While most Michiganders are aware there is no foot traffic allowed on the Mackinac Bridge, sometimes people still take the risk of trying to make their way across.
That includes people who attempt to step out of their car for a quick picture.
“Those are tough ones because a lot of times those vehicles are stopping real quick on the bridge, someone’s trying to get up to take a picture, a selfie, whatever it may be, and then they get in their vehicle and take off,” said Lt. Mark Giannunzio of the Michigan State Police.
State Representative John Damoose has proposed a bill that would charge offenders with a felony, with the goal of deterring more people from trespassing.
Mackinac Bridge Authority Executive Director Kim Nowack said they are in full favor of the bill.
“It’s quite a fine and it’s quite a jail time so I hope that it would deter them a lot, and instead of just being a misdemeanor trespassing it would be a felony offense,” said Nowack.
The Bridge Authority and Michigan State Police work closely to make sure anyone attempting to walk across are quickly handled.
“That’s why we have a post that is literally at the base of the bridge,” said Lt. Giannunzio. “Our troopers actively patrol that bridge 24/7 looking for any sorts of threats of terrorism, trespassing, anything of the sort there to make sure that the motoring public can cross that thing without any problems.”
Mackinaw City Police Chief Todd Woods is also in favor of the bill.
“I believe it’s important for the safety of Mackinac Bridge, motorists and we need hold these violators accountable,” said Woods.
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