LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — As part of the Leprechaun in the Crosswalk initiative, a police officer dressed as a leprechaun handed out tickets instead of good luck to drivers who failed to follow traffic laws.

On Tuesday morning, North Las Vegas Police Lt. Kenny Lee dressed up in a bright green leprechaun costume ahead of St. Patrick’s Day. He and his team were looking for speeders and distracted drivers who ignored flashing yellow lights at pedestrian crosswalks.

The Leprechaun in the Crosswalk initiative is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to educate and enforce traffic safety laws, reminding drivers to pay attention to people walking on the street and to slow down.

“When people are crossing the roadway, they have to obey the traffic law, and they have to yield to pedestrians crossing,” Lt. Lee said. “They also need to slow down their speed. Speed, it kills.”

Lt. Lee said speed has played a major role in fatal crashes, especially along busy corridors like Craig Road and Ferrell Street.  

“[That] has been historically one of our busier intersections. On Craig Road, the speed limit is 45 mph, and typically, motorists drive 10 to 15, sometimes 20 mph over the speed limit,” Lt. Lee said. 

There have been 16 pedestrian fatalities in Clark County, including two in North Las Vegas, so far this year.

Police made two DUI arrests in the morning before the “Leprechaun in the Crosswalk” initiative. During the initiative, 74 stops were made, 72 citations were given, 17 warnings were given and 1 arrest.

“If you can’t see a pedestrian crossing in a bright green uniform, you may want to open up your eyes and pay attention,” Lt. Lee said.