Woman, 82, Gets Ticket for Slow Crossing of street
Woman, 82, Gets Ticket for Slow Crossing Mon Apr 10, 4:12 PM ET LOS ANGELES - An 82-year-old woman received a $114 ticket for taking too long to cross a street. Mayvis Coyle said she began shuffling with her cane across Foothill Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley when the light was green, but was unable to make it to the other side before it turned red. She said the motorcycle officer who ticketed her on Feb. 15 told her she was obstructing traffic. "I think it's completely outrageous," said Coyle, who described herself as a Cherokee medicine woman. "He treated me like a 6-year-old, like I don't know what I'm doing." Los Angeles police Sgt. Mike Zaboski of the Valley Traffic Division said police are cracking down on people who improperly cross streets because pedestrian accidents are above normal. He said he could not comment on Coyle's ticket other than to say that it is her word against that of the citing officer, identified only as Officer Kelly. "I'd rather not have angry pedestrians," Zaboski said. "But I'd rather have them be alive." Others, however, supported Coyle's contention that the light in question doesn't give people enough time to cross the busy, five-lane boulevard. "I can go halfway, then the light changes," said Edith Krause, 78, who uses an electric cart because she has difficulty walking. On Friday, the light changed too quickly even for high school students to make it across without running. It went from green to red in 20 seconds. Councilwoman Wendy Greuel said she has asked transportation officials to figure out how to accommodate elderly people. "We should look at those areas with predominantly seniors and accommodate their needs in intersections" she said. Information from: (Los Angeles) Daily News, http://www.dailynews.com

Jul 8, 3:26 PM EDT Judge Waives Elderly Woman's Jaywalk Fine LOS ANGELES (AP) -- An 82-year-old woman who was given a jaywalking ticket for taking too long to cross a busy street had her $114 fine waived by a court commissioner. Mayvis Coyle became a media sensation after the case drew publicity. Camera crews showed up at her trailer unannounced and senior citizen advocates were outraged. Last week, Coyle received by mail the June 20 ruling from Superior Court Commissioner Jeffrey Harkavy who found her guilty of jaywalking but suspended the fine. "It sounds like a compromise, like they're trying to save face," Coyle's son, Jim Coyle, told the Los Angeles Daily News, which first reported the incident. "We're grateful for everyone's support." Coyle was vacationing in Colorado and was unavailable for comment. Police officials said Coyle entered a busy San Fernando Valley intersection on Feb. 15 after the red "Don't Walk" sign began blinking. Coyle maintained she walked across the intersection with her cane in one hand and groceries in the other on a white "Walk" signal. Coyle said a motorcycle officer who stopped her said, "You're obstructing the flow of traffic," before issuing her the ticket. Police officials maintained throughout the case that the officer acted appropriately and was looking out for Coyle's welfare. The department subsequently launched a series of pedestrian-safety workshops at local senior centers. "How could she have gone any faster?" said Bill Daniel, chief executive officer of ONEgeneration, a senior-services agency. "It just seems like we have to be more patient." http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ELDERLY_WOMAN_TICKETED?SITE=KYWAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT