Works Both Ways

By Eric Richardson
Published: Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at 08:46AM

Motor Officer at 7th/Broadway Eric Richardson [Flickr]

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Over the past few months LAPD has had a great habit of staking officers out at intersections, issuing tickets to those careless enough to cross once the light has started flashing. Though there may be good reason for this, it has still always felt a little unfair to me, given the number of vehicles routinely breaking traffic laws Downtown.

That’s why it’s been a bit rewarding to see motor officers sitting at the corner of 7th and Broadway each of the last two days, (presumably) waiting to ticket those who would run the light. I’d much rather see them there when traffic’s heavy in the afternoon, rather than sitting around when it’s light at 8am, but I guess it’s a start.

Why, though, are these Sheriff’s deputies instead of LAPD?



Comments

1
BH writes:

I think they might be MTA-related. I recently got a ticket when stopping on 7th street (at Spring) for no more than 60 seconds. A MTA motorcycle officer gave me a MTA ticket and said that they have been getting complaints from the bus drivers. Maybe this is another way to fund the gold line extension.

On a related note, the buses make 7th street (and other street) a pain to drive. The MTA needs to move all of the bus stops away from the right turn lanes. The buses are too disruptive to traffic. Also, they should also stop parking their vehicles in the right turn lane from 7th to Figueroa. Anyway, enough of my complaining….

# on Jul.31.2007 AT 01:09 PM
2
Eric Richardson writes:

Good call. All the more reason they should actually be there in the afternoon rush, when cars love to pull out into the intersection and block the buses from being able to make their way through.

# on Jul.31.2007 AT 01:27 PM
3
Tim writes:

I would like to see the cops issue tickets to the drivers that careen into crosswalks when pedestrians are trying to cross. I know two friends who were issued hefty fines for stepping into a “flashing hand” intersection and I was given a warning.

I still don’t see the same diligence with the drivers as they show with pedestrian violations.

# on Jul.31.2007 AT 04:53 PM
4
Ed Fuentes writes:

Maybe it’s because they are easier to catch.

# on Jul.31.2007 AT 05:24 PM
5
nirad writes:

i was one of the unlucky pedestrians to be snared by their bullshit crosswalk dragnet. and yet on a daily basis, i see dozens of drivers make illegal moves that are potentially fatal to pedestrians. and although they may have started ticketing drivers, they sure haven’t let up on their pedestrian ticketing.

my theory is that this crosswalk crackdown is a misunderstanding of “broken windows theory.” I guess I’m less likely to sell crack and murder someone now that I’ve gotten a ticket for jaywalking.

# on Aug.03.2007 AT 07:40 PM

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