Most students take advantage of the school’s open lunch policy, but the Rockville City Police is now ensuring that with the freedom comes responsibility. When students leave campus, safety becomes an issue, and the police are stepping in.

This year, the City of Rockville has received a record number of complaints of students not using crosswalks and endangering themselves and others, before, during, and after school. These concerns have prompted the police to take a more involved role.

The Rockville City Police Department will be monitoring spots near First Street and Rockville Pike in patrol cars and on foot. As they find students not using crosswalks, officers will begin to issue fines. The fines’ severity varies, but could be over $40 per violation.

Although the jaywalking concern directly involves Richard Montgomery students, 12th grade administrator Mrs. Sosik stated that the school has absolutely no involvement in the enforcement or outcome of the new policy. She noted that “the role of the school is to work in connection with Rockville city” and relay information to students.

RM has still notified students and parents through announcements on RMBC and emails on the school listserv. Pamphlets detailing crosswalk safety will also be available in the main office and guidance office.

The precedent set by police monitoring has produced mixed reactions amongst RM students. Some believe that police involvement is unwarranted. ““It’s ridiculous,” said sophomore Marica Sharashenidze.

Meanwhile, sophomore Ben Hsieh believes that “people who jaywalk should pay the consequences of their own actions.”

The crosswalk safety problem is not unique to RM. Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring does not allow students to leave the building during lunch, partially due to the busy highways near the school.

Maggie Shi, a student at Blair commented that “even though students think they are completely safe, there’s always a chance of a driver not seeing them or something else happening. Just because [a major accident] hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean that one won’t happen.”

Although RM students are divided as to whether or not the policy is warranted, most students agree that no amount of police monitoring will completely solve the problem.

“Laws never ‘stop’ anything,” said Hsieh. “They merely make it less abundant. If many people jaywalk at the same time, the police can’t ticket everyone.”