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San Francisco police use costumed stunt to catch speeding drivers: 'Chicken crossing'

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San Francisco police use costumed stunt to catch speeding drivers: 'Chicken crossing'

The San Francisco Police Department is dressing up in inflatable chicken costumes to catch drivers speeding past crosswalks in a new stunt.

SFGate reported Monday on San Francisco police Lt. Jonathan Ozol wearing the costume while walking down a crosswalk on Alemany Boulevard near the intersection of Rousseau Street. The idea, Capt. Amy Hurwitz explained, is for drivers to take notice and yield to pedestrians.

Unfortunately, some drivers still aren’t yielding to Ozol.

“I don’t want them to get run over,” Hurwitz said. “But the costume is so bright, it’s like, how can you miss it?”

SAN FRANCISCO PASSES LAW-AND-ORDER MEASURES BY LARGE MARGINS, INCLUDING DRUG SCREENING FOR WELFARE RECIPIENTS

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The San Francisco Police Department is aiming to get drivers to yield to crosswalks. (iStock)

Monday’s exercise was the fifth one conducted over the last six months. Each featured an officer crossing different intersections dressed in a different costume, sometimes as a unicorn or Big Bird.

Hurwitz said each exercise has resulted in approximately 30 to 40 citations each with fines costing up to $400. Ozol similarly expressed disappointment at the high number.

“If you don’t see someone in a giant chicken costume, then we really have a problem,” he said.

Despite this, Ozol added that drivers are appearing to become more aware as the exercise continues.

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SAN FRANCISCO’S AGGRESSIVE CRIME CRACKDOWN SEES DRAMATIC DROP IN CAR BREAK-INS

Police officers have been dressing up in costumes that include an inflatable chicken or Big Bird. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“The exercise has been featured in police newsletters, and in fact, after police performed the exercise at the same crosswalk previously, someone with a sense of humor put up a ‘chicken crossing’ sign nearby,” SFGate reported.

“It’s having an impact,” Ozol said. “Drivers seem more aware, more cognizant. Certainly when they see the chicken.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the San Francisco Police Department for a comment.

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Rising crime has been a significant issue in San Francisco over the last few years. In 2023, homicide rates rose by 83% with overall violent crime rate rising by 4%.

However, crime data from the San Francisco Police Department has indicated crime rates are going down compared to this time last year.

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San Francisco, CA

San Francisco prepares for Bay to Breakers run

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San Francisco prepares for Bay to Breakers run


This year’s annual Bay to Breakers — the event that’s as much as roving costume party as a 12 kilometer run — is being held on Sunday, May 17. While participants prepare their outfits for the event, San Franciscans prepare for the road closures that accompany the event. Transit officials recommend runners and spectators alike use subways and mass transit, especially on the day of the race.



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Denver, CO

Northbound I-25 closed between Denver and Colorado Springs after fatal multi-vehicle crash

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Northbound I-25 closed between Denver and Colorado Springs after fatal multi-vehicle crash


Northbound I-25 between Colorado Springs and Denver is closed due to a fatal three-vehicle crash that occurred around 1:23 p.m. on May 15 in the area of Happy Canyon Road (mile marker 187). This is located in the Castle Pines area, just north of Castle Rock. According to Colorado State Patrol, the three-vehicle crash involved […]



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Seattle, WA

Health officials track fourth King County resident tied to MV Hondius Andes hantavirus

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Health officials track fourth King County resident tied to MV Hondius Andes hantavirus


Public Health – Seattle & King County officials are monitoring a fourth King County resident for possible exposure to the Andes type of hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, health officials said Friday.

The Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified local health officials on May 14 about the additional resident, according to Public Health – Seattle & King County.

RELATED | What exactly is hantavirus and how concerned should Washington residents be?

The resident did not travel on the cruise ship but was aboard a flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam with an ill cruise ship passenger before departure.

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Officials said the sick passenger was removed from the aircraft before the flight left Johannesburg and later tested positive for the virus.

The infected passenger began traveling before the outbreak was reported to the World Health Organization.

The King County resident is considered at low risk for infection because they were not seated near the ill passenger, health officials said.

The resident has returned to King County, remains asymptomatic, and is monitoring for symptoms.

Earlier this week, Public Health announced that three King County residents were under monitoring for the Andes type of hantavirus.

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Two of those residents had been seated near the infected passenger on the Johannesburg-to-Amsterdam flight. Both have returned home to King County, remain symptom-free, and are monitoring for symptoms in coordination with public health officials.

A third King County resident who was a passenger aboard the MV Hondius is being monitored alongside other American passengers at the national quarantine center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Officials said that the resident remains asymptomatic.

Health officials said there are currently no cases of Andes-type hantavirus in King County, and no residents are showing symptoms. The risk to the public remains low, officials said.

“We were informed yesterday of a fourth individual with a low-risk exposure and were able to reach the resident today,” Dr. Sandra J. Valenciano, health officer and acting director for Public Health – Seattle & King County, said in a statement. “All our residents are following public health protocols, and the risk to the King County community remains low.”

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Valenciano said monitoring exposed individuals allows health officials to support residents while ensuring early detection and rapid public health response if symptoms develop.

Hantavirus infections are rare but can cause severe illness.

The viruses are primarily spread through contact with wild rodents and exposure to their urine, droppings, or saliva.

According to health officials, the Andes virus is the only known hantavirus capable of spreading from person to person, typically through close physical contact, prolonged exposure in enclosed spaces, or contact with body fluids from an infected person.



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