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RC_spinner
06-06-07, 10:24 PM
Cyclist wins:D This happend on my ride home tonight. As I was leaving work headed for the West End station, I was at the intersection of Industrial and Howell, stooped at a red light. The light turns green and I cross Industrial headed towards Dragon( I do this to avoid Industrial at all costs) when I get halfway across I notice a DART squad car coming from the right, slowing and turning right at the same time. He did NOT look my way to clear traffic nor did he even come to a complete stop:mad: :mad: :mad:

I had to slow down as he rolled out in front of me. Even if I do have a green light as I approach an intersection, I do ease up and clear left then right just to be sure, but I probably would have had a collision if I was not stopped at the light. I just expected better from a cop.

So I am raising my arms in the "what gives, palms up" position and yelling at the cop, knowing full well he can see me in his rear view. I am not being belligerent or cusing, just yelling. He stops at the next stop sign(guess he does know what that red means) and waves me along side. As I come up on him, I yell at him " That is what gets us cyclist killed!!!" He hold his hand up and asks if I can take an apology. So I calm down a bit and he does apologize and I accept but also lecture him a bit:) and finally go on my way.
I wasnt worried about him turning on me and running me through or somesuch, because he is just a DART cop who couldnt issue me a jaywalking ticket outside of DART property. It was just a knuckleheaded move on his part to blow through a red light. It gave me a good boost of adrenaline for the rest of the ride though.

Chris

monogodo
06-06-07, 11:52 PM
I wasnt worried about him turning on me and running me through or somesuch, because he is just a DART cop who couldnt issue me a jaywalking ticket outside of DART property.
DART police jurisdiction includes DART property as well as all streets that DART buses operate on. They have a greater reach than the DPD, and they don't have any accountability.

jim10040
06-07-07, 08:16 AM
I figure the guy was willing to apologize...much better than we normally get from the average drivers.

Hobartlemagne
06-07-07, 08:47 AM
Thats good that he responded well to you

jsharr
06-07-07, 10:57 AM
I think you should have demanded one of his doughnuts! J/K!!!!

RC_spinner
06-07-07, 07:20 PM
the fact that he did apologize instantly kept me from asking for his badge number and the name of his superior.

Those DART cops are known to be quite proud of themselves when on DART property though. One time I was standing on that 18 inch white stripe in on the edge of the train platform and I got a pretty good reaming myself.