Is this moving violation fine a little excessive?

[KLin]

Glad I don't live in Berkeley.

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: Kaieye
A co-worker told me that she got a moving citation for not stopping at a crosswalk with a pedestrian trying to cross the st. She told me that she did NOT see any pedestrians waiting to cross but the cop disagreed and issued a moving citation.

The fine was about $821 dollars. Isn't that too excessive?

I'd want to see that ticket before I answered the question. I'll bet it wasn't JUST that single charge, but a combination of things that followed.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Recently around here the cops did a "sting" where they had someone wait on a sidewalk near a cross walk, and when cars would come by they'd step into it. Any car that didn't mash the brake pedal and stop in under 10 feet got a ticket.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Recently around here the cops did a "sting" where they had someone wait on a sidewalk near a cross walk, and when cars would come by they'd step into it. Any car that didn't mash the brake pedal and stop in under 10 feet got a ticket.

Just wow :Q

 

[TallBill]

Reason #991012019 to not live in California.

 

[wheresmybacon]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Recently around here the cops did a "sting" where they had someone wait on a sidewalk near a cross walk, and when cars would come by they'd step into it. Any car that didn't mash the brake pedal and stop in under 10 feet got a ticket.

They did this outside city hall in Portland a few months back and had the mayor as the person crossing the street. They had cops further down the street pulling over violators and our local NBC affiliate filming the whole thing.

I walk/bus almost everywhere since I live downtown but I still felt kinda bad for those people getting pulled over. Most of them let him cross but after he was past their bumper they'd move forward slowly through the intersection...and hence receive a hefty fine.

 

[andylawcc]

traffic tickets: padding your tax since 1945.

 

[holden j caufield]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
A lot of things can construct the view of a pedestrian. If the law were that pedestrians had to watch for cars, there would be a lot less pedestrian deaths.

QFMT. Everytime I traveled abroad I always laugh when I see dumbasses cross the road expecting people to stop for them or walking slowly and being surprised when a car whizes by within a couple feet of them. Common senses says the 3000 lbs mass of metal has the right of way. In other places the pedestrian scurries across the street but here the morons meander like turtles

 

[holden j caufield]

 

[marvdmartian]

Hey, how do you expect them to pay for all the stuff that the exhorbitant taxes don't cover?? :roll:

Oh yeah, and ticket fines like that are part of the reason why, when I was stationed in the SF Bay area back in the 80's, we called it BEZERKeley!! :laugh:

 

[Tiamat]

821$ is quite a bit excessive for such a minor moving violation.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
Fines are designed to get your attention and cause one to reflect on the offense. OH and not do it again.

LOL yeah right. Fines are actually designed to enhance the revenue stream for whichever governmental agency collects.

 

[Ktulu]

For all the Cali bashers here, it's not like that EVERYWHERE in California. Here in Pomona I've witnessed countless moving violations performed in plain view of police on my walk to work. Not once did I see a cop chase the perps. BTW, the intersection in which this occurs has a Donut shop where there's always at least one police unit sitting at the drive through window.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: SSSnail
Dude, it's Berkley. Cops will give tickets for anything there.

except when bums smoke weed on telegraph

No one has ever died from a bum smoking weed.

waiting for a youtube link.

Originally posted by: mugs
That is high, but it also seems consistent with the gravity of the offense. Hitting a pedestrian who is crossing the street is likely to result in death. Most other traffic offenses are not likely to result in death. Still, I think it is excessive.

oh ok. that's why i see people getting reckless driving tickets in congested (pedestrian) areas and get a $600 fine...or better yet something a little more common: red light violations. most stop lights have crosswalks at them. i don't know for sure but i'm under the impression you'll get a red light violation (along with a violation for other illegal things you've done) but not get one for not stopping at a crosswalk. wouldn't that be more dangerous as you can hit cars and pedestrians?

about berkeley, though, i actually find their cops better than average. the way i see it from my experience, getting an absurd ticket is hard unless you do something retarded. to those jaywalkers out there, you deserve the ticket. i jaywalk too but if you didn't notice the cop car, chances are you weren't looking before you crossed the street.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: SSSnail
Dude, it's Berkley. Cops will give tickets for anything there.

except when bums smoke weed on telegraph

No one has ever died from a bum smoking weed.

lol, not that i really support either way on that, but since we are smartass about it, the whole culture is so pro-pedestrian that pedestrians in Berkeley have gotten quite brave, if not stupid.

People just cross streets anywhere they want, they don't care if a car is coming at them, they expect you to slow down, sometimes a lot, in the middle of the street. Telegraph is sometimes bad on this, you have a dozen people just jaywalking and cars cannot really pass any faster than walking speed. The city should probably just close off the street to traffic.

In fact once I saw a jaywalker start swinging his bag against a car that did not stop for him, again in the middle of the street.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: Kaieye
A co-worker told me that she got a moving citation for not stopping at a crosswalk with a pedestrian trying to cross the st. She told me that she did NOT see any pedestrians waiting to cross but the cop disagreed and issued a moving citation.

The fine was about $821 dollars. Isn't that too excessive?

good. thats exactly what should happen to ass holes who don't stop for pedestrians

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Ktulu
For all the Cali bashers here, it's not like that EVERYWHERE in California. Here in Pomona I've witnessed countless moving violations performed in plain view of police on my walk to work. Not once did I see a cop chase the perps. BTW, the intersection in which this occurs has a Donut shop where there's always at least one police unit sitting at the drive through window.

Pomona is not such a good city though, there is a fair amount of real crime, so the police probably not as interested in catching minor traffic violations, which is how it should be anyways.

 

[Kaieye]

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven

Originally posted by: Kaieye
A co-worker told me that she got a moving citation for not stopping at a crosswalk with a pedestrian trying to cross the st. She told me that she did NOT see any pedestrians waiting to cross but the cop disagreed and issued a moving citation.

The fine was about $821 dollars. Isn't that too excessive?

good. thats exactly what should happen to ass holes who don't stop for pedestrians

I better tell my "ass hole" friend to be more careful next time. The fine was $851 and not $821. It happened near the UC campus so it might be in a school zone. This happen right before midnight and was assured by her that she did not see anyone attempting to cross the st.