Sometimes following the rules pays off.

I said "Nice trap." to her as I passed. She said something like "Yeah, we've got better than a dozen of them already this morning." I went on into work.

Pretty much always, actually. Worst case, it's a wash.

Traps like this should be illegal.

Traps like this should be illegal.

I **** pedestrians.

**** pedestrians.

At the very least, they seriously damage the credibility of officials who claim cops don't have quotas. Seriously, if there's a reason for traps like this - other than to meet quotas and add cash to the city's coffers - I can't think of it.
Speed traps, I can understand. The cops are there to bust people that are breaking the law, and seeing people get busted encourages others to behave. **** like this, though - it might not violate the legal definition of entrapment, but that doesn't mean that's not exactly what it is.

I also don't agree with the pedestrian always having the right of way.

If you're in a crosswalk, sure, as long as you're crossing with the light, or if there's no light, then ok. But to cause traffic to have to come to a screeching halt because you just stepped off the goddamn curb? **** that. You deserve to get hit. We learn not to jump in front of cars when we're little... then the state goes ahead and says its all fine, its the driver's fault for hitting you even if you're jaywalking across a 6 lane boulevard.

**** pedestrians.

I've got a question regarding the crosswalk laws:
If someone is crossing a a multi-lane street divided by a median (concrete), and they're on the other side of the median from you (walking away, or coming toward you), are you required to stop? I can see it both ways - they'r in the crosswalk, yes, but they're at least thirty feet away separated by a concrete barrier. I imagine, like anything else, if they decide to ticket you, they'll ticket you.

Depends on the municipality. Here in Vegas, I think you're required to stop if they're crossing with the light in the crosswalk... but noone really ever does.

V C Section 21950 Right of Way at Crosswalks

Right-of-Way at Crosswalks

21950. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(b) This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.

(d) Subdivision (b) does not relieve a driver of a vehicle from the duty of exercising due care for the safety of any pedestrian within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

Amended Sec. 8, Ch. 833, Stats. 2000. Effective January 1, 2001

In Cali, if they're in the street *at all* you have to stop.

V C Section 21954 Pedestrians Outside Crosswalks

Pedestrians Outside Crosswalks

21954. (a) Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway.

Amended Ch. 1015, Stats. 1971. Operative May 3, 1972.

V C Section 21961 Local Regulation of Pedestrians

Local Regulation of Pedestrians

21961. This chapter does not prevent local authorities from adopting ordinances prohibiting pedestrians from crossing roadways at other than crosswalks.

NRS 484B.280 Duties of driver of motor vehicle to pedestrian. A driver of a motor vehicle shall:
1. Exercise due care to avoid a collision with a pedestrian;
2. Give an audible warning with the horn of the vehicle if appropriate and when necessary to avoid such a collision; and
3. Exercise proper caution upon observing a pedestrian on or near a highway, street or road or in or near a school crossing zone marked in accordance with NRS 484B.363 or a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(Added to NRS by 1997, 739)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 484.3245)
NRS 484B.283 Right-of-way in crosswalk; impeding ability of driver to yield prohibited; overtaking vehicle at crosswalk; obedience to signals and other devices for control of traffic. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 484B.287, 484B.290 and 484B.350:
1. When official traffic-control devices are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be so to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the highway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the highway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the highway as to be in danger.
2. A pedestrian shall not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.
3. Whenever a vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle until the driver has determined that the vehicle being overtaken was not stopped for the purpose of permitting a pedestrian to cross the highway.
4. Whenever signals exhibiting the words “Walk” or “Don’t Walk” are in place, such signals indicate as follows:
(a) While the “Walk” indication is illuminated, pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the highway in the direction of the signal and must be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.
(b) While the “Don’t Walk” indication is illuminated, either steady or flashing, a pedestrian shall not start to cross the highway in the direction of the signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed the crossing during the “Walk” indication shall proceed to a sidewalk, or to a safety zone if one is provided.
(c) Whenever the word “Wait” still appears in a signal, the indication has the same meaning as assigned in this section to the “Don’t Walk” indication.
(d) Whenever a signal system provides a signal phase for the stopping of all vehicular traffic and the exclusive movement of pedestrians, and “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” indications control pedestrian movement, pedestrians may cross in any direction between corners of the intersection offering the shortest route within the boundaries of the intersection when the “Walk” indication is exhibited, and when signals and other official traffic-control devices direct pedestrian movement in the manner provided in this section and in NRS 484B.307.
(Added to NRS by 1969, 1492; A 1981, 669, 1918; 2003, 364)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 484.325)

NRS 484B.287 When pedestrian must yield right-of-way to vehicle; when crossing at crosswalk is required; crossing diagonally. Except as provided in NRS 484B.290:
1. Every pedestrian crossing a highway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the highway.
2. Any pedestrian crossing a highway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the highway.
3. Between adjacent intersections at which official traffic-control devices are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.
4. A pedestrian shall not cross an intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control devices.
5. When authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing movements.
(Added to NRS by 1969, 1493; A 1981, 670, 1919)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 484.327)