Cross With Care, Part I
This morning, little did I know, a cop was stationed at the corner of 18th Street and Columbia Road NW searching for jaywalkers. A man was standing beside me as I waited to cross the street. He jumped the light by one, maybe two seconds. Luckily, I was in a pre-coffee haze and didn't do this myself. The cop called him back, and as I was getting my coffee at Starbucks and looking through the window at the scene, it appeared that the cop wrote him a ticket. The man took his ticket, started to cross the street again, and was called back again. I left the Starbucks with my coffee, re-crossed the street, and overheard some of the conversation, which was basically this: "If I enter the crosswalk when it's white, I don't have a right to cross the street? I'm supposed to stop halfway and turn back?" The man's questions were answered with silence. It seemed that there wasn't enough time on the clock for the man to cross the street, so he was getting another ticket. Aside from the obvious question—is this really time well spent by a cop?—there is a lesson to be learned: When crossing a street, look for cops as well as cars.
5:46 pm
Same thing happened to me. I crossed the street at 15th and Rhode Island NW with no oncoming traffic and reached the other side safely with 2 seconds remaining on the cross-walk. I told the police officer "I consider the flashing red-hand as a suggestion to old ladies with shopping carts that they probably won't make it in time. I wear running shoes to work because I have a very long stride, and I can make it across with time to spare." He was not amused, and told me "he was sick and tired of adults breaking the law just because they saw other people doing it."
Note to all involved: after I contested this ticket (sending a formal letter in writing to both adjudication services and the mayor's office), I was informed that my license TO DRIVE would be suspended if I didn't pay within the month. You know, because I'm an (allegedly) RECKLESS WALKER and all. I responded to this with another letter contesting the charge, and now my DC license has been revoked, and can only be reinstated for a fee of $98 (and I'm still liable for the $20 jay-walking fine, which I still maintain was NOT JAY-WALKING). Please explain how it's any different or more dangerous than a car running a yellow light (which is perfectly legal???)
PS
The day after I was issued the ticket, I saw a group of cops REALLY jay-walk (i.e. crossed against a red-light) at the same intersection, to catch their daily breakfast at the Holiday Inn. Official business, I am sure.