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Letter to the editor: Chico cops give graduation visitor bad impression of the city

Published: Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Updated: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 08:06

The Orion,

Thank you for reading my story: Welcome to Chico.

Really, does the Chico Police Department have nothing better to do than post two officers on the corner of an intersection and give out tickets to pedestrians for disobeying the cross walk signal while crossing the street at a cross walk?

I live in Seattle, Wash. and I recently took time off work to visit your city and attend my little sisters’ college graduation. While walking downtown to meet my sister at a local business, I found myself standing on the corner of Second and Broadway streets with a group of other pedestrians looking to cross Broadway.

We did what any other normal group of pedestrians would do, which is look for traffic driving down the street. There were no cars coming down the one-way street and, being logical pedestrians, we crossed.

Next, I was being asked to step to the side of the sidewalk by two of your local police officers and was subsequently issued a $156 ticket.

I understand the need to have a law to prevent pedestrians from recklessly and disorderly crossing the street in front of traffic. But, really, on graduation weekend, I am dumbfounded that your police department thought it would be a great idea to issue these mindless tickets to your citizens.

I truly believe this falls short of your police department’s mission statement, “… we will be fair and consistent in the enforcement of the law, providing quality police services while maintaining trust, open communication and mutual respect within our department and community.”

Thank you Chico PD for the wonderful welcome to your city!

-Eddie

Seattle,Wash.
 

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7 comments

Travis
Fri Nov 20 2009 16:16
You came to our town and broke the law. You got caught. Pay your fine. The next time maybe you can wait for the walk sign.
Your name
Wed Sep 9 2009 20:37
like u said their mission statement says "we will be fair and consistent in the enforcement of the law".. u make urself look dumb by putting that in there and then complaining about getting a ticket.. the officers did enforce the law by handing u a ticket for breaking the law!!!!!! come on get a life and quit crying about how the polce officers had nothing better to do than to stand at a corner and hand out tickets.. maybe next time u will think about how u will cross the street and pay attention to the laws regarding that issue
why?chico sucks
Thu Jul 23 2009 23:18
no chico is making money off it big time...
Your name
Mon Jul 13 2009 15:07
Common sence might allow the officer to issue a warning in this situation.After all the officer has that option.If all laws were enforced our courts would be backed up for months.Most if not all of us would be in that court as most if not all of us violate some minor infration at least once every year or so.I would rather see our limited police forces solving the recent murders in our community.
Trevor
Sun Jul 12 2009 23:36
Crosswalk lights, were put in place, so pedestrians are informed that it is against the law to cross the street, when the red light is shown. Regardless if the cars were present or not.

You got to be kidding me, so if its a empty street with no traffic in site you cant use common sense and walk across thats what your saying, DO you also stand there unless your mommy holds your hand and reminds you to look both ways?

Dave
Fri Jun 12 2009 02:00
You broke the law, so you should be cited. Simple as that. Laws were put in place and not meant to be broken. Crosswalk lights, were put in place, so pedestrians are informed that it is against the law to cross the street, when the red light is shown. Regardless if the cars were present or not. The police were there, especially on Graduation Weekend, because they know that there would be an increase of people, such as yourself, ignoring the laws. Most people think that they are okay to break because it isn't hurting anyone. Wrong! No one is above the law. Let this be a lesson to you that this law doesn't just exist in Chico, but in Seattle, as well. Got to your local DMV and study up on traffic laws, so you are more informed and we are all safer.
Your name
Tue Jun 9 2009 14:48
If you don't j-walk you won't get a ticket.






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