Officer UnFriendly pulls over a car on 22nd Avenue on Friday morning
The intersection of 22nd and California has always been a busy one. It’s a four way stop with businesses on three corners, two of which – Angelina’s Cafe and the Appel & Dietrich Market – get a lot of traffic. Alamo Elementary School is just down the block on 22nd Avenue, and there are bus stops on the east and west corners of the intersection. Crossing pedestrians are a frequent occurrence.
So it’s hardly a surprise to see an officer posted on the southeast side of the intersection, waiting for drivers to make their “California stops”, e.g. rolling stops, at the intersection.
But so far, a single officer has been at it for a week now, nabbing drivers left and right, resulting in a veritable frenzy of ticket-writing.
We were at Angelina’s Cafe this morning at 7:05am and Officer UnFriendly had already pulled someone over near 21st Avenue and California, lights flashing. By the time we purchased our coffee, he had already pulled over another driver on 22nd Avenue. This was in the span of approximately 8 minutes.
We emailed Richmond District station Captain Simon Silverman a few days ago to ask if there is an initiative underway to make that particular intersection the safest in San Francisco. But we got a vacation reply so we’ll have to wait until he’s back to get an explanation. [Update 7/28/14: We received a reply from Capt. Silverman which is reprinted below.]
One reader saw Officer UnFriendly nabbing drivers at 22nd and Lake as well. After someone rolled through the stop, he sped down the center line of Lake Street, no lights flashing, to pull them over.
“The officer’s driving seemed unsafe to me,” the reader wrote to us. “And really over the top.”
Whatever the cause, it seems like overkill for a single officer to spend multiple hours per shift at a single intersection for a week. Yes, we should all be making full stops and being reminded of it is not a bad thing. But given all of the problem traffic points we have in the neighborhood like the Fulton freeway and the Geary interstate, shouldn’t some of this enforcement be spread around?
Or maybe Officer UnFriendly is going for cop of the month? Time will tell but in the meantime, mind your stops, especially at 22nd and California.
Sarah B.
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We received this reply to our inquiry from Captain Simon Silverman on July 28, 2014:
We base our decisions on where to focus traffic enforcement on a number of factors including collisions, requests by the public, and our own observations of traffic conditions in the district.
In the case of 22nd & California, I was contacted separately by a couple of residents alarmed at the number of cars running stop signs and nearly hitting pedestrians. One woman told me that her young daughter was almost hit in the crosswalk. When people tell me about a dangerous area, I have my officers take a look at the traffic situation and write citations if warranted. More than one officer has been writing citations at 22nd & California although your blog post focused on a particular officer.
By writing citations, we are hoping to reduce violations and thereby reduce collisions. Most people drive more carefully if they get a ticket or if they see someone else getting a ticket. I hope that by writing a number of citations in the same place, we are making it safer by changing the behavior of the people who regularly drive through the area.
The intersection of 22nd & California is not the only place where Richmond Station’s officers are writing citations. In fact, the 4 block radius around that intersection accounted for only a small fraction of our traffic enforcement stops in the past month. We have also focused enforcement on Fulton, on Geary and on Park Presidio as well as many other places in the Richmond.
As you might imagine, writing people citations can be unpleasant because many people get upset and take it out on the officer. The officer whose picture you posted is undeterred by that unpleasantness, because he is doing an important job. It doesn’t make sense to call him “Officer Unfriendly” when even the few blog comments critical of his actions are not critical of his demeanor.
Officer have no quotas or incentives for citations, so it’s gratuitous to speculate that the officer whose picture you posted is “going for cop of the month” by writing tickets. This same officer has been on scene at a number of collisions where people have been seriously injured or killed, including one at 43rd & Fulton where a toddler was hit by a truck. The officer kept in touch with the family and visited the little boy in the ICU bringing him a toy. In my mind, that’s what makes him “cop of the month” – but he’ll tell you he was just doing his job.
Captain Simon Silverman
Commanding Officer
Richmond District Police Station
=========================
Waiting on the southeast side of the 22nd & California intersection to tickets
drivers that are making rolling stops.
Good for him. I mean it. Driving is not a right. You all agreed to follow the rules when you got a drivers license. That means ALL of the rules.
If anything, he should be hanging out at 24th and Clement–there’s no stop signs there, but there are very prominent yield-to-pedestrians signs on the corners. I can’t tell you how many times my wife and I have encountered the slow roll-through (many of them glaring at us as they do!) when we’re already into the crosswalk.
