Orthodox synagogues in Melbourne will be asked to provide a list of traffic lights in their immediate area that should be considered for automation on Shabbos and Yomim Tovim, the Australian Jewish News reports.
That was the key outcome of a meeting held at the Caulfield Police Station attended by representatives from the Orthodox community, the police and the Jewish Community Council of Victoria.
It follows two incidents over the recent Yom Tov period, where observant Jews were fined by patrolling officers for crossing the street at a red light, as part of a state-wide crackdown on jaywalkers.
Once the final list is provided by the various shuls, further discussions will be held with Victoria Police and the state Government.
The cost of converting traffic intersections to automatic green cycles on Shabbos is estimated at between $1500 and $2000 each.
President of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant, said he was confident the matter would be resolved to the satisfaction of the community. “I wouldn’t think we will have to solely bear the costs of this,” he said.
Victoria Police Inspector Margaret Lewis said those who were affected by the recent incidents would be hearing from the police once the matter was resolved. She again expressed hope that the episodes would not sour the increasingly close relationship between the community and the police force.
It was also decided, that members of the Victoria Police Traffic Management Unit, based in Moorabbin, would shortly undergo Jewish cultural education sessions, which members of the Caulfield police station have already undertaken. Gavin Queit from the Community Security Group and Rabbi Kluwgant will also attend the sessions.
(Source: AJN)
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We have them in Toronto along Bathurst Street. The streets that have these, are indicated with a sign that shows English the letters ‘SH’ and the Hebrew letter ‘Shin”. indicating ‘Shabbos mode light’