DC's finest at hard work...

Re: DC's finest at hard work...

• cheekywife member

  November 2011

  ugh. WTF DCPD? 

   

  
  

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• sarahelisabethm

  November 2011

  They should definitely be spending a little more time on ticketing the terrible drivers that menace DC rather than harassing pedestrians!
  

  
  

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• preissless1

  November 2011

  I understand your frustration, and I agree that the police should be ticketing drivers that run the red light and warning pedestrians walking against the signal (or ticketing pedestrians when they interrupt the flow of traffic).

  There was a recent addition (2009) to the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices:

  Section 4E.02 Meaning of Pedestrian Signal Head Indications

  Standard:
  01 Pedestrian signal head indications shall have the following meanings:

  1. A steady WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication means that a pedestrian facing the signal indication is permitted to start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal indication, possibly in conflict with turning vehicles. The pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication is first shown.
  2. A flashing UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal indication means that a pedestrian shall not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal indication, but that any pedestrian who has already started to cross on a steady WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication shall proceed to the far side of the traveled way of the street or highway, unless otherwise directed by a traffic control device to proceed only to the median of a divided highway or only to some other island or pedestrian refuge area.
  3. A steady UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal indication means that a pedestrian shall not enter the roadway in the direction of the signal indication.

  So although it might seem like the officer was harrassing you, I'm sure it was for your safety.  I don't mean to be preachy, I'm just the DC Nestie that works on pedestrian safety for a living.   

  

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• Mrs.Handy member

  

  November 2011

  ladywalton:

  I understand your frustration, and I agree that the police should be ticketing drivers that run the red light and warning pedestrians walking against the signal (or ticketing pedestrians when they interrupt the flow of traffic).

  There was a recent addition (2009) to the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices:

  Section 4E.02 Meaning of Pedestrian Signal Head Indications

  Standard:
  01 Pedestrian signal head indications shall have the following meanings:

  1. A steady WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication means that a pedestrian facing the signal indication is permitted to start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal indication, possibly in conflict with turning vehicles. The pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication is first shown.
  2. A flashing UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal indication means that a pedestrian shall not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal indication, but that any pedestrian who has already started to cross on a steady WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication shall proceed to the far side of the traveled way of the street or highway, unless otherwise directed by a traffic control device to proceed only to the median of a divided highway or only to some other island or pedestrian refuge area.
  3. A steady UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal indication means that a pedestrian shall not enter the roadway in the direction of the signal indication.

  So although it might seem like the officer was harrassing you, I'm sure it was for your safety.  I don't mean to be preachy, I'm just the DC Nestie that works on pedestrian safety for a living.   

  I get what you are saying. I consider myself a very safe pedestrian. I follow the traffic laws and watch out for cars.

  But i get seriously annoyed with all the pedestrian-blame for not following traffic laws. I have never seen a car ticketed EVER in DC for running a red light or for not yielding to pedestrians.

  I just wish they had a similar campaign targeting drivers teaching them that they are supposed to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and be on the lookout for them.

  
  
  Off to the beach
  
  DS 7/18/2010
  Handy 2.0 Due Early August
  
  2011/2012 Races
  12/17/2011 Christmas Caper 10K
  2/11/2012 Have a Heart 5K
  3/17/2012 DC RNR Half Marathon
  4/22/2012 10M Parkway Classic
  10/28/2012 Marine Corps Marathon

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• KimWard member

  

  November 2011

  Mrs.Handy:

  ladywalton:

  I understand your frustration, and I agree that the police should be ticketing drivers that run the red light and warning pedestrians walking against the signal (or ticketing pedestrians when they interrupt the flow of traffic).

  There was a recent addition (2009) to the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices:

  Section 4E.02 Meaning of Pedestrian Signal Head Indications

  Standard:
  01 Pedestrian signal head indications shall have the following meanings:

  1. A steady WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication means that a pedestrian facing the signal indication is permitted to start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal indication, possibly in conflict with turning vehicles. The pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication is first shown.
  2. A flashing UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal indication means that a pedestrian shall not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal indication, but that any pedestrian who has already started to cross on a steady WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication shall proceed to the far side of the traveled way of the street or highway, unless otherwise directed by a traffic control device to proceed only to the median of a divided highway or only to some other island or pedestrian refuge area.
  3. A steady UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal indication means that a pedestrian shall not enter the roadway in the direction of the signal indication.

