Posted on 10/09/2021 1:53:50 PM PDT by simpson96
Three decades ago, when I was still living in my birth city of New York — where no one gives a second thought to jaywalking — I was visiting Los Angeles and walking downtown. I did something I had always done at home: cross the street on a “don’t walk” sign.
An officer stopped me and asked to see my ID. I asked what for. He said I walked on a “don’t walk” signal and wrote me a ticket. At first I thought this was a joke.
The cop claimed he was from New York too and said the reason I never got stopped at home was because police there didn’t enforce pedestrian laws. He didn’t have a care in the world and seemed so proud to write me up.
Daryl F. Gates was chief of the Los Angeles Police Department then, and officers were trained to “command and confront, not communicate.”
The fine was only $20, but it made me feel like a criminal. I was insulted, and my attitude about cops in general would never be positive again.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Most folks crossing at a signaled crosswalk are not paying a lot of attention to traffic. The light changes and they step out. Some people even have the attitude that if they get killed they have the right of way and it’s therefore not their fault so they are fine.
Yes. Indeed.
Anarcho-Tyranny.
In Tacoma in 1970 if you stepped onto the street outside of a marked crosswalk you were ticketed. If you stepped of into a crosswalk and cars from both directions did not immediately stop no matter what color the light was, the drivers were ticketed. If you stepped onto a crosswalk against the signal you got ticketed.
He would have been OK if he just took a dump in the middle of the street...
Yes. Tell them you are an illegal.
Nobody walks in LA.
No doubt, just ask Divine Brown.
I always cross well away from corners when possible to avoid the crowds. If at corners I cross when traffic allows irrespective of what the crosswalk sign says. Never had a prob in NYC.
These people, they go up to crosswalks and step right into them and begin walking across, as if daring to be hit. Sometimes, if you don't see them, they yell at you from the road as you go past because you didn't lock up your brakes to accommodate them.
If you can't tell, crosswalks are a pet peeve of mine. I don't jaywalk unless the street is a simple one devoid of traffic.
When I do get to a crosswalk that has no button/light, I stand well back and examine traffic. I will even partially turn my back on the road to signal that, even though I am standing five feet away, I am not going to go out. When there is a significant opening (I usually wait until a block of traffic is passed, unless someone else steps out, then I go as well so traffic won't be stopped twice. Otherwise, I walk to the mouth of the crosswalk and examine the car on my side approaching to ensure they stop.
I quickly wave to thank them, then looking the other way, examine the traffic on that side to make sure that vehicle stops.
When I am sure they see me and are clearly stopping, I hightail it at a very brisk walk across the road so as to inconvenience the drivers as little as possible, waving a thank you as I go.
My pet peeves are:
If you read this, you can guess I live in the bluest of blue states, and am right near a famous colonial town that is full of these types of people. You don't see the tourists generally doing it. It is clearly natives of the state or town.
Yes. I agree completely. However, there are times when traffic is very heavy, and just to be sure...I go to a crosswalk.
A diligent thing to do, given skaters, skooters, boards, and bikes that may may be going “two ways.”
Hell, this is Atlanta. Besides all that, CARS!
Very well written. Thanks for the Saturday night laugh...so well written I shared it with my bride.
Oh, yes! Atlanta is not alone when it comes to that. I drive for a living. Always look both ways at a one way.
Only jaywalking ticket I ever got was in Costa Mesa in 1976 or 77. I was stationed at MCAS El Toro at the time. I remember writing “Legalized theft” in the remarks section of the check.
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