community Action Project.

"Imagine how you would feel if you had no money and stepped off the pavement and you got a ticket for jaywalking, knowing nobody cares about your safety, that really it's about scooping you off the streets for the Olympics."

Not paying the ticket can mean ending up in jail or being banned from the neighbourhood.

The fight will go to court this week. Residents are being encouraged to contest their tickets on Tuesday.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Jina You.

Comments are now closed for this story

Den
The answer is simple. Don't jaywalk or do anything to get a ticket. Duh. Stop creating trouble.

Trb
I absolutely agree with "Den". You dont want these tickets... well dont give them a reason to give you one!

GMan
My 3 year old son knows "other people do it too" isn't an acceptable excuse to break the rules. Why do these people not understand? You don't want a ticket, don't jaywalk.

And no we don't care about your safety. And yes we're giving you this ticket only because we want to clean up the streets for the Olympics. Deal with it.

zig zag
The answer is simple: cancel the Olympics. Duh. Stop creating trouble.

Danny
Den, so in simple terms, why does jaywalking in other areas of the city not result in a ticket? Shouldn't the law be applied consistently? Duh.

Erik in Langley
Well since the police's popularity level is all but non existent, why not piss people off some more.

Hendrik in Vancouver
Anyone who complains about the ticketing for jaywalking has obviously never driven through the neighbourhood. Normal sober jaywalking elsewhere has aware people running across streets relatively safely. Downtown Eastside, random zombies stumbling through moving traffic, cars slamming on brakes, sometimes having to swerve. They're a real, extreme traffic danger- not to mention the risk to themselves.

John Marsden
I seen a man today on the DTES covered in urine, feces and vomit. I thought, gee..what a nice image to portray to the world when they come into town for the Olympics !

Here's a thought:
This pretty much sums up the stupidity of Vancouver's methods of solving problems in our city.
Give poor, unemployed, often homeless, often drug addicted people $25 tickets for not caring about their lives and jaywalking.
Seriously are those in charge THAT dumb?
Someone who regularly staggers out into oncoming traffic is NOT going to pay a ticket, can't pay a ticket and I seriously doubt the city even has a way to enforce payment of said ticket.
What a waist of time. And resources!

Here's a thought:
How about the city campaign against speeding and drunk driving?
I think THAT"S recently shown itself to be an ACTUAL issue needing addressing.

OR they could come and 'ticket' the drug dealers in Grandview Park. They actually HAVE money to pay it.
Maybe if those dealers weren't selling drugs there would be less doped up jaywalkers in the streets of Vancouver.
DUH!

alex gomez of Victoria.
No doubt jaywalking is wrong, but we don't live in a police state either. Why not issue two warning tickets first. Why are jaywalking rules just limited to the east side. I hope that this cash grab is not for paying out all those backroom deals like the recent $100 million to Vanoc. Shame on city hall.

D. Bank, Vancouver
Doesn't RCM have better things to do like dealing with gang violence etc than ticketing jaywalkers & tasering visitors? What an arrogant attitude? They themselves drink & drive compromising safety of everyone and lasy guys just want to ticket Jaywalkers. Mr. Campbell change the laws or the change will come to Victoria

cheryl
Gregor - it's time to undo all the nasty, unfair things that the previous Mayor tried to impose on those poor people of the DTES. Starting with $25 tickets when a lot of them only get $600 per month. If the tickets were legit, I'd agree with it but we all know the police are trying to sweep the residents under the Olympic carpet.

cherylincanada

Damian
I drive through the neighbourhood everyday for work. Over the years I have had three very close incidents of almost hitting people that have walked or run out from the sidewalk in Downtown East Vancouver. I believe there is a need to enforce this. For those of you that comment but haven't experienced the situation. Give it a go, you may change your opinion when someone dashes out between the parked cars at night, then abuses you and spits on your hood for making them drop their cigarette!!

gord
it's about time they start doing something.the downtown eastside is totaly out of control.try working down there a have crackheads jump in front of your vehicle or decide to kick it.

S
Fine people who have nothing, way to go,goons

BOYCOTT the OLYMPICS
I guess that means they are going to move to Commercial Drive, West End and other neighbourhoods. Just not West Point Grey or Shaughnessey!

Jenn
Being someone who has to travel through the DTES daily, I can understand why they are targeting this area. People in the DTES, for whatever reason, seem to willingly walk out in front of rapidly moving vehicles. I cannot say whether they are high, suicidal, or merely playing games. Maybe the threat of being ticketed will stop these people from both taking their lives in their hands, and prevent drivers from having heart attacks in the middle of the road when someone walks out in front of them.

Also, most jaywalkers I see in Downtown proper wait until there are no cars around before attempting to cross, showing a bit more sense than is demonstrated consistently in the DTES.

Bella Voisin
GMan- It's no wonder our world is the sad and un-feeling place that it is with people like you raising children.

darkfabric
We are not mindless automatons. There exist many situations in which most people would would consider breaking a law like jaywalking, which is why it is a law that is seldom enforced.

To suddenly crack down on people for such a minor offense is not only a waste of time and resources, but also a disingenuous endeavor, considering the motivation behind it.

I hope we are also able to clear off the streets before 2010 cops who drink and drive and beat and rob people for no apparent reason.

GMan
Bella Voisin - it's no wonder we live in a society where people try to get away with everything. You live here.

A Allan
Ticketing people who jaywalk? Ridiculous! This is just another money grab to pay for the 2010 Olympic Games. Let's concentrate on those people who DO BREAK THE LAW.

A Koster
"I hope we are also able to clear off the streets before 2010 cops who drink and drive and beat and rob people for no apparent reason."

I'm with you darkfabric... and murder with tasers and kill innocent people with their cars while they're off duty driving drunk and with their own kids in the car.

These are the fine upstanding citizens that the poor of the Eastside should be emulating.

Btw, does citizen's arrest still apply?

Bob in Winnipeg
Judging by all the negative comments about the RCMP by these so called rights groups and social activists, maybe it is time for the RCMP to pull out of Vancouver and leave the policing to the activists. Let the city wallow in it's own filth and watch as it implodes, the activists will be the first ones out of the city with their bags packed with good intentions and nothing else.