I got ticketed for jaywalking

[Alidar Jarok]

Today, I was crossing a road I cross every day. There were no cars coming. I looked both ways even though it's a one-way street (got to worry about drunk people doing stupid shit) and crossed. A police officer saw me, slowly walked over and crossed the street. He still did it before the cars got there, showing how empty it was. Then he wrote me a ticket for $51.50. I'm wondering if I should demand a court date just to inconvenience them. Seriously, Jaywalking? Who gets in trouble for that?

Anyone else ever get stupid tickets like this?

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

Was there a cross walk? What's going on?

 

[Canadave]

Ticketing for jaywalking in a situation like that is just ridiculous. I understand it if the street is busy and someone crosses dangerously, but when it's clear? It just makes sense to cross.

 

[RoJoHen]

So did the cop also have to jaywalk in order to get to you?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I doubt it would make much difference to the officer if you take it to court since they get paid (and sometimes get overtime) to appear anyway, but there is the chance that he might not show up and the ticket would be dismissed.

But I'd take it to court anyway because that's a BS overpriced fine and you should have just received a warning at worst given the circumstances.

 

[RJDiogenes]

That's insane. Is this guy an old childhood enemy who has been harboring a grudge for decades or something?

Appeal it. Take it all the way to the Supreme Court. There was no sign. Anti-crossing-the-street laws are Unconstitutional.

 

[thestrangequark]

I know how you feel. Last summer I posted and annoyed thread about the traffic ticket I got on my bicycle -- it was complete BS.

 

[cultcross]

Jaywalking is actually illegal? I always assumed that was some kind of 'cop joke' on American TV.
How bizarre.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

So did the cop also have to jaywalk in order to get to you?

Indeed he did. I guess it's like a cop running a redlight to make an arrest or something.

I doubt it would make much difference to the officer if you take it to court since they get paid (and sometimes get overtime) to appear anyway, but there is the chance that he might not show up and the ticket would be dismissed.

But I'd take it to court anyway because that's a BS overpriced fine and you should have just received a warning at worst given the circumstances.

Yeah, my thought is that, if he doesn't show up, I'll win on Sixth Amendment grounds. Otherwise, there's not much I can do to win. I thought about getting it reduced, but I also have to make sure there's no way it'll get increased. I expected him to simply give me a warning, which is why I waited for him to cross the street and come over to me.

I know how you feel. Last summer I posted and annoyed thread about the traffic ticket I got on my bicycle -- it was complete BS.

Yeah, I remember that. In that case, it seemed like they hated Bikes. The sad thing was this was a clear case of them wanting to hand out tickets. They had two cops waiting there all afternoon for someone to cross against the signal (my technical fine) so they could hand out a ticket. Apparently, after me, they gave tickets to a bunch of people in the UD marching band.

 

[wew]

Oft times one is only ticketed if it results in an accident or a hazard.

I'd say take it to court, then if you get questioned, note that the officer who ticketed you was also violating the law by jaywalking. Or, pay the fine then file a complaint with the DA's office about the officer breaking the law.

 

[Trekker4747]

Today, I was crossing a road I cross every day. There were no cars coming. I looked both ways even though it's a one-way street (got to worry about drunk people doing stupid shit) and crossed. A police officer saw me, slowly walked over and crossed the street. He still did it before the cars got there, showing how empty it was. Then he wrote me a ticket for $51.50. I'm wondering if I should demand a court date just to inconvenience them. Seriously, Jaywalking? Who gets in trouble for that?

Anyone else ever get stupid tickets like this?

Oh man, that's going to put a lot of points on your walker's license!

I'd say take it to court, then if you get questioned, note that the officer who ticketed you was also violating the law by jaywalking. Or, pay the fine then file a complaint with the DA's office about the officer breaking the law.

As someone above noted, an officer can "break the law" to get to someone. Cops run lights, speed, and do all sorts of things "against the law" to get to law-breakers. Getting the cop for jaywalking isn't going to do anything as he can jaywalk if he needs to.

 

[Shazam!]

Jaywalking is the one of the most absurd laws in the history of the entire world.

In the UK

pedestrians in the process of crossing at (unmarked) road junctions should have priority, as a matter of common curtesy

I love being English.

 

[trampledamage]

after me, they gave tickets to a bunch of people in the UD marching band.

Good lord, they really needed to make quota that day! How the hell do you ticket a marching band?

 

[Mallory]

Jaywalking is the one of the most absurd laws in the history of the entire world.

In the UK

pedestrians in the process of crossing at (unmarked) road junctions should have priority, as a matter of common curtesy

I love being English.

It's that way where I live too. Every intersection is a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked. And pedestrians have the unconditional right of way. Any approaching vehicles must stop and let the pedestrian cross or risk being ticketed.

 

[Luckyflux]

That sux man! I can't stand cops whether they are right or wrong. You shouldn't have been given a ticket considering how empty the street was, a warning would definitely make you think twice next time. A ticket is too harsh, but it's a tough economy right?

If you go to court you risk offending the Judge who might side with you on the principal but then slap some court costs on you to offset the ticket cost which is only a fity anyway.

Tough break man, I would find out where the cops their coffee from in the morning and then try to spike the pot somehow....

 

[Pingfah]

I know how you feel. Last summer I posted and annoyed thread about the traffic ticket I got on my bicycle -- it was complete BS.

Out of interest, how do they ticket an unregistered vehicle? Did they have someone hanging around waiting for you to come back?

 

[nevermore]

'm wondering if I should demand a court date just to inconvenience them.

Yes. Cops have to come to court on their days off, so it'll inconvenience the bastard at the very least. Perhaps next time he'll find an actual crime to prevent or address.

 

[apostle83]

You know, I know someone who hit someone who was jaywalking. The person is suing them.

Nothing personal, but jaywalking pisses me the fuck off.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

You know, I know someone who hit someone who was jaywalking. The person is suing them.

Nothing personal, but jaywalking pisses me the fuck off.

Do you see anyone advocating jaywalking on a busy two-way street and endangering themselves and motorists? Kind of a (vastly) different situation from what's being described here.

 

[Spot's Meow]

My boyfriend as well as several of my friends in college got jaywalking tickets, some people twice or more. The cops really liked to hang around the university and ticket anyone not in a crosswalk. The tickets were similarly expensive.

It's actually pretty irritating because there is a large road that runs along the campus that doesn't have an intersection or crosswalk for quite a ways, completely out of the way and past the campus. My boyfriend lived in a house directly across from the school, across from the building that held his classroom in fact, but instead of taking the 3 minutes to cross the road there even though there were no cars around, he would have to take 15 minutes to get there by going down to the crosswalk then back up to the building. Some things just go against common sense.