Leprechaun enlisted to help pedestrian safety‎

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department handed out dozens of citations on Tuesday to drivers who failed to stop for a police officer dressed as a leprechaun at a a crosswalk. Drivers who sped past Officer Michael Lemley in his neon green costume were out of luck.

Citations for violating crosswalk laws begin at $200. Officer Lemley says he knows the enforcement events are unpopular. "People don't like what we do. I understand that. But they need to understand that we're not out there to cause them financial problems.



"They're doing that on their own by violating the laws. We're out here to save lives." Out of more than 100 crashes involving pedestrians Metro's jurisdiction this year alone, four were fatal.

On Tuesday, Metro handed out 108 citations. 61 drivers were cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. 32 drivers were cited for violations that included no drivers' licence or proof of insurance. Eight drivers were cited for passing a stopped vehicle. Seven drivers were cited for speeding, car seat violations and using their hand-held cell phones.

There's a news video here.