They have been doing this on and off in Laurel Heights (at the four way stops on Euclid) for years and, I have to say, I appreciate it. People use Euclid to get to Bush in the morning and to get home after work and some people drive like complete jerks, often turning it into a four-lane street, which it is not. On this stretch of Euclid, there is a nursery school, the Laurel Heights playground, and a daycare center at UCSF’s Laurel Heights campus. As a neighbor, I appreciate the cops trying to get people to obey the law. Though, to be sure, they should be doing it safely and in as friendly a manner as possible.
Yeah good for him. It’s not like there is any other police work to be done. It’s not like there is any other crime to be followed up on. I’m sure he doesn’t have quotas to fill and found a few easy spots. Yeah, good for him.
Based on annual totals, three people a day are hit by cars in San Francisco, with pedestrians in crosswalks being the most vulnerable. Every year many of these are killed. I can’t think of more important police work than this. Officer UnFriendly indeed.
Sounds like he’s doing a great job to me. Of course it’s a lot safer to patrol and cite drivers on the north side of Geary then the south side of Geary. Most of the past “police blotter” reports seem to indicate that it takes multiple officers to get some of the bad guys in the more wild parts of the Richmond district. For one officer doing his shift alone like this it appears cost-effective to me. No one is too hoity-toity for a conversation with Officer Unfriendly when deserved, a dose of reality is good for all.
I like. It might not be the mist dangerous intersection, but won’t it hit a lot of the same neighborhood drivers? Glad the posts are very pro- enforcement.
UnFriendly? I like friendly interactions in general, yet I don’t expect it of a cop as s/he cites folks for moving violations. Extra mean is not good, but not friendly is fine!
The intersection at Anza and 12th Avenue is another popular ticketing spot for SFPD. In the past, I’ve seen way too many drivers blast through this 4-way stop while trying to make the green light at Park Presidio. I’m all for ticketing initiatives — it seems to have calmed the speeding and traffic violations at this intersection considerably.
This officer has actually been doing this for more than a week, I have sat and observed him doing this multiple days, pulling one person over after another. I have watched the people he has pulled over and not one of them ran a stop sign or proceeded unsafely through an intersection. It may have not been a complete 5 second stop, but surely there are worse offenses that he could be dealing with. I have seen him drive unsafely to race and catch up with someone to pull them over. It is my opinion that this is harassment.
I live not too far from that intersection and am constantly there for the bus or the market. I’ve really appreciated the extra enforcement, and wish it weren’t just in the mornings.
These are “California rolling stops” at these intersections. These are people just blowing through the stop signs at 5mph. More often than not, when I try to cross the street there, I get treated to screeching tires. Or the fantastic people coming from the other side of the street who try to time their speed with my walking so they never actually need to stop.. heaven forbid I slow even slightly lest they hit me.
So I appreciate fully the efforts of Office Friendly here in trying to reign in on the irresponsible drivers who put my life at risk daily.
As a resident who’s asked for – and gotten – extra enforcement at Ca & 7th – this is a good thing! As a frequent pedestrian in our ‘hood, knowing that the police are enforcing stop signs & pedestrian right away is great news! It sounds like perhaps this officer needs to be better on his “chase” skills & use his lights, but the rules are the rules… STOP at the stop sign! Then proceed when safe.
As long as the ticket is reasonable, I would be peeved if it was because the front bumper crossed the crosswalk by an inch or two. Rolling stops should be ticketed and you should not stop halfway into a crosswalk. Ticket those drivers.
I still think burglary is an epidemic not only in our neighborhood but also the entire Bay Area. It’s probably a bigger cultural/education/social issue than it is policing though.
It’s not overkill. People need to drive more carefully in the Richmond. We need more of this.
Speaking as someone who was nearly run-over in a crosswalk last week by a driver doing a rolling stop (both of my hands ended up on the hood of the truck), I applaud this. If you don’t know how or when to use your brake then take the bus. We need more enforcement and less smack-talk and arm-chair quarterbacking about it (“Officer Unfriendly,” etc).
Intersections up and down California in particular are particularly hazard prone in this regard. That the officer chose (or was assigned) an intersection half a block from an elementary school that resulted in two tickets in 8 minutes time (per Sarah) should speak for the need for this enforcement.
SF has been lacking in traffic enforcement for decades. As someone who cannot drive or ride a bicycle due to head injury when I was run over on a sidewalk in 3rd grade, all traffic enforcement is welcome. Visible police presence is also welcome as it deters crimes of opportunity such as bicycle and smartphone thefts.
