How to Spin a Ticket for Walking Against A Red Light


David Gibbons, the PR voice of Zillow, reports he got a ticket on the streets of Seattle for merely “walking, yes, walking”. Actually, he crossed the street on a red light and contrary to that annoying “Don’t Walk” signal.

Perhaps he thought a “Don’t Walk” signal was merely a starting point for not crossing the street– that’s the risk you run when you rely on a starting point.

Come to the happy anarchy of New York City, David, where we cross the street on any color light, with cabs, trucks and bikes all whizzing past us— sometimes we win, sometimes the moving metal objects.

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  • David Gibbons
    Hey Joe - that Disqus recent comments pop-up is SWEET. Do you know if there's a similar plugin for wordpress. One worry with the disqus implementation though is it seem to rob posters of their website attribution - you should try to find a solution to that.
  • Yes, I believe there is one for Wordpress (there should be). I agree with
    you regarding the implementation. I have to give it some thought.
  • David Gibbons
    "what do you expect the officer to do?"

    In almost every city in the world, walking on red will get you a warning / explanation - at the very most. And before you suggest that my "attitude" resulted in the ticket, let me correct that perception. 3 of us were fined. The other to folks didn't say a word. I pulled out my camera only after the first guy's fine was written up.

    "Why is this even worth a posting on YouTube, David?"

    When I was growing up in South Africa, j-walking tickets in the US were urban-legend. Honestly, it's a pretty weird concept for anyone who has lived overseas (and, it turns out, for folks in most US cities). I posted the video to show my friends living overseas that it does happen.

    Now, let me return the favor ... why is this even worth a posting on Sellsius, Joe? (you're welcome to treat this question as rhetorical, we all know the answer to that one.) Should I now also consider your life free game, Joe and Louis? (no need to worry; I'm not that sleazy or that bored.)
  • Hi David

    Sometimes what I think is ironic may not be. So, my apologies for the
    commentary. But for the record, YOU posted the video on YouTube, which I
    assume you expect others to see -- and repost. In fact, it was posted on
    BHB, and 4realz, and surely other places-- what can I say?-- you are a
    celebrity of sorts. Nonetheless, if it was shot, as you say, for your
    friends overseas only, why wouldn't you just send it to them privately?
    Posting on YouTube is no way to keep something private, as I think you
    know.

    Is it worth posting on Sellsius? Yes, if I was able to better tie it to
    good marketing -- for example, instead of being "silent" or "sarcastic"
    maybe if you would have apologized and schmoozed him a little, you MIGHT
    have gotten the warning. I have been in similar straits and made an appeal
    --- sometimes it works, sometimes not. But did anyone try?

    What I think jolted the post was the misleading implication on BHB that you
    were the victim of a surly cop. What I found was to the contrary-- it was
    you who was needling the officer-- to what purpose? You don't talk about
    YOUR commentary -- hmm.. IMO, your attitude was to belittle the officer--
    and make it public on YouTube. Sorry, that's how I saw it.

    As I said in the post, I happen to respect civil servants who are asked to
    do the dirty work for these minor offenses-- especially if they are not
    "surly"(was he surly?)and it kinda rubs me the wrong way when folks abuse,
    no that's too strong a word, but bust their chops as you did. Perhaps this
    police bias colored my post. I'll take it down if it offends you.
  • Nice video David. Great camera. :)
  • I found this tape by following a link on Twitter, The blogger who posted it referred to "surly cops" -- a sucker play, and I bit. What I saw was a civil servant doing his job and a somewhat surly David G. (the officer took in stride). We have all been guilty of this offense (Lord knows, this is normal pedestrian behavior in NYC) BUT if we get caught, well, hey, what do you expect the officer to do? His job? Why is this even worth a posting on YouTube, David?

    I must admit I have a bias toward law enforcement and think those men and women get a lot of unnecessary abuse for simply doing their job. And yes, I know there are the surly types, as with any profession, but I don't paint the profession with such a wide surly brush.
  • Instead of recharacterizing the violation, would David have been better off telling the officer that he disregarded the traffic lights and walk/ don't walk signs because traffic lights are inherently innaccurate and that only a professional streetcrosser can tell you when to cross the street and unable to find one at the ready he took his chances? :-)
  • generally speaking, you people are kind of mean
    maybe that's why some of us new yorkers cringe about the idea of moving back home, if this is how you have to do business ....
  • David posted the video and I think he somewhat unfairly needled the officer (see my law officer bias in the comment below). He committed a minor infraction and got a ticket. Yeah, it sucks but dem's the rules. Now, if he was thrown in the slammer, that would have been something to complain about.
  • I guess we're lucky here in Phoenix. Everything is so spread out that we are rarely on our feet.
  • I usually walk Phoenix in a kuchofuku.

    http://web-japan.org/trends/science/sci050810.html
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