Oakland drivers should be careful while hitting the streets of Oakland on Tuesday because undercover cops we’ll be out and about. The Oakland Police Department’s Traffic Unit will be conducting a pedestrian sting operation. Officers will be working, dressed in civilian clothes, walking in a secret location in North Oakland. Other officers will be in police uniforms’ conducting traffic stops after violations are observed.

According to Holly Joshi, public information officer for the Oakland Police Department, “We want to bring attention to this issue and to keep pedestrians safe.” This is not the first pedestrian sting undercover operation the Traffic Unit has done, but in light of recent pedestrian accidents, the tactic is in the spotlight.

The purpose of the operation is to target drivers not yielding to pedestrians crossing the street. Joshi says this operation is to remind drivers that pedestrians have the right away and allow the pedestrian to safely cross the street. The secret location was chosen in reaction to citizens’/ pedestrians’ safety concerns. “We are responding to the needs and concerns of the community,” Joshi said.

The Oakland Police Department has been actively reminding drivers about the laws. On March 12th, Oakland police officers were in search of those unbelted drivers and passengers—as part of California’s seatbelt law Click It or Ticket. Teens were officers' main focus, as their seatbelt usage rate lags behind adults, yet they are disproportionately involved in more crashes.