Nova Scotia pressing ahead with $697.50 fines for pedestrians

Nova Scotia is pushing ahead with plans to implement a $697.50 fine for pedestrians who break the law crossing the street, despite opposition from crosswalk safety advocates.

Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan says the barrage of criticism hasn't convinced him or his department to back off.

"With the fatalities and the number of injuries, we've seen that we've got to do something and this is our effort," MacLellan said outside the legislature Thursday.

"I've certainly heard from a number of groups that have their concerns with it, but this really is about road safety. We've also heard from people who are supportive of what we're doing."

The Ecology Action Centre previously told CBC News the proposed fee discourages active lifestyles and disproportionately targets poor people.

"Who are the people who cannot afford to own a car? Probably the same people who cannot afford a $700 fine," Tristan Cleveland, an urban planner and community activist with the centre, said last week.

'We're rolling ahead as scheduled'

Although the bill has passed third and final reading in the Nova Scotia Legislature, it still needs to be proclaimed. That will not happen immediately, MacLellan said.

"It's going to take a number of months to proclaim this based on some of the other components of Bill 133," he said. "We're rolling ahead as scheduled."

Another change to the Motor Vehicle Act in this proposed law will allow Segways more access to sidewalks, road shoulders and bike lanes.