  So although it might seem like the officer was harrassing you, I'm sure it was for your safety.  I don't mean to be preachy, I'm just the DC Nestie that works on pedestrian safety for a living.   

  I get what you are saying. I consider myself a very safe pedestrian. I follow the traffic laws and watch out for cars.

  But i get seriously annoyed with all the pedestrian-blame for not following traffic laws. I have never seen a car ticketed EVER in DC for running a red light or for not yielding to pedestrians.

  I just wish they had a similar campaign targeting drivers teaching them that they are supposed to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and be on the lookout for them.

  This exactly. And thank you for the warning... I consider myself a safe pedestrian, but I do have a tendency to jay walk after work. I only do so when it's very obvious that no one is coming in either direction.

  
  Planning Bio
  

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• preissless1

  November 2011

  Mrs.Handy:

  ladywalton:

  I get what you are saying. I consider myself a very safe pedestrian. I follow the traffic laws and watch out for cars.

  But i get seriously annoyed with all the pedestrian-blame for not following traffic laws. I have never seen a car ticketed EVER in DC for running a red light or for not yielding to pedestrians.

  I just wish they had a similar campaign targeting drivers teaching them that they are supposed to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and be on the lookout for them.

  They actually do, and it targets drivers and pedestrians.  http://bestreetsmart.net/index.php

  I imagine that what you experienced today was law enforcement focusing on pedestrians.  It may not be evident, but DCPD is actually ticketing drivers as well.  If you click the "about streetsmart" tab, you can see the number of citations and warnings given out during the most recent enforcement waves.  It's my understanding that more citations are given to drivers, and more warnings are given to pedestrians, but citations are issued to pedestrians that blatantly jaywalk.

  

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• Mrs.Handy member

  

  November 2011

  ladywalton:

  Mrs.Handy:

  ladywalton:

  I get what you are saying. I consider myself a very safe pedestrian. I follow the traffic laws and watch out for cars.

  But i get seriously annoyed with all the pedestrian-blame for not following traffic laws. I have never seen a car ticketed EVER in DC for running a red light or for not yielding to pedestrians.

  I just wish they had a similar campaign targeting drivers teaching them that they are supposed to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and be on the lookout for them.

  They actually do, and it targets drivers and pedestrians.  http://bestreetsmart.net/index.php

  I imagine that what you experienced today was law enforcement focusing on pedestrians.  It may not be evident, but DCPD is actually ticketing drivers as well.  If you click the "about streetsmart" tab, you can see the number of citations and warnings given out during the most recent enforcement waves.  It's my understanding that more citations are given to drivers, and more warnings are given to pedestrians, but citations are issued to pedestrians that blatantly jaywalk.

  Thanks for the info! I do hope that they enforce the rules for both.

   

  
  
  Off to the beach
  
  DS 7/18/2010
  Handy 2.0 Due Early August
  
  2011/2012 Races
  12/17/2011 Christmas Caper 10K
  2/11/2012 Have a Heart 5K
  3/17/2012 DC RNR Half Marathon
  4/22/2012 10M Parkway Classic
  10/28/2012 Marine Corps Marathon

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• ch ch ch chia

  November 2011

  There are crosswalk monitors every morning and afternoon at K&17th/Connecticut... I have seen them give out jaywalking tickets.  I also saw one of them run after a car to give a ticket before.  So, I think they're doing both.

  lw - a question for you...  when it says the pedestrian needs to yeild to the car... isn't that kind of a gray area?  especially if the turning vehicle is running a red light?  hmm.

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• WinesNot Whines

  November 2011

  I'm sorry, but I think giving tickets for jaywalking at a crosswalk is ridiculous unless someone is clearly doing something unsafe, like crossing the street while there is a steady stream of traffic coming towards them.
  
  

  

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