I just walked to Border's to get that Jonathon Ferris book. Leaving to walk back I had to cross an 8 lane road (Woodward).So 4 lanes/median/4 lanes. I ran across the first 4 lanes and got to the median. Looking up I see a cop was sitting across the next 4. I haven't heard of any jaywalking ticket outbreak, but still, to play it safe I walked on the median to the next cross light. I had an excuse prepared in case the cop came up, but he didn't.
then a few blocks later I was at another intersection with a "Don't Walk" signal. caution to the wind, i crossed.
I was thinking, are those were 2 acts of Jaywalking or 1 jaywalking and 1 something else. Is "jaywalking" just crossing in the middle, or all bad walking. According to wiki, both are jaywalking.
And i learned this:
- It is a compound word of the words jay and walk; in this context, jay is used in the obsolete slang sense, referring to a stupid or dull person, or a rube, i.e. someone from a rural area and not familiar with "city ways." At the time, vehicles and traffic signals were a new concept, gaining popularity in the larger cities, so this term would have been used to describe newcomers who were unfamiliar with these recent developments and by extension, to ridicule people who behaved like newcomers but should have known better.
and this:
- In Singapore, first offenders face a fine of S$500 (US$285) and three months of jail. Repeat offenders can be fined for up to $2000 fine or six months in jail.
I don't know if I was a "repeat offender" or if you need an intervening conviction first, but I would be much more compliant there, i bet.
