Man arrested and held in custody for jay walking.

[neill999]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/01/09/british_historian_arrested_for_jaywalking_in_atlan ta/

Seems a little excessive and a bit of an overreaction to me.

Why arrest for someone for carrying out a crime that doesn't affect anyone else?
Its like cyclists that jump red lights. Provided no-one is crossing at the time, it doesn't hurt anyone else.

[Helen May]

Maybe it is Neil, but it is the law in America.

H

[Squeamous]

Do they also penalise drivers who jump lights this assiduously, even if there are no pedestrians or other drivers about?

[Rabid]

Drivers do not tend to jump red lights.

Jaywalking is the law in America because idiot pedestrians wander in the road without looking. If they did not do this, legislation would be unnecessary.

High time jaywalking laws were introduced here for the good of all pedestrians and other road users.

You would be correct neill if ALL pedestrians or cyclists looke dbefore crossing. But sadly they don't.

[Squeamous]

Funny R, because yesterday on my way to the cinema a driver jumped the lights on a green man and I had to jump out of the way. He was doing a right at some other lights and didn't think it necessary to look in the direction he was driving. Shortly after a driver who didn't see fit to use his indicators swerved into a side road I was crossing and treated me to another revisitation of my life's memories.

Not being a committed pedestrian yourself you wouldn't know how many times this happens to us. Its a good job most of us don't wander into the road without looking or there would be way more pedestrian fatalities.

[Rabid]

Squeams

I walk plenty. Most pedestrians deserve to be committed.

I just don't walk round London with 30% immigrants, the driving manner you describe would indicate people who had never sat a driving test.

IMHO

[Welsh Gardener]

Not being a committed pedestrian yourself you wouldn't know how many times this happens to us.

Crikey Squeams,

Does this commitment involve having your head immersed in some cold water by a man of the cloth, and confessions once a week?

WG

[Deckerd]

Presumably if you own a car, you're not a committed pedestrian.

[neill999]

At school I remember being taught the green cross code, from a big man in a green superman outfit and a big green cross on his chest.

Providing you stop, look and listen before crossing road you should be fine. Just common sense really. Don't see why people should be criminalised if they manage to cross the road without affecting anybody else.
It is sometimes very inconvienient having to walk a few minutes up the road to find a crossing particularly if there is no traffic about.

[Squeamous]

Not being a committed pedestrian yourself you wouldn't know how many times this happens to us.

Crikey Squeams,

Does this commitment involve having your head immersed in some cold water by a man of the cloth, and confessions once a week?

WG

Of course!

[Rabid]

Yes, neill

But you credit all pedestrians with the same common sense you claim to have.

I therefore LOL in your general direction.

[Squeamous]

I have to admit, the other day I was standing waiting to cross and some stupid git walked right out into the path of a car I had seen and was waiting for. I thought 'Why do you think I'm standing here you moron, for my health?'

[Squeamous]

To answer my question, yes for my health. Because I'd quite like to live.

[BigRod]

The man seemed like a bit of an upper-class dickhead, knowledgeable in his specific field, but thick as pig swill when it comes to ordinary everyday matters. If a policeman asks you to stop, it's best to obey - he didn't and got what he deserved.