After The Daily reported two weeks ago that police would be more strictly enforcing the penalties for biking with headphones or through stop signs, students last week also found themselves worrying about bike lights — and facing fines for missing the requisite headlight during a nighttime ride.

Stanford police said the phenomenon is not due to any specific change in enforcement.

“We do this every year,” said Sergeant Del Bandy. “The policy is always in place campus-wide. We focus on crucial intersections for directed enforcement — spending time at one place, focusing on one violation. We also make sure to choose places where it’s safe to pull students over.”

In keeping with the police strategy, students reported tickets mostly around crucial lines of traffic, such as on Santa Teresa Street between Tresidder Union and Roble Hall on West Campus and at the intersection of Serra Street and Arguello Way on East Campus.

“I’ve heard of a lot of people being pulled over,” said Geoffrey Woo, a graduate student in physics and computer science. “There are cops camped out at specific spots. It seems like they’re cracking down.”

The current enforcement has met with criticism from some students.

“It’s an inconsistent policy,” said Jireh Tan ‘11. “I think it’s important, but I’m not sure if I agree with the principle of how it’s enforced. If the goal is to get everyone on campus to get a bike light, then random tickets in West Lag isn’t going to do it.”

Other students saw little reason to worry.

“When I was pulled over, it wound up being just a $5 ticket,” said Xuchen Zhang ‘10. “I think the policy is fine. It’s the law.”

Hoping to offer a solution, the ASSU last year allotted funds from its programming budget for a “Bike Light Initiative.” This year, there will be a bike light giveaway Nov. 7 through Nov. 9, from noon until 1 p.m. each day. ASSU Senator Jonathan Kass ‘10 said the lights will be high-quality 5 LED lights which would retail at $25 to $30.

“We hope to increase the safety of bike riders on campus,” said Kass, who is heading up the initiative with former Senator Nkem Ugonabo ‘09. “I really hope that even if students cannot make it to the Bike Light Initiative, they buy a light for themselves. It is imperative that riders without lights understand how much they are putting their safety — and others’ — in jeopardy.”