Toronto police officers issued dozens of tickets to drivers and pedestrians Wednesday as part of a crackdown on those who disobey the rules of the road.

But some brushed off the message. "Ma'am, where there's a crosswalk, there's a countdown there for a reason," an officer told one in-a-hurry pedestrian who crossed in front of him on a yellow light. "Okay," she said dismissively, tossing her hands up before rushing off.

The police move came in response to the deaths of more than a dozen people so far this month in vehicle-pedestrian accidents around the GTA.

Officers handed out fines to pedestrians at intersections along Yonge Street, Bay Street and University Avenue. Authorities say the officers were to be there until about 7 p.m.

Police will be also be focusing on drivers who put pedestrians lives at risk.

They will be looking for drivers who pass streetcars when they are loading or unloading passengers – an offence that is punishable by a $180 fine.

They also looked for drivers who rush the traffic light and therefore get stuck in the middle of a signalized intersection. Police say this leads to traffic gridlock and is a hazard to pedestrians trying to cross the street between cars. Offending drivers could receive a $40 fine.

Pedestrians who cross the street against a traffic signal may be subject to a $50 fine.

The police crackdown comes after an alarming surge in the number of pedestrian deaths and injuries this past month.

Toronto counted its eighth pedestrian fatality of the year earlier this week. Fourteen pedestrians have been killed throughout the GTA since Jan. 1, 2010.

Investigators say they don't why the spike has occurred, but they say it has happened before. The jump can't be blamed on the weather, as the roadways have generally been dry and clear this month.

Insp. Earl Witty said drivers have to slow down and be patient, and pedestrians have to pay more attention.

"Human error is the real cause of the collisions we've had. Human decisions have dictated that. Human choices have changed so many lives in the past 12 days," he told reporters.

But after the police left, people with cellphones glued to their ears were soon crossing the busy streets between crosswalks once again.

With a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman