Jaywalk This Way

Every time someone comes to visit Seattlest from our pre-Emerald City life there's a moment when the two of us arrive at a crosswalk and Seattlest pulls up in strict abeyance of law and social conditioning and our friend charges through the light, only to recognize sometime halfway down the next block that we're still waiting for the white walking guy signal. When we catch up we explain the situation: Pedestrians obey the traffic signals here. In return, drivers generally slam on the brakes for anyone on foot who looks like they have even the vaguest idea of crossing the street. It takes a little getting used to, but it generally works. Everyone smiles and nods during our little spiel and then they leave and tell the world about how weird we are. "He changed, man."

Seattle's ticketing crusade against jaywalkers is a little before our time in the city, but don't worry, we're cool. We've been fully indoctrinated by our fellow citizens. We'd sooner march down 1st Ave drop kicking puppies than dare to test a flashing hand downtown. There are signs that other people are starting to forget the jaywalking tickets of the past, though. Danny Westneat had a column in yesterday's paper about re-invigorated ticketing of jaywalkers. Is this nothing or is it the violent suppression of a pedestrian revolution?

Capps says he was the victim of a "jaywalking sting." Two cops stood at either end of the crosswalk. He watched as eight people were fined in five minutes, most for obliviously walking against the flashing hand.
It turns out Capps is part of a trend. The jaywalk jackboots — traffic cops who once ticketed Seattle walkers into a cowering, and often pointless, obedience — are back.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Dan in News on October 16, 2006 1:55 PM

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John Z Wetmore

Crosswalk enforcement on satellite tv.

Tuesday, December 12, DISH Network will show Episode 88 of "Perils For Pedestrians".

Contents of Episode 88 (2003):

--We visit Silver Spring, Maryland, to observe a targeted crosswalk enforcement detail.

--We talk with one of the decoy pedestrians from the Montgomery County police.

--In Charleston, the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League has helped pass legislation relaxing school acreage requirements.

--We travel to Brooklyn, New York, where Transportation Alternatives has been advocating for pedestrians and bicyclists.

DISH Network Channel 9411 -- The Universityhouse Channel

Tuesday -- 9:30 pm Eastern, 6:30 Pacific

Note: Episode 88 is not yet available on Google Video.

Note: Public access cable channels are showing different episodes than DISH Network.

Thank you.

charles

In my case it wasn't a crowd but a loud voice on the squad car's PA sternly crackling, "You in the black coat! Stop! Take your hands out of your pockets!".

the steely directness in his voice was kind of touching in its own weird way, too ;)

kim

oh and then there was the time that i crossed the street before the light said i could downtown, and the crowd of people that were waiting gasped and yelled and hollered at me "you could get killed!" "that's how you get hurt!" "oh my god! don't do that!"

i was kind of touched by their concern.

kim

i was once pulled over by a cop in a car with his lights on. i was walking on the sidewalk. crazy me for thinking i could cross broadway at 7 AM when there were no cars coming. the cop gave me a good talking to and warned me of the awful things that could happen if a car ran into me on the street. i suppressed the urge to tell him i had long ago been given the freedom to cross the street without holding an adult's hand.

instead, i just smiled and nodded, and thought, "weirdo."

charles

Ironic timing. I got "pulled over" by a pair of cops in a squad car on broadway today for walking through a "flashing do not walk" in front of jack in the box.

I was informed that the ticket is 48 dollars, however they let me go without a fine.

Interestingly enough they explicitly said that they're NOT going out of their way to cite people for jaywalking, which given the context of this post (which I had read before going to lunch) was an interesting thing for them to volunteer.

Dan

I've lived in other places that have gone with the "every man for himself" traffic paradigm and that works too. If you can get yourself across the street against the light you do it. If you're a car you don't stop for anyone. People still get where they're going and surprisingly few people get hit. You kind of have to do one or the other, though, and Seattle has apparently decided on order.

Jay Walker

Sure, if everyone followed every rule all the time things would probably go smoother. But since, that doesn't happen, why can't we just agree that Mom was right... look both ways before crossing the street.

bigyaz

Obviously there are better ways for cops to be spending their time. That said, if everyone jaywalks it becomes absolutely impossible to for cars to make any turns on downtown streets.

If we all followed the rules things would go smoother -- and we wouldn't have the cops getting involved.

Jay Walker

Thank you James F.

While we're at it, can I be rewarded for braving the cold, and doing my part for relieving traffic conjestion, global warming, and sticking it to the oil companies by driving my little scooter? I've gotten three parking tickets in the past year for parking in alleys and on extra-wide sidewalks (next to the bike rack). Needing to park my scooter on the street in spaces designed for cars and trucks is a terrible use of parking space.

How about a revolution of common sense?

kevin bracken

the reason Mark Kingwell called New York the "capital of the 20th century" was because of what he calls the symbol of the city and the century: jaywalkers.

Matt Silvie

Donte, a friend of mine got ticketed for jay walking in Seattle and the fine was $43. She fought it in court and lost. I think there's got to be a steeper fine for doing as you say and lie to the cops and give false names and shit but I got no clue what that fine would be, sport.

Tom

The jaywalk-jackboots are pretty nasty on the Ave. This is an outgrowth of the situation in which they love harassing people on the Ave --be they University kids or street kids-- with relative impunity. Granted, the area is pretty skimey these days and most of us probably deserve a shake-down; however, on the Ave everybody is a suspect and the jackbooted porkchops run around like they own the joint.

donte

so how do these fines/tickets work? is this some honor code type thing? can't you get stopped, say you don't have ID/give fake info., then not pay the ticket? or is there some system in place to fight this proposed web of lies?

James F

I need my city to trust me, as an able-bodied adult, to know how to cross a fucking street.

MvB

I jaywalk as often as possible downtown. It's all part of the plan for the peaceful pedestrian revolution. First we bring traffic to a halt, then we invite people to get out of their cars and stretch their legs.