Walked across a 6 lane highway and stopped in median for traffic to clear; stopped by 2 motorcycle police.
'Q: 'why did you cross the road there' . . . A: 'I want to get to the other side.'
Issued an $185 citation for jaywalking. One cop told me 'have a nice day'; replied 'you're not helping it any.' Other cop noted from my ID that I was a vet and said 'Thank you for our service.' Replied" 'That and 2 bucks gets me a cuppa coffee.'
Not cheap to walk at all, even if there is no sidewalk.
Yes, they are only doing their job . . . but sarcasm begets sarcasm.
Ah, tomorrow will be a better day!

See, you should have rode. walking gets us in trouble.

Just for kicks and giggles, check your state law. In CA, an over-zealous cop issued a citation for jay walking and was chewed on quite hard by the local judge. It turned out that it wasn't illegal to jay walk if you didn't impede any traffic. In OR, it is legal to mid-block cross if one of the nearest intersections is not controlled by a traffic signal. I don't know Arizona's wording, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is perfectly legal to cross mid-block. Of course, you're still out the time and effort, so this is the kind of thing one only does for the entertainment value (small though that may be).

Now, have a nice day.

IIRC, if there are no marked crosswalks at intersections, a jaywalk summons can be disputed.

Out of curiosity, Rudy, where was this? I want to make sure I never visit there. $185.00 seems harsh for jaywalking, making a mistake doing it, is usually its own punishment. (Flame on, everyone that is so inclined, I have been hit, twice, and it was the driver's fault both times, not jaywalking either.) It sounds like a local government, money making scheme, possibly.

Bill

It happened in Oro Valley, AZ.
Town is noted for speed traps and heavy traffic enforcement in places.
Technically I broke the law; they played 'good cop/bad cop. Have lived in this area for 37 years.
First time I had such a negative encounter with local police.
Fighting the citation is an option but that is just wasting my time; I've got better things to do.
Pedal on!
!

Don't pay it. If they come after you, what are they gonna do? Take away your shoes? I don't carry ID when I'm riding, just the Road ID bracelet. No SS#, no DL#, makes it very difficult unless they want to haul me in.

Of course, I NEVER take risks at my age, would never try to get away with anything, but sometimes a badge and a gvn make a little man think he's bigger than he is.

The other day I pulled up beside a cop at a traffic light parked in one of those painted off median areas. He was just sitting there reading a book. I was as friendly and outgoing as I could be, but you could tell he was a little taken back, because he had been caught and had no idea a cyclist would wheel up right beside his door. There was no reason for him to be there. He put that book away In a hurry, then he stealthily followed me for the next two miles. Like he thought I couldn't see him. I've got a mirror!

$185??? Must be a "poor" city trying to fill the coffers.

You better dispute it. It would be a travesty to fail your employment background check for a Jaywalking conviction

I believe Oldskool started a thread about wanting to get a ticket, mail it to him.

I wouldn't just ignore it, but I doubt that Rudy, at 82 years young is much worried about a background check. A bench warrant, for not paying, could be unpleasant if he ever got pulled over. Cuffs can be rather rough on your wrists.

Bill

Don't you just love living in a nanny state? On a divided highway it can be much safer to cross mid-block than at an intersection, where cars are coming from all directions and drivers are turning right while looking only to the left, etc. The punishment should fit the crime, and $185 is way out of line. What do they charge for rolling through a stop sign or driving 5mph over the posted limit?

Under the uniform vehicle code, which most states adopt or adapt, crossing mid-block is illegal only if the nearest intersection in each direction is controlled by a traffic signal or all-way stop sign. If there is a nearby shopping center with a "public approach," that may count as an uncontrolled intersection, making your ticket null and void.

You could cycle to the courthouse, fight this citation and then spend that money on a very nice lunch with your gal.

I would have refused to sign the ticket, got arrested and raised hell with some young blood sucking lawyer that needed some publicity..

82 year old Vet ticketed $185 by TWO blood sucking COPs....for crossing the street...that is what is wrong with this country.

$185 jaywalking ticket for a senior citizen? When the cops become a revenue generating arm of government expect the worst. In Ferguson, MO the police dept had a yearly revenue quota, last year the Ferguson City Council doubled the expected revenue projection. The cops were complaining they were writing tickets they knew couldn't be paid by the locals on welfare. What was one of the popular tickets cops wrote in Ferguson? Jaywalking....

I can top your story, unfortunately.

My then 82-year-old neighbor, a retired college executive and pillar of our community, was sitting on a park bench with her goldendoodle, who is a well-trained, well-mannered certified hospital therapy dog, curled up at her feet. The only problem was that official off-leash hours had ended at 6 pm, and they were watching the sunset at 6:20. Two sheriff's deputies, evidently with nothing better to do, raided the park and hit her with what was supposed to be a $50 citation. That would have been bad enough, but the total financial hit, including administrative fees, came to almost 10 times that amount. She finally got the conviction thrown out, but only because she had time to fight the injustice and because her personal friends on city council came to her defense, as well.

Whenever I see them, I always ask her how her "viscious beast" is doing.

Apparently in AZ we do not have to sign anything if given a citation.
Yes, could fight it in court and it is doubtful the policemen would show up in court,
Cheaper to pay the ticket than to fight it.
Being a senior citizen perhaps I should have asked for my AARP discount?!
Not all of our local cops are that aggressive; several years ago about 3 miles from home I cracked rear rim and decided to walk home with the bike. Cop stopped and asked what my problem was. Explained it, and he insisted on me putting the bike in the police car trunk and drove me home.
Take the good with the bad and . . . got to keep my sense of humor!
Pedal on!
Rudy/zonatandem

How about sign the ticket, walk away, rip it into tiny strips and drop it all in the nearest trash can, then Fagetaboutit..