I am not sure what happened with Mar & Campos proposal to use any City income that exceeded budgeted income to give raises to workers at non-profits (outside of the contracts these non-profits hold with the City). Perhaps their mentors at the SEIU called for an income increase through their friends at the SFPOA.
The intersection most drivers do the no stop, that is great that an officer is there. I will write to congratulate our Richmond District Police Officers. I am sorry for the Sara B. who received a ticked did not say anything to anyone and is better about it. get over it please. remember a ticked the is the best education tool, now you not going to run the stop sign with you BMW anymore!
It’s a one of the many danger spots to cross, glad its getting some attention. I have no problem with 4 or 5 tickets being written here each day. If he is making a dent in the overwhelming number of people blowing through at 20 mph or more cool to that!
Outstanding, Officer! Keep up the good work, and move over to 24th & Geary when you get tired of giving tickets at that corner. That intersection on Geary desperately needs a stop light; I’ve seen morning drivers (parents in SUVs apparently trying to get their kids to school on time), BMW drivers who are too special to even pause at the intersection when another driver has already stopped to let a pedestrian cross, motorcyclists weaving in and out to speed to the next light, etc. Pick just about any place on Geary and you can write more tickets than you have ticket pads. PLEASE: More cops on the road! And Sarah, the snarky “Officer Unfriendly” moniker was not up to your usual standards.
I don’t think this is overkill at all! I also applaud him!
I have noticed an increase presence of cops in the Outer Richmond and I really appreciate it as a pedestrian. I’ve noticed more cops pulling people over around 36th and Fulton as well, right around my bus stop. I can’t tell you how many time I try to cross the street and wait and wait and wait (and miss my bus!) because no one yields to pedestrians. Thank you Officer UnFriendly!
If someone wanted to reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths due to vehicles, it might make sense to increase enforcement at locations where injuries are historically high. That would mean deploying on Geary, not California or Lake. The data are public:
http://walkfirst.sfplanning.org/
Personally, I would like to buy the guy a cup of coffee and say thank you. Would be nice to see the same thing happen at some other intersections, sure, but if he’s writing a lot of tickets that means there’s a real problem at that intersection.
Does he ticket bicyclists, too?
This is probably the hardest police work to do other than holding a child while it is pinned under a car that is driven by one of these inconsiderate, I am in a rush, don’t you have real police work to do drivers…………..Just Stop. Your opinion will change when it’s your child under the car….
So he is unfriendly because he is doing his job ? Maybe the other cops should start too. Maybe he is assigned to traffic enforcement and not the station. One way or the other, dint run the stop sign and you won’t get dtopped. Seems elementary to me.
Sounds like he is doing his job. Stop signs are there for a reason. If people were following the rules they wouldn’t get ticketed!
do u get the message sarah b? the people have spoken.
@Sarah… it’s been a commenting bonanza for the last week on almost all topics! Thanks again for being our neighborhood news station!
@Susan – You’re welcome 🙂
Sarah B.
It is overkill, because the officer is not just going after people who are doing rolling stop signs. I was pulled over and given a fixit ticket because one of my lights above my license plate was out. I kid you not. Now, I’m all for enforcement, but that is just stupid, and I will come right out and say it.
I have also been told by someone who was pulled over by this officer that he appears to be targeting people for any infractions; she was also pulled over for a back light being out, and then later pulled over again by the same officer for the same thing, although you have a month to fix the item. It’s not just the rolling stop signs.
The issue I have with this is that there are other areas of the city where crime is rampant, and which do not get the attention they deserve because of this. Which is more important: stopping people for license plate lights being out, or focusing on high crime areas of the city like the Mission, the Tenederloin, or Bayview? Just this week there was an article in the Examiner about a rash ovf violence in the Bayview:
http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/rash-of-slayings-over-four-days-shakes-citys-southeast/Content?oid=2851303
This officer should be there, or working 16th and Mission where people are getting robbed on a daily basis, or in the Tenderloin where open-air drug deals go on on a daily basis because there’s not enough cops. There are TONS of better ways to use the police we have in this city, not pulling people over in this part of town for these sorts of infractions. If there were a rash of pedestrian accidents at that location I would understand.
And in fact, why is this officer NOT at intersections that are dangerous? You want to know a great way to stop a lot of traffic accidents? Ticket drivers who don’t wait until the intersection is clear before they enter it, so when the light turns they are stuck in the intersection. This causes accidents and forces cyclists to ride into traffic to avoid them and puts pedestrians at risk. this happens EVERY DAY in SF at intersections like Mission and Van Ness. Why isn’t this cop there? There’s a lot better places for him to be, and while I understand the necessity to try to encourage people to be safe and obey the laws, law enforcement priorities are IMPORTANT, and people rolling through stop signs at 22nd and California like they do on every single street in San Francisco day in, day out, is not one of them.
