Now, Ma'am, This Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You
Several days ago in Southern California an 81-year-old woman was given a $114 ticket. Her crime: taking too long to cross the street.
I kid you not.
Granny, with cane, began crossing the street when the light turned green. Alas, after eight decades of life, her one-time gazelle-like grace and speed had become rather diminished. She was unable to make it to the other side of the intersection before the light turned red. A motorcycle policeman just happened to be waiting at the light (what luck!!), observed Granny's outrageous caper, and promptly ticketed the malicious perp. We'll all sleep better tonight.
So I'm wondering, if Johnny Boy Scout was dutifully helping her cross the street, youthful hand on ancient elbow, would he have received a ticket for aiding and abetting?
18 Comments:
That is just disgusting ... has that policeman got no conscience. what a terrible thing to do.
On a lighter note ... Hope you have a wonderful Easter. Take care, Meow
6:10 AM, April 13, 2006
Apparently said policeman lives in a quiet town with not too much to do... I don't think in my New City an officer would have wasted his sweet time citing an old lady when he could be witnessing the next gang shooting. I sure hope she contests this one!
12:25 PM, April 13, 2006
I read this article too!! Has the world gone mad?? To his (I guess) credit, the officer said that his intention is that pedestrians should live, and part of that is knowing what the rules of the road are. He said he has seen too many pedestrians die because they crossed against the light, etc. Still, it seems the lesson could be given without $114 attached to it!!! I usually side firmly on the side of the officer, but in this case, I just can't. I mean, an old lady can only go as fast as she can go, non? Coming from a someday to be old lady...(hopefully)...
12:50 PM, April 13, 2006
LMAO...i can't help but laugh.
Meow's comment is so serious. Hopefully the lady will take the cop to court, i would.
3:24 PM, April 13, 2006
yeah, I'm sure the cop meant well, but couldn't he have just warned her? I suppose that since she won't have any money for groceries this month, she won't soon forget her lesson.
4:20 PM, April 13, 2006
not to mention her hypertension and alzheimer's medication.
wait... if she can't afford her aricept the lesson may very well be lost, anyway.
6:00 PM, April 13, 2006
LOL :) True, true....what a pointless endeavor then! I bet the cop waits at the same corner just in case he gets lucky again.
10:14 PM, April 13, 2006
see? that sounds bad. but i know old women. and old women are not sweet all of the time. she probably told the cop to suck it and he gave her a ticket for crossing the street too slow so she wouldn't be embarassed about telling an authority figure to go eff a sheep, and now everyone is mad at the cop.
once, in reno, an old man told my dad to suck it. and it wasn't a proposition. he was really mad because my dad almost ran him over.
8:40 AM, April 14, 2006
I did wonder if maybe the woman threatened the cop with her cane or maybe even starting beating him. It could be there's two sides to the story. :)
even so...
10:42 AM, April 14, 2006
crystal, did your dad try to take the old man up on the offer?
12:13 PM, April 14, 2006
On the news, they mentioned that she started crossing after the red hand started flashing......
Still a lame ticket, but she wasn't totally in the right.
10:01 PM, April 14, 2006
Dropping by to wish y'all a Happy Easter :o)
11:03 PM, April 14, 2006
that is so crazy and don't they have better things to do. Crazy and Insane!!
8:21 AM, April 15, 2006
There are laws that prescribe how much time it takes to cross a street? May I never grow old(er)!
8:10 PM, April 15, 2006
Derek, that was a hilarious video. I suppose it's possible that the little ole lady from pasadena could've fallen asleep on her trek across the road. There is always that.
8:57 PM, April 15, 2006
The cop clearly is a twat. What comes around goes around. Too bad the old gal didn't shove her cane up his ass. I bet it gets thrown out if she takes it to court. At least it better.
Lois Lane
10:24 AM, April 17, 2006
I happen to think we don't do enough for elderly people. There are all kinds of ways life can suck if you're old.
But that said, let me be the one everybody hates and say that if you're 80 yrs old, you should know it takes you a long time to cross the street, and if the red hand is flashing you need to wait till your turn comes around again.
I hate it when pedestrians can't be bothered to quicken their step a tad -- occasionally I've seen them saunter across, deliberately taking as long as possible.
I think it's actually an immature, insecure control thing going on at times -- they have the right of way, and gosh darn it, they're going to use it...
11:40 PM, April 23, 2006
I agree with you, Bryan, about perfectly capable young'uns who saunter across the road. That is SO annoying---especially when they look you right in the eye as though to say, "what are you going to do about it? run me over?" and you wish you could say, "yeah! watch me!"
I agree that Granny should know it takes her just under a decade to cross the road. She probably should wait in the median, I suppose, but that could be a little scary too. I'm not sure she's a whole lot safer there (though safer than under a car for sure). But if she's got to cross the road, she's got to cross the road....
A ticket just seemed a little harsh.
6:50 PM, April 24, 2006
Post a Comment
<< Home