So cops are there everyday giving out tickets to drivers who make bad turns or run lights. Then word comes down that it's not just the cars fault. Pedestrians wreak havoc as well. So set up a jaywalking checkpoint.
Basically this is another case of if the cops do nothing they get hammered for it. If the cops take action, they get hammered for it. You just can't win.
Sure. If the objective of City Hall is to curb pedestrian/automobile accidents I can think of a whole lot of creative ways to do this, without resorting to force and sanction. Does nobody in politics have any imagination any more?
If you have an area with a problem, flood the area with cops. Have the cops educate, cajole, spread good will. People don’t WANT to be hit by cars. Cars don’t WANT to hit peds. If you start from that perspective you could actually get willing compliance with people. Once you pull out sanction, force, boots and beatings you lose the willingness of people to comply. It hard to understand, it’s not rocket science, but it goes against the grain of how people think about groups of people.
The bottom line is that cops and City Hall need people to cooperate with them. At this point in time a vast chasm separates people, City Hall and cops. Each side looks at the other with well earned distrust. So City Hall rolls out the boots, clubs and sanction. Cops being cops are almost always happy to crack a head or two, and they don’t really care who’s head they crack.
The People just think F-You copper and do what they do when no cops are around.
Doesn’t ever seem to work does it?