First off, I don’t understand why you’re calling him Officer Unfriendly?
Secondly, I think the District Captain will acknowledge his productive activity, as well as his general concern for the good residents of the Richmond.
So basically, you’re criticizing someone for doing their job? Sure, there are other places in the city to patrol, but should a call come out for him, I’m sure he would respond. Part of what we pay our police for is to be proactive. You don’t want a ticket? Follow the rules. Stop signs protect drivers and pedestrians. If you don’t like the rules, don’t drive.
Have you people ever thought that he’s just doing exactly what he gets paid to do? It always seems that everyone knows how to do an officer’s job better. The key points for the enforcement are very clear by reading this article. It’s a busy intersection, pedestrians present, and a school close by. Most of all, there seems to be a lack of respect for the stop signs there. Sarah, maybe you should have joined the ranks of the police department so you could make decisions on patrols being spread around. Furthermore, it’s very distasteful to pinpoint this police officer as “unfriendly” when you do not know him personally. If you didn’t know his name, maybe you should have identified him to be officer “just doing his job”. Now, do an article about the guy changing the light bulb on the interstate and suggest to us that he is doing it wrong…since you know how to do everyone else’s job better.
Quit whining Sarah B. This man is doing what he is getting paid to do. There is obviously a reason he chose this intersection for enforcement. Contrary wise, you would probably be complaining if you saw him in a coffee shop taking a break instead of ticketing traffic violators.
And to J who is complaining about being ticketed for equipment violations – Would you rather be cited for a traffic violation that has fines and points on your DMV record to affect your insurance? Sounds like you got a break and you should appreciate that. You say that this officer should be somewhere else doing something else, but the fact remains that he is assigned to the Richmond District and he is being proactive and tending to what he believes is the needs of his particular beat. If you think you can do better, perhaps you should take the police test.
Let me start by saying this is why this is the greatest country! Because no matter what, people like Sarah B and J and allowed their opinions. No matter how ridiculous their opinions may be “Officer Friendly” will still be the first officer on scene to give you first aid to save your life when you get smacked by one of these drivers rolling a stop sign. He will also be the only one running into your burning home to pull you from the flame without hesitation.
So let’s analyze this quickly. Numerous drivers being pulled over for traffic violations at a busy intersection. Obvious problem! “Officer Friendly” can pull two cars over within 8 minutes, which means he must be well versed and efficient in traffic enforcement! He has been there a week in the same area, hmmmm maybe pedestrians have been hit here, maybe residents have to run for their lives to cross the street, and outraged citizens called the police department demanding enforcement.
If you want friendly, maybe you should do all your shopping at Nordstroms. The officer should be professional. Friendly? Seriously???
“Why isn’t the cop out catching robbers and killers or really bad people, that is more pressing.” I don’t even know where to begin to start on that.
So to all the Sarah B’s and J’s out there, I’m sure you also criticize Harbaugh’s coaching for not winning Super Bowls as well, I would love to hear your self critiques of yourselves at your jobs.
So one final thought, leave the professional stuff to the professionals and be thankful you have such a diligent and hardworking officer in your neighborhood, working to keep you safe. This is a person who will risk his life to save a total stranger because that is what he does and this is who he is. So ask yourself, can you say that about what you do and/or who you are?
I’ve lived in the neighborhood for over 6 years, and there have been several occasions in which I have almost been hit by cars running stop signs. This is a huge problem in the neighborhood (and the city) and the officer was doing what was necessary to keep people safe. If people followed traffic laws he could focus his efforts elsewhere, but they don’t and thus SF has a high rate of pedestrian deaths…
I applaud this officer. Sick of people that complain, “cops should be where real crimes are happening.” Word to all of you, reckless drivers are one of the biggest threats in the 94121. Hope he keeps it up. If u can’t follow traffic laws, don’t drive.
I’m going to echo the support for this officer – we live a few blocks away, between Lake and California and I have waited with my small children at a 4-way stop intersection for multiple rounds of drivers to actually physically stop so we could cross. Driver behavior is unsafe and reckless in this neighborhood.
Frankly, I would love more traffic lights along California
Cheers for any traffic enforcement in our neighborhood.
