I Got a Disorderly Conduct Summons for Double-Parking on Underhill

jml said:

Odd, since I can't think of a resident who would complain about double-parking on their own street. I also don't see why there is such a big effort to ease traffic on underhill, which is only a few blocks long and should be used primarily by residents.

Cyclists have been complaining about double parking for years. It's extremely dangerous for us to have to merge into already blocked traffic. Often times having to worry about that illegal and unsafe driver throwing his or her door open without looking.

However, it sounds like you just had bad luck a cop with a stick up his ass. Why Underhill and not Washington Ave? I don't know but glad at least one officer has decided to enforce the traffic law.

When a cop gives you a ticket, you think similar things about them.

Some of the time, you are right.

jml said:

Haha - I was about to start up one of those cyclists are breaking the law too tirades that we are all familiar with, until I remembered my friend's axiom: when you are using one of the three modes of transportation (bike, walk, car) you will always think that the other two are always assholes. IE, when I drive bicyclists and pedestrians are all assholee, etc.

QFT!

Mamacita said:

wow, so far this discussion has been quite civil

=DB

I'm very impressed as well! Don't worry I'll rectify it soon.

I'm usually on the cops side, and hate double-parkers on streets that have only 1 driving lane forcing me to make a move into potentially oncoming traffic (depending on how busy the street is), but "disorderly conduct" sounds pretty dickish of the cop. He could have given a warning, or a much cheaper fine to get his point across.

I've been told by traffic wardens to err on the side of just parking at a hydrant with the hazards on as they're least likely to ticket those people vs. double-parkers and even worse, bus stops.

The more I think about this the less and less a disorderly conduct citation seems right. JML you didn't argue with the officer right?