After a traffic light failed causing a mile-long backup, a citizen stepped in to direct traffic and received a ticket for his trouble. Wasn’t there an old song that went “It is better to ticket one little candle than to let it stop drivers from cursing the darkness?” BTW, this is a good one: “South Pasadena Police Chief Joe Payne said he did not have the man power needed to staff officers at Fair Oaks and Huntington Thursday and that is safer to allow traffic to back up.” In other news, a new synonym for “moron” has been found.
This post was last modified on September 10, 2011
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He better not pay that ticket, and those cops better not come asking for that money. This is government that is out of control.
He will get or has already gotten a court date. He can plead no contest, plead guilty or bring an attorney (at his own expense). It's basically an infraction as far as I can tell. I hope the man pleads not guilty and gives his side of the story to the judge or commissioner. (Some traffic courts use commissioners which is basically a judge in training that has not been appointed a judge yet) If the judge has any common sense he/she will dismiss it in the interest of Justice.
Let's hope that to be the case. This was out of control.
Ya know being a Kalifornia cop, that has got to be the dumbest thing I have seen here in a week or so. (After Watching Governor Moonbeam praise Obungles speech) Citizens can actually be charged with not assisting an officer, so dumbass liberal legislature spends more time making up crap than anything else. (Shorter Term limits-and part time legislature please) I would shake the guys hand. he went out of his way, RISKED HIS LIFE to help out during a crisis. This idiot police chief is more than likely a liberal (there are a bunch out here) So he gets a ticket for doing the right thing, Yea it's risky, having been out on the road about a million times, but the guy thought of others first, something a liberal would never do, unless they all had Obama bumper stickers on their car. Damn sometimes the stupidity of people in my own business just amazes me. I have written citizens up for awards for doing this kid of stuff or even risking their lives to save someone.
I am very glad to know that not all Police Chiefs are like this one, or Police officers for that matter. It is sensless use of authority like this that gives Officers everywhere a bad name, and I am glad to know that Officers like you are out there. May God Bless You not just today but every day and stay safe!
Okay Now I am gonna blush....Thank you...
I swear, I didn't even see the 4th line there and I was thinking, "Gotta be California..."
During the 1965 NYC blackout, all the lights in the city went out and citizens came out of their homes to help out. The mayor thanked them publicly. You see folks doing similar things all the time. It's especially dangerous when traffic lights go out because quite a few drivers just don't want to give someone else a break. This is the FIRST time I ever heard of a good samaritan in one of these cases getting a ticket. Yeah, it just HAD to be California.
Where I used to live in NJ, we had a railroad crossing on a very busy road that often had the warning lights flashing when there was no train in sight.
I went and waved traffic through the crossing one time when traffic was badly backed up. The only wrinkle was that School Buses are not allowed to cross the tracks under those conditions, unless a police officer tells them to.
I had one bus at the crossing, and at that point had to direct traffic around the bus alternately from each direction until police arrived.
Funny thing, I was thanked for helping keep traffic moving, no ticket was issued.