Imagine my horror when I heard DeWayne Bartels’ voice coming out of my radio this morning. For a second, I thought I was having a nightmare about my tenure as editor of the Peoria Times Observer, the paper where DeWayne toils — then and now — as their senior reporter.
DeWayne was telling Peoria’s Fair and Balanced Radio Station about a nightmare of his own: He got a ticket for crossing a downtown street against the traffic signal. He started to cross when the light told him to walk, he said, but the officer ticketed him anyway.
He can always try to fight the ticket in court, but as a letter writer tells me, that’s not always practical or even fair, considering how the system works:
Have you ever been to traffic/misdemeanor court in Peoria? Count yourself lucky if you have not. The common practice there is to schedule at least 100 cases at exactly the same time, so that one has to wait in a line that stretches around the hallway, just to check in. I was also fortunate to be scheduled for the first court date in 2005 after the holidays, and waited more than 90 minutes in line to get to the door of the courtroom. It can be argued that this is part of the penalty, but also shows the amount of disdain the city has for its citizens. Should the lady in question choose to fight her ticket, she’s in for more mistreatment.
All the arguments I’ve seen and read about this situation boils down to this: As long as there are little old ladies getting mugged, why is the city devoting this much effort to fighting jaywalking? It’s the same argument you hear when people get traffic tickets, or tickets for littering.
Folks, Peoria has gotten into the situation its in because we stopped obeying the little laws. And as much as violent crime, the little “quality of life” violations make Peoria increasingly unsafe and unpleasent.
Have I ever crossed against the lights, or in the middle of the block. You bet. I didn’t do it in front of a cop in a patrol car, though.
And, if I did it and I got caught, I’d grumble to myself but take my medicine like a man. I’ve never gotten a ticket I didn’t earn. As long as the cops giving out these police officers are being professional and tell the truth, no one has a right to complain.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
What I would like to know if it is true what DeWayne said – that he started while the light said “walk”. I sincerely believe he is telling the truth.
And Bill, I suggest you go to Jeff and Hamilton and start walking when the light says to “walk”, because I bet that you and many others will not make it. If I’m not mistaken, a normal walking pedestrian can’t beat the light.
Also, I would bet that there is some provision in the statute that says a pedestrian has the right to safely cross as long as the pedestrian entered the cross walk when the light was flashing to walk.
My understanding is this:
You may begin your crossing on the “walk” light. If you are already in the roadway when the light starts blinking “don’t walk”, you are allowed to complete your crossing. If you are not in the roadway you are not supposed to enter and must wait. If the “don’t walk” is solid you are not supposed to enter or be in the roadway at all.
If this is incorrect then the city surely needs to update the “walk” timer.
Last Summer, at the corner of University and Main, they updated the cross walk lights to have a count down on the flashing “don’t walk”. That way the walker has a better idea how much time he really has. The driver also has a better idea when the light is going to change.
Why is jay walking an issue. In my hood we not only have jaywalkers, but those who believe sidewalks must be for ornanmental purposes and don’t want to dirty them with their shoes. They instead walk down the middle of street, block traffic, sometimes being hit by cars, and teaching children by example if not open direction that this is what is acceptable behavior. I remember a WHOI special about children crossing Univeristy to go to Louck’s. The reporter touted about the children going to be hit by speeding traffic. During this report, children were show in the streets as cars sped by. What the reporter missed was the “don’t walk” sign in the background. The children were crossing against the light and we complained about the traffic being dangerous. They do as we do folks.
I posted this to Polly Peoria as well where I am taking it on the chin.
I’m a big boy, and have a thick skin, but I’m no media whore.
Let me correct something.
I made no calls to “buddies” in the press.
I was asked by 25 and the PJS to comment. I didn’t go looking for them. It was all over city hall, the courthouse and elsewhere that I’d been ticketed.
I never talked to 1470. They didn’t call me. I didn’t call them. If you heard my voice coming out on WMBD- 1470 it was because they have a news partnership with WEEK-TV. If you want to know the truth I’m in hot water with some media “buddies” because I didn’t call them.
I suggest everyone settle down just a bit and get the whole story of why I’m upset. The story is coming.
When I cover something I do my absolute best to get both sides, and present a balanced account, but, then that’s just me conducting myself like a member of the “ugh” mainstream press.
Well said, DeWayne.
“When I cover something I do my absolute best to get both sides, and present a balanced account…”
That’s recent. Must be DeWayne’s New Year’s Resolution.
You two play nice. I don’t want to have to stop this car.
How about some tickets for running lights and making U-Turns in the middle of traffic? Peoria drivers are the worst. I honestly believe that Peorians don’t think rules of the road apply to them. Anyway back to the topic. I think it’s a great thing that the city is starting to give tickets for these small things. Although traffic court does need to get streamlined. The waits there are unacceptable. It’s at the point where even if you have a case to fight the ticket it’s not worth your time to do so. That is a failure of the system and elimnates a persons right to a trial.
I must say this is an interesting education for me.
It’s giving me a look at what people I interview for stories must feel like at times.
I like new experiences.
Please keep the criticism coming, constructive or otherwise.
Welcome to my world, DeWayne.
In the State of Illinois, it is not illegal to performa U-turn unless it is posted not to.
I was thinking Sterling had no u-turn sides but after driving along sterling today I saw that it doesn’t. So I guess that dream is squashed. But a story related to that I was driving behind a person on my way home from work friday who then got into the richwoods turn lane on Sterling. As I start to pass him he then pulls partially back out of the lane to get enough room to make a u-turn. My reaction was to swerve around him cause I didn’t have enough time to brake. Luckily for me no one was driving next to me in the right lane. Or that I’m not fearless. Cause I do need a new car badly and I wouldn’t have liked to hit him. A mild fender bender is enough to consider my car totaled and it would give me a nice down payment on a new car. Anyway they need to ban U-turns lanes on Sterling. Also Peoria has Long Red Lights.