Last Updated on: 19th September 2013, 09:56 am
Ok, I’m going to bitch for a little bit and then continue my pile of posts of happiness. Yes, I have more. Anyone scared yet? Or are you just asking me what’s in that cuppa soup? Honestly, I’d like to know as well.
I got this from a friend who got this from a friend who…got it out of Associated Press.
> > Slow-walking woman, 82, fined $114
Apr. 12, 2006. 01:00 AM
LOS ANGELES-An 82-year-old woman received a $114 (U.S.) ticket for taking too long to cross a street.
Mayvis Coyle said she began shuffling with her cane across a busy road when the light was green, but was unable to make it to the other side before it turned red. She said the motorcycle officer who ticketed her on Feb. 15 told her she was obstructing traffic.
“I think it’s completely outrageous,” said Coyle, who described herself as a Cherokee medicine woman. “He treated me like a 6-year-old, like I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Los Angeles police Sgt. Mike Zaboski said police are cracking down on people who improperly cross streets because pedestrian accidents are above normal. He said he could not comment on Coyle’s ticket other than to say it is her word against that of the citing officer.
“I’d rather not have angry pedestrians,” Zaboski said. “But I’d rather have them be alive.”
Others, however, supported Coyle’s contention that the light in question does not give people enough time to cross the five-lane boulevard.
“I can go halfway, then the light changes,” said Edith Krause, 78, who uses an electric cart because she has difficulty walking.
Councilwoman Wendy Greuel said she has asked transportation officials to figure out how to accommodate elderly people.
There are a few things that piss me right off about this, and they’re all sort of connected. I can se why the law was designed. It was designed for people who can’t seem to see whether it’s red or green, go or stop, and just tear across, or worse yet, stroll across as if they own the road. if you’re whistling a merry tune and taking your sweet time while eighteen-wheelers go meep meep and desperately try to avoid turning you into a road pancake, then you deserve a big ticket. But this is a sweet old lady, or at least an old lady, who is trying her damnedest to get across a street. Why wouldn’t the police officer do the right thing, get off his fucking motorcycle and help her across and leave it at that? There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. Why couldn’t the officer understand that this is one of those times that the letter of the law doesn’t work? OR, is it that these police are so strictly governed that they have no choice but to enforce the law even if they know it shouldn’t be enforced? Somehow I doubt that’s the case. He could have just helped her across and not said another word. There is always room for human free will, especially when it comes to this kind of thing.
Also, that last comment at the end just did me in. The city councilor wants transit to “figure out” what to do about elderly people. In response to this, I ask, why do they pay the woman the big bucks? There needs to be an election held immediately so she can be replaced with someone who has a functioning cerebrum. What you do is be a decent human being and help them across! There is no figureing to be done! The best possible spin I can put on her comment is that when the reporter asked her what she thought of the whole thing, she realized that it was a sticky situation, so that was her best attempt at PR.
Ok I’m done bitching. I should just be thankful I don’t live in LA because here, we don’t have stupid laws like that. But that must be immediately followed up with, for now. It is only a matter of time before some poor senior is paying a hefty fine for just trying to get around.