Fingering a cop
 

So couple days ago

I was walking across the street in North Van on Esplanade, theres a big crosswalk that flashes yellow lights when you press the button however I noticed a gap and started to walk without having hit the button. As I was almost 1/2 of the way across a grey car goes driving by clearing not slowing down or nothing and stops at the red light ahead.

I get to the other side and start flipping off this car for not yielding and it turns out to be a undercover cop. He throws on his sirens and starts giving me feedback for flipping him off. Of course I started saying how I thought it was the law to yield to pedestrian crossing a crosswalk, that only seemed to get him more upset and he said that he could ticket me for finger him and that it was illegal to do so.

So now on to my question, is that true? Can you not finger a cop?

did u have to stop for him? u said u were not even half way, so i guess him going through doesnt really affect you?
probably not illeagal or else he wouldve done something about it.

next time tell the cop to take a hike, he's just playing with you

would have helpd your argument if you had pressed the button.
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unless the lights were not working, it is up to the pedestrian to press the button to alert on coming cars your about to cross.

Technically you can keep going if the lights aren't flashing, just have to slow down and keep going.

should've told him to put his money where his mouth is , and write you up a tix for fingering.

What can he charge you with? Slander? Obstruction of justice? I think he was just power tripping over you.

However, I dont think you are entirely in the right as you should have pressed the light. Not sure whether or not this would be counted as jay walking

maybe you should stop thinking like you own the road and that cars must yield to all pedestrians

Even if it was illegal you could make the argument you did not know he was an undercover copper
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once i was sitting at an intersection and this yellow corvette with the top down is waiting to turn left.
there was a cop at the other side of the intersection and he flipped her off before making his turn very obviously.
she flipped on her lights and pulled him over lol.
i doubt he got a ticket for that but she probably gave him a really hard time.

Not illegal to raise your middle finger at someone, however the vehicle (be it police vehicle or civilian) had the right of way in that situation. Take the extra fraction of a second and press the button.

im pretty sure whether or not the light was pressed cars have to yield to the peds that is already in the process of crossing the street at the DESIGNATED crosswalk.

There is nothing he can do about the finger part, but there is no sense calling attention to yourself if there is any potential at all for him to find something else to deal with.

Ummm. No. Just like sho_bc said, you would only have the right of way as a pedestrian if you use the button to trigger the stop lights. It's no different than being at a vehicle intersection and walking across the road because you didn't want to press the button and wait for the light to change. You wouldn't expect a vehicle to slow down for you in that case, and you shouldn't at a stop-light operated pedestrian crossing either.

good to know.. i always thought the flashing lights were just extra to warn some of the drivers that don't pay attention.

what.. really I thought crosswalks could be corss regardless if the lights are flashing or not. I figured the lights are just a extra heads up, i mean there are a bunch of crosswalks that dont have those lights and there are signs thats its a crosswalk where you can clearly see.

He ended up not giving me anything other than threats that he could.

I suppose if he wanted to detain you for a bit he could possibly on these grounds:

Causing disturbance, indecent exhibition, loitering, etc.
175. (1) Every one who:

(a) not being in a dwelling-house, causes a disturbance in or near a public place,

(i) by fighting, screaming, shouting, swearing, singing or using insulting or obscene language, or

(b) openly exposes or exhibits an indecent exhibition in a public place...

is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.



C.C.C.

Might be a stretch...

Kinda curious... Did he approach with a WTF you doing attitude?
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Hmmm. Upon further investigation (albiet at 3:30am out here) I might be wrong. The specific letter of the law seems to state that pedestrians would have the right of way at any crosswalk, but I distinctly remember seeing a case contrary to that, at a controlled pedestrian crossing. It's possible I'm confusing something I've read about in Toronto and the differences between flashing caution lights and traffic controlled crosswalks. Way too late for me to figure it out tonight though, I'll check into it tomorrow sometime.

The pedestrian will ALWAYS have the right of way at a designated crosswalk (those zebra lines) or anythign marked with that crossing man sign, as long as the pedestrian is ON the road already (even if hes on the other side of the road crossing) you will have to stop and yield until he is no longer on the road

what you were referring to is a pedestrian controlled stop light which are crossings with a flashing green light. (as opposed to solid greens), @ those the pedestrian will not be able to cross until it's red and the pedestrian control light becomes the white lighted man figure


thats what i was taught in GLP

In this case, there is no requirement for the pedestrian to push the button to activate the flashing yellow lights. As long as they yield if necessary before stepping out, the traffic must stop for them, lights flashing or not.

It is different at a controlled intersection, where the pedestrian must not walk unless the light gives them permission to.

nice

thanks for the info

just wanted to make sure i was in the right and not just being a douche

As I have been repeatedly told, it's possible to be both! :)

Holy crap, I'm surprised how many people didn't know they have to yield to pedestrians at a pedestrian crosswalk....
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scary thought

especially when you see comments like this

walking across using the crosswalk and apparently I am acting like I own the road