Seriously Sara B? I hope you don’t get hit by a car while crossing this intersection. I go through this intersection once a day, and it’s ridiculous how people don’t believe in rules. I’ve been in one accident and several close calls due to cars double parking and cars not stopping at the stop sign. So good for him, for enforcing the rules and making the streets safer. The mornings are the worst, because everyone thinks it’s ok to double park while they get their coffee. Don’t believe me? Then stop by the intersection from 7a-8:30a. I dare you…
In related news, an unfriendly reporter attempts journalism in the Richmond SF Blog for over a week now.
Just emailed Captain Simon Silverman, applauding him & his officers for keeping our streets safe. I encourage you to do the same, regardless of what UnFriendly Reporter says.
Ditto: good for him. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Follow the rules when you are behind the wheel of a deadly weapon.
I also support this police officer. Initially, I thought maybe a “higher up” who lives in the neighborhood requested special treatment for the safety of his/her residence/family (crossing streets) but no, the site was probably just chosen by the officer. I find it infuriating that people complain and want to drive the police support OUT of the neighborhood to other places in the city “where there’s real crime.” These same people then turn around and cry there isn’t enough police presence in the Richmond when they need it.
I got two tickets within two weeks for the same exact thing. One was at 45 and Fulton a few weeks after that kid was hit. I had actually seen the officer there all day as I had drove past that intersection 3 times that day. I was stupified when I was pulled over for “completely blowing” throug a stop. the reality was I came to a partial stop and then continued on when the car next to me, which had been stopped, started going. The second one came just on Euclid just before arguello at about midnight. Different cop.
Now, before those two tickets, I hadn’t had a ticket in nearly 6 years. I’ve never had a stop sign ticket. The second cop i argued with adter receiving the $240 ticket about how ridiculous he was for giving me a ticket when it was absolutely clear I was not driving unsafely.
In the case of Fulton, what MIGHT help safety is to reduce the speed limit to 25. The 35 speed limit means everyone goes 40-45 which is insane for that street. With 25 some will still go 35 but it’s much safer than 44-50.
So, more than $500 later, I do have to say something has changed in enforcement. Like a lot of things in SF, it’s extremely punitive when these cost so much.
I got a ticket by this ofc few mknths ago for failure to come to complete stop and have seen others as well. I tried fighting the ticket by trial by written declaration but lost in the end. Paid the hefty fine. In the end, I now always come to complete stop there now. It’s near a school and an area where a lot of kids cross ( although I got stopped in mid day when kids are already in school). So it’s okay. When you want to be strict about it, yes I did do a California roll and did not stop completely. I’m thinking someone complained and that is why he is at this stop frequently. Kinda busy intersection with 6001, firehouse pizza, Angelina’s and Alamo school 3534841there.
Everyone hates it when they get pulled by a cop. Most cops aren’t friendly when they stop someone. But I also don’t think Sarah B is being anti cop about it. The ‘ unfriendly’ term doesn’t offset me either. People, you need to lighten up a bit. Geez! It’s her blog, she can write whatevs she wants. When I saw the article, it gave me a chuckle bc I was like, omg he pulled me over. But I would have called him ofc a$$ hole at the time he pulled me over. I was mad initially but in the end realize he’s doing his job.
I too agree there needs to be more 4 way stops. Or a traffic light somewhere on California in central richmond. It’s still heavily populated during rush hour times and kinda difficult for pedestrian crossing. Is there someone we can call to suggest that?
Speed “humps” seem to go a long way in slowing people down.
@br (#43): You wrote: “I came to a partial stop and then continued on when the car next to me, which had been stopped, started going.”
Do you think your were driving safely when you did that? You don’t make a partial stop just because the car next to you starts going. That person made the complete stop, you did not. You deserved the ticket you got. Maybe a few hundred dollars’ worth of pain and a point or two on your record will make you think twice now. I love how everyone rationalizes and down-plays their bad driving behavior.
@anzgrl (#44): Sure, it’s Sarah’s blog, but it’s called the Richmond District blog. She’s entitled to express her opinion, as are you and the rest of us. I don’t recall anyone posting a comment telling her she should not be posting her comments. It’s just that the vast majority of posters disagree with her post and have told her so. Fair enough.
I think the question in the debate is How long do you have to stop at a stop sign to be considered to have stopped? Clearly, rolling the stop (that is, slowing to maybe 5 mph, and then accelerating) is an infraction. But do you have to come to a complete stop and then stay stopped for x seconds? Or what? I’d say that, based on observing the driving of SFPD Richmond District police officers in their patrol cars, that coming to a complete stop is not required. But it seems that they do not apply that standard to themselves (I’m ignoring here patrol cars obviously headed somewhere on an emergency, light bars on or not).
