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I’m currently visiting my old haunts in NYC, and on my shortcut today through Gramercy Park I saw a sign that warned of a $350 fine for honking! The East Coast-West Coast stereotype seems to hold true: no one honks in LA, and everyone honks in New York. Why is this? Now I know that LA has its own exorbitant but perhaps understandable fines–riding in the carpool lane will set you back some, and now running red lights at some intersections will dock you $400–but I really thought the sign was a joke at first: New York’s metronome seems to be a series of honks.
As soon as I read the sign, I listened for honks, and was impressed when I realized I hadn’t heard any in some time. It was like being in a well-run children’s library–where the silence is more high stakes because it seems so unlikely. One minute later, some honking commenced a block away, and I wondered if anyone was going to jot down the plate number and report the honking offender. I’ve never reported someone for violating a traffic law, but there have been times when I’ve been tempted, and I’ve seen angry citizens keeping vigil by improperly parked vehicles they’ve just reported. But I’m wondering: have you ever been proactive and “told” on someone who might have otherwise escaped the law?
Comments (10)
Comment
Rather I committed a crime. I stole the neighbor’s Maltese because they mistreated her terribly. I found a wonderful home for her, where she was the reigning princess until her death.
I did report the same family for child abuse, but nothing was done. hence the dognapping.
posted by Barbara on 10-26-2007 at 8:16 pm
I called the cops on a motorcyclist last week. He had a young child on his bike without a helmet. I don’t know what happened, but I couldn’t ignore that.
posted by Miss Cellania on 10-26-2007 at 10:52 pm
I sure have. I live in a city, and my house is on the corner of an alley. It’s actually a two directional alley, with one side being the entrance and the other being the exit, with a parking lot in the middle. At the end of that alleyway there is a stretch of sidewalk in which two cars will TECHNICALLY fit (that is to say, the stretch of sidewalk is about two cars length). But the caveat is half of the stretch of sidewalk is no parking (the part on the exit side of the alley). Sometimes, when the parking lot is full, people will squeeze their cars into the no parking zone, so that they just barely fit. But when they do this, anyone leaving the alley can’t see, and could very easily be t-boned by a car coming down the very busy street. I have had at least a dozen cars towed from this spot, and left many more dirty notes underneath windshield wipers.
posted by Lacey M. on 10-27-2007 at 1:08 am
We were following a car down the interstate (between Chicago and Indianapolis) that would not let any one pass. He would speed up and then sit next to a semi matching that speed until he felt like moving. Then he would take off at over 100 to race up to the next semi to sit.
We called 911 to report erratic driving since he also threw a coffee cup out of his window (going about 90) that almost hit our windsheild. And we saw him almost run someone off the road. If he felt you were following too close he would slam on his brakes.
He ended up getting off a couple exits after we reported it but as we reported his tag numbers I hope they caught up with him or were watching for him later on.
posted by Beth on 10-27-2007 at 6:19 am
I have a neighbor who loves to share the music in his car with people. He has been asked numerous times to please turn it down when he comes into the complex, but I swear he turns it up. He doesn’t have an assigned space and usually gets one up front. I guess last night he got in too late and he parked in a handicapped spot. I called our courtesy officer and his car was towed. Apparently, he had been quite rude when asked by her (our courtesy officer) to move it. So, she had it moved for him. I don’t feel one bit guilty, either.
posted by Lisa on 10-27-2007 at 4:31 pm
I suggested that the current, fraudulently elected administration be impeached and then fired for engaging in a disastrous and pointless war, plummeting our economy into chaos, and destroying our standing in the world.
But nothing happened.
posted by Rutha on 10-27-2007 at 9:58 pm
My mom was falsely placed under citizen’s arrest once(this was in the mid-late 70’s). She was a camp counselor driving a large van full of children somewhere when a motorcycle tried to pass her on the wrong side (the edge of the road) she never even saw him, as the side of the road was gravel, and he skidded out and crashed while in her blind spot. The driver behind her saw the accident, but from his perspective thought that she hit him, and continued driving. So he pulled up to the motorcyclist, checked to make sure that he was ok, and told him to stay put, he was going to get my mom to come back. He never thought to ask the motorcycle driver what actually happened. My mom had NO idea that any of this had actually occurred. The man pulled up behind her, honking, and flashing his lights, so my mom pulled over. He walked up to her window, yelled, “You know you hit a guy back there?! I’m placing you under citizen’s arrest! Come with me, you’re not getting away with this!” The van full of kids (understandably) freaked out, and my mom, confused and bewildered, turned the van around and went back to the “scene of the crime.” The police arrived soon after, and took the motorcyclist’s statement and promptly let my mom go.
posted by greenstrawberries on 10-29-2007 at 3:57 am
@Rutha
“fraudulently elected?” Yeah, that part about the Electoral College in Article II Section 1 of the U.S. Consititution is a bummer, huh?
You can argue about policy, philosophy, actiion, or inaction, but belaboring a lost election is pathetic. Get over it.
posted by Sid Morrison on 10-29-2007 at 8:26 am
I’ve never had to “take action” before- just never had the need. However, I remember in high school that my science teacher told us how they put one of those speed things on his street, that says the speed limit and then how fast YOU are going… and that his daughter sat outside writing down license plate numbers of the people driving over the speed limit. I also remember that we were all pretty pissed and decided to stay off his street. Not sure that I’d ever go as far as his young daughter did to “protect the streets.”
posted by Kelly on 10-29-2007 at 9:06 am
sorry that i’m not answering the question but they have a lot more of those signs in Greenwich/West Village, especially in the parts that have no stoplights, just actual stop signs. i have heard that it really isnt enforced
posted by rob on 10-29-2007 at 12:22 pm