Here's my self-serving story.
A few weeks ago, I was on my way to the Lorain Public Library (as I often am for this blog).
I was making a left-hand turn onto Broadway from West Erie after exiting the Bascule Bridge. Although the light was green when I entered the intersection, I was stuck there long enough (especially after two eastbound drivers decided to run the light – one driver, a full two seconds after the light changed) that the light changed to red before I could turn.
Over by Lorain City Hall, I saw a policeman turn on his red and blue lights, and I thought, “Good, he’s going to nail that driver who ran the light."
Instead, the cop ticketed me – for running a red light!
I stewed about it for a week. I told my story ad nauseam to everyone I work with, who all agreed that I had a right to enter the intersection, and finish my turn after traffic had cleared, even if the light turned red. I also did some online research (as you can see, no effort was spared), and decided to go to court, rather than just pay the considerable fine.
In court, I pleaded no contest and told my story to the judge. He was sympathetic and reduced my fine to fifty bucks. But with court costs, my fine was still enough to make a grown blogger cry. I also received two points on my license as a souvenir.
I still think I did nothing wrong and wished that I had pleaded innocent.
So, you're probably wondering – what does all this have to do with nostalgia?
That’s actor George O’Hanlon (the voice of George Jetson) behind the wheel as Joe McDoakes. |
Thus, Joe McDoakes learned that life isn’t always fair, and it’s best to just accept it.
I decided that was a good lesson to remember, lest I end up escalating my traffic case to some similar comic conclusion.
But in the future, I’m not entering any intersection for a left hand turn until I know I can make the light with time to spare.
So be forewarned if you have the misfortune of ending up behind me on one of Lorain’s potholed streets, and I'm getting ready to turn left at a traffic light. You might want to have a magazine handy.
4 comments:
Man, that blows; looks like the LPD hasn't changed much.
When I was younger -- and reluctant to enter an intersection because I didn't think I would clear it in time-- if some impatient bully behind me honked, I would risk it. Now? I Don't Care! I won't enter the intersection unless I know I can clear it before it turns red.
I'm with you, Maggie!!! Thanks for posting!
What you need is a common-sense change in the law. Here in California and throughout the western states, if you are across the stop line to make a left turn, when the light turns yellow and the intersection is clear, you can then legally make your turn...and, if so many run the yellow that it turns red, you are still OK to turn as those now with the green are legally bound to wait for the intersection to clear. Seriously, if that were not the case here, people would never turn left as so many folks fudge it on the yellow that nobody trying to turn left would ever be able to clear the intersection before the light turned red.
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