@SH: I think the thing is, people should just try to be a little more patient. About ten times out of ten when you are crossing at a crosswalk in the Richmond, you have the feeling someone is waiting for you to get one foot past their car in order to proceed (which is illegal, by the way – you cannot drive through a crosswalk until the pedestrian has reached the sidewalk). This is if they are not just going ahead in front of you. I learned a long time ago to just go ahead and walk throughout the crosswalk, because no one is ever going to stop for you.
Cars with better control and ability to accelerate and decelerate smoothly and quickly have enabled people to be much ‘nimbler’ (to put it in a positive light) drivers. Think about how it used to feel to come to a stop in a car, and what it feels like now. You can speed up to 35mph within one block and then stop smoothly. So the style of driving has changed and people are in a rush anyway.
Remember this is a quiet, small residential neighborhood. No one appreciates being pressured to drive faster by someone behind them, or the noise created by speeding cars. Maybe just leave yourself more time to get where your going, and don’t bother asking yourself questions like ‘how long is long enough’ (to stop). If you’re asking yourself this question, you’re missing the point – look at your surroundings, be aware of who’s around you, be courteous, and leave an extra five minutes in your commute for these things.
Too many cars blow by pedestrians in the Richmond District. Good that SFPD Richmond District station is getting a few of these drivers.
Come to a full stop, look both ways, then proceed. Really it’s not that hard. If it was safe for a rolling stop, give way signs would be installed.
Thank you G. Most cars do not wait for us pedestrians to cross more than 12 inches past their vehicle. I feel my shirt move upward in their wake.
Wow – no your complaining they are doing thier job?! I sympathize for our officers. Have you all forgotten how many pedestrians are hit from cars?
Have you forgotten about the 3 year old kid hit by a truck two months ago on Fulton & 43rd?
What’s worse about that corner are the double parkers on 22nd, both sides of the street. As a driver, it like a maze to get through. It’s nice & clear when the cop is around.
I’ve seen cops hiding in a lot of different areas of the Richmond. I read that it’s part of the traffic calming program, like those cement islands near intersections by Park Presidio.
Regarding 24th/Geary & other Geary intersections without lights, I’ve seen cops hiding & pulling people over for not stopping for pedestrians.
They need to do something about 29th/Geary, where I live. People blow through the red light all the time going east or west
Officer Safety (it has nothing to do with friendly or unfriendly) is doing his job. He’s been at it for several weeks (previously at Lake and 22nd). We hear him pull over people about every 10 minutes.
California and 22nd is a major intersection with a school, stores and Angelina’s. People roll though all the time – going straight or turning right. I have had so many near misses (even when walking my son to elementary school at Alamo) that I stopped counting. Kudos to this officer for trying to make a difference in our small corner of the Richmond! I hope he and others keep coming around especially when school starts back up.
Great job officer!!!!!!! The Richmond is a very safe district but traffic problems are its biggest hazard to the public. I know this officer only works off complaints and weeks prior he was working the cross over in Golden Gate park and other stop signs and pedestrian yield areas. If you should happen to attend a Richmond Station community meeting you will hear the multiple complaints all surrounding traffic issues. This officer is assigned the traffic car and he does an excellent job.
Add me to the chorus praising this officer–and the SFPD–for cracking down on motorists who don’t come to a complete stop at Stop signs.
Or who don’t stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.
This morning as I crossed 7th at California, I wish this cop had been sitting there- as an idiot rolled right past the stop sign and line and into the crosswalk before stopping to allow me to cross. His window was down and I suggested he try stopping – as soon as I was past him he roared thru the intersection, ignoring the two people behind me also trying to cross.
If cameras were there, they would catch 100% of violators, more than that Officer catches. Cameras city wide are on the drawing board at MTA in pursuit of Vision Zero’s goals for no fatalities. Just a head’s up.
As for the Officer’s conduct, I wish he would apply his efforts to 39th & Geary where I have to do a dance to get oncoming traffic’s attention to use the crosswalk!
Seconding what Fay said – cameras at EVERY San Francisco intersection. Make those cameras capable of filming sidewalk activity, too.
Also, kudos to this officer! I’ll call him “Officer Friendly”, because he in invariably making our streets a more friendly place for other drivers, and pedestrians.
Before people comment on the allocation of resources of the Police Department, I would ask my fellow Richmond District citizens to take some time and learn about those resources and trials and tribulations that the Police Managers have to deal with.
