By Jason Islas
Staff Writer

May 3, 2012 -- The stretch of Pico Boulevard near Santa Monica High School is a busy thoroughfare for both vehicles and pedestrians, with students often darting across the street against the light or away from designated crosswalks as they race to class or to catch a bus.

It poses a problem for police, who must constantly keep an eye on the stretch of Pico between Fifth Street and Lincoln Boulevard, police officials said.

“There's always a police presence” because of the school, said Sgt. Richard Lewis, the Police Department spokesman, adding, “we can't be everywhere at once.”

Just the other day, Lewis said, he gave three warnings to students who were attempting to illegally cross the street.

On a regular basis, officers will stop and ticket or warn pedestrians who aren't following the rules of safe crossing. “We do try to monitor it and adjust for it,” Lewis said.

Once school lets out every weekday at 3 p.m., hundreds of students flood the sidewalks, where they wait for buses, hang out in the area, or head home.

Despite the risky behavior, there were no pedestrians struck by motorists on the busy stretch last year, Lewis said.

“We ask the students to use the crosswalks and wait for signal lights,” he said. Officers assigned to the schools will also reach out to students and their parents to make sure everyone is aware of how to safely cross the street.

“Jaywalking can get you killed," Lewis said. "If you jaywalk, you will be cited.”

May is speeding awareness month in Santa Monica, with police on the lookout for motorists driving at unsafe speeds.

“While the posted sign will state the speed limit, the conditions for the road may warrant a lower speed,” cautions a statement issued by the department.

Those conditions include jaywalking high school students, Lewis said.