Standing in traffic, creating an unsafe situation, and causing delays for already frustrated commuters who would immediately be arrested if they tried to do the same thing is just one more way firefighters and police flaunt the fact that some animals are more equal than others; having been in this situation while coming home from work, I can understand why someone might get angry. But cold blooded murder is obviously not an appropriate channel for that anger, and the perp should rot in jail.
They only approach the cars when the light is red and generally because they have been waved over by someone who wishes to give them a donation.
I am not sure what "frustrated commuters" would be all upset about as this does not delay anything and traffic is very light on labor day.
It isn’t just cops or firefighters who collect in the streets. Around here, I frequently see people collecting for charities, Little League, American Legion, and Knights of Columbus. The homeless are out there too. I used to see a guy in a wheelchair along Diversey Avenue in Chicago. It is dangerous for anyone, and annoying to drivers, and I don’t see how it is allowed.