I spent three years, the first three years of its existence, on the Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB . I got off about a year ago.
First, there are no quota’s on writing tickets. So stop spreading such unfounded facts.
Second, in many respects the Captains tend to concentrate on the intersections as requested BY YOUR NEIGHBORS ON THE CAPB. That is the whole point of the CPAB to advise the Precinct Captain on deployment of resources. So, if you have an issue with that deployment then take the time to go to the CPAB meeting every month and make the case for a different deployment.
Third, We spent a day with the officers doing traffic stops. We stopped cars, we stopped bicyclists, and we stopped pedestrians at an intersection.
The officers let us do the initial talking to those stopped. If they did anything but listened in a polite manner the police advised them that that could listen to their fellow residents for a couple of minutes or they could get a ticket. Most listened and acknowledged that they had screwed up. They got off with a warning. A few got nasty and the officer took over and it cost them!
You should have heard all the excuses. What a bunch of rubbish! How the officers listen to that rubbish day in and day out without strangling people is beyond me.
It really is simple. If you rcar is broken then get off your hind quarters and fix it. If the sign says stop then do it. Read the darn vehicle code and understand what you are supposed to do. That goes for bicyclists and pedestrians as well.
Get educated, get involved, then comment. Not the other way around!
My window is above this area & I see many “close call” accidents involving kids & elderly. Buses, taxis & cars blow thru stop sign & tons of double-parkers for coffee.
Good job SFPD ! We appreciate your concern for our safety. May we all get off our phones & FB to be more aware of the road & pedestrians !
I’ve been hit on a bike by a car-it changes your life. Stop whining-if you or your loved one were hit, you would care….
I think there is an unbalance between trying to get somewhere by car and pedestrians. Not every errand can be done by foot or bike. I feel like a 3rd class citizen just because I need to commute to work to pay for my mortgage and pay my taxes or to take care of family that live across town. Sure, I do not want anyone to ever get hurt but it seems imbalanced in so many ways. I’m not sure what the solution and voicing how I feel as a driver. Gas is not the issue. I have a fuel efficient car.
@G – You are mistaken about the need to remain stopped until a person exits a crosswalk. Below is the applicable Vehicle Code Section. A driver is only required to yield the right of way. After the pedestrian passes the vehicle is free to proceed on its way behind the pedestrian in a safe manner.
I am all for enforcement of traffic rules and think that more enforcement is needed. Just this morning there was another accident at 10th and Fulton when an East bound car tried to make an illegal left onto 10th Ave.
21950. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to
a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or
within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise
provided in this chapter.
(b) This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of
using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly
leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path
of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a
marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any
marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall
reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to
the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of
the pedestrian.
(d) Subdivision (b) does not relieve a driver of a vehicle from
the duty of exercising due care for the safety of any pedestrian
within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an
intersection.
@tahoejoe you wrote: “You are mistaken about the need to remain stopped until a person exits a crosswalk. Below is the applicable Vehicle Code Section. A driver is only required to yield the right of way. After the pedestrian passes the vehicle is free to proceed on its way behind the pedestrian in a safe manner.”
Unfortunately, the code is very subjective in this area. Read this:
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_20834179/roadshow-rules-road-drivers-and-pedestrians
I received last ticket was 6 years ago (it was my first in 12 years) when (for the first time) I dropped off my girlfriend’s kid in a “No Stopping” zone. My girlfriend’s kid said that “everybody drops off their kids here”. (in fact, teachers were waiting to receive students). The “No Stopping” signs were partially obscured by trees; people in front of me were dropping students there. As soon as I let the kid out of the car – “whoop, whoop” – motorcycle siren. He nailed about 6 car, all in a row. Cost me almost $200. Lesson learned; never trust what a 9-year-old’s driving advice!
I took a class to avoid points on my license, and during the class the instructor answered a question about when it is considered safe to proceed when someone is in a crosswalk. the instructor in that class was VERY pointed in his answer. He said that as long as someone is in the crosswalk – whether straight in front of you, or on either side of you – the police have a right to issue a ticket if you proceed.
I asked the instructor about long crosswalks, like the ones on Geary. He said that the police have a right to ticket you if someone is in the crosswalk, and you proceed to drive through, *no matter the length of the crosswalk*. He added that many cops won’t ticket if they see the pedestrian well enough along so that your proceeding does not put the pedestrian in danger, BUT you ARE liable if you cut it too close, or run into a police officer if sh/e’s having a bad day. Pedestrians ALSO have to use judgement (read the code), but don’t take chances and use common sense.
You may think you have your car’s advance timed right, but what if someone stumbles in the crosswalk? Anything can go wrong.
One thing that irks me is when drivers creeping toward the crosswalk as I walk in a crosswalk – often within feet of my presence, until I get just beyond their car, and then “zoom”. THAT is a violation, too.
In sum, I say enforce the heck out of these rules; they make us safer.
I lived at 22nd and Geary for 4 years and would regularly jog through this intersection on my way to the Presidio, walk my dog to the pet store, and walk to Angelina’s and the California Market. This intersection is full of pedestrian traffic, and I agree that this officer is doing his job by protecting people from harm. A ticket is much easier to take than an injury and the amount of time it takes to make a complete stop in your car is negligible.
@tahoejoe @jeff : So I think, in fact, it looks like you are both right, though Jeff is a little more right than either tahoejoe or I. It may not be always illegal (I thought it was because a family member has received a ticket for driving through a crosswalk with people in it), but as Jeff says, and the code implies, the police can give you a ticket for it, meaning it is at least potentially illegal. It’s up to the discretion of the officer. I was taught in driving school that you have to wait, so…
Sarah B. obviously doesn’t have kids living around Angelina’s. I never feel safe in a crosswalk, especially on California, I’m always w/ kids.
I live on 21st and California. Every night and day, when home, I hear cars Zooming down California street. There are no stops, no crosswalks on 21st nor 20th Avenue and drivers abuse this. The writer of the article even stated we have an elementary school nearby. Aside from a school we have lots of children living in the neighborhood within the vicinity of these intersections.
My wife and i hear the Officer pulling over people multiple times in the morning before we even leave for work. We joke about it, but we both appreciate it.
In the time it took me to write this comment i just heard another car Zoom down the street. Too frequent have there been accidents at our intersection! We have been asking for a crosswalk for a long time!
Too often do drivers doing “boulevard stops” take my right of way at intersections, or takes my wife’s turn when she is driving in this neighborhood.
I am glad we have an Officer patroling this very forgotten and dangerous part of the Richmond district. Every one of my neighbors have toddlers, i have a kid on the way. Let the man do his job.
The writer contacted the police to inquire about this. I plan on contact the station to commend this Officer.
There are enough people here to start some sort of coalition, if they have time to give. Obviously this issue is a priority for many in the neighborhood.
Yes – More please – some other spots might be the crosswalk in front of Arguello Market (Arguello and Cabrillo) This crosswalk is crazy – have had drivers swerve around me when I was pushing a stroller. There should really be a stop sign there. Amazing how many comments this article got.
this is how the city helps:
http://www.sfmta.com/services/streets-sidewalks/installation-requests/traffic-calming-features
Apply for Residential Traffic Calming
The SFMTA’s Traffic Calming Program seeks to make San Francisco safer and more comfortable for pedestrians, children, bicyclists, and motorists by designing our streets to encourage slower speeds.
If you would like your street to be considered for traffic calming measures, you must formally apply to the Residential Traffic Calming Program by submitting an application and petition signed by at least 20 residents from separate households on your street.
Applications for the 2014/2015 Traffic Calming Program are due on Friday, August 1, 2014.
If you have any further questions, please contact the SFMTA Traffic Calming Program at TrafficCalmingApp@sfmta.com.
Officer enforcing traffic laws near an Elementary school, in a residential area, surrounded by neighborhood-scale businesses?! Blasphemy! I’d love to know the officer’s name and send him a home-made pie.
Sarah B. do you feel your above the law? That you should not be stopped. You describe the intersection as being very busy with pedestrians and school children. I think the officer should be commended for stopping people. Since he is doing many in a short time, he might just be giving them a verbal warning. If you did something wrong, you should be stopped and ticketed. I see too many people do rolling stops, talking on cell phones, and not looking out for pedestrians in crosswalks. Don’t fault the officer for doing his job. Stay within the law, you are not above it.
Hi commenters,
Due to the increasingly personal nature of the comments on this post – directed at other commenters as well as myself – I have decided to close the comments thread.
For those of you that think I may have gotten a ticket at this intersection, that is not the case. This was not written “in retaliation” or as a sleight on the police officer.
The question raised in the article was not whether stop sign laws should be enforced at this intersection or any other, but whether it is overkill for this amount of time to be spent at a single intersection. Nor do I say anywhere that this intersection is not deserving of police attention.
If you actually read the article, you will find that I acknowledge the unique confluence of cars, pedestrians and businesses at that intersection and the value of enforcement. But I do question the frequency and duration of it.
Sarah B.