First time I've ever been ticketed while running in Chicago (Read 1483 times)

C-R


    People run in front of me all the time and rarely are injured, much less killed.

     

    You should run more and lose the caboose then.


    "He conquers who endures" - Persius
    "Every workout should have a purpose. Every purpose should link back to achieving a training objective." - Spaniel

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    Trail Dog

      Yep, I was just going to post this...

       

      2-3 weeks ago there was another person killed by a train around here. They are amazingly frequent. A husband was dropping his wife off at the train station across the tracks from where she needed to be. They were running late. She told him that she could make the train, he said please don't. She ran right out in front of the train and was killed in front of her husband.

      JimR


         

        2-3 weeks ago there was another person killed by a train around here. They are amazingly frequent. A husband was dropping his wife off at the train station across the tracks from where she needed to be. They were running late. She told him that she could make the train, he said please don't. She ran right out in front of the train and was killed in front of her husband.

         

        It happens a lot up this way too (Toronto).  The GO transit trains are remarkably quiet, especially when powering down on approach.  Too many people think trains have this ability to stop in time or go around them somehow.  I can't imagine the horror of being a driver/engineer and having to deal with this situation, seeing someone on the tracks ahead and not being able to do anything about it.

        dennrunner


           

          I wear cutoff jeans everyday I go for a run, ...

           

          Okay, I guess you deserved the ticket after all.


          Kalsarikännit

            Hey WG, I am brewing a 5 gallon batch of beer out in my garage tomorrow.  Can you do that?  Maybe I should call it Cookie Cutter Ale.

             

            Heh.

             

            Oh and this..... Wink

            Finally, someone presents a legitimate con to city living (at least in my neighborhood).  Big grin

            I want to do it because I want to do it.  -Amelia Earhart

             

            zonykel


              Admittedly not knowing the full details of this but not only 'who runs with their driver's license' but also who would willingly offer it  up while running?  "Sorry occifer, but I don't carry my driver's license when I run."

               

              Lying to a cop is probably not a good idea.


              Hoodoo Guru

                I run ON the train tracks for a short (1/4 mile maybe) distance about once a week.  My alternative is to run on the side of a busy two lane road with no shoulder.  I know that it is illegal.  I assume I'll get busted someday.  I hope I'll get off with a warning.  They'll have to take my word on my identity though, or take my RoadID as I don't carry my DL.

                The tangents are moot.

                 

                 

                 

                  The real reason you got a ticket for a 500' tresspass on RR property VVVVVV

                   

                   

                  I wear cutoff jeans everyday I go for a run, thus there's plenty of room for storage in them.  And carrying some extra personal possessions with me doesn't bother me at all.  When it comes to other runners in the Chicago area, I wonder why they're constantly wearing sweatpants in this town?  That's something I never run with. I felt just fine without them today.

                   

                  The pain that hurts the worse is the imagined pain. One of the most difficult arts of racing is learning to ignore the imagined pain and just live with the present pain (which is always bearable.) - Jeff

                   

                  2014 Goals:

                   

                  Stay healthy

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                     If any Chicagoland lawyers would like to volunteer and get me the justice I deserve, please contact me here as soon as possible.

                    One more thing:  Putting those 2 words in the same sentence?  Oxymoron.

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                    xhristopher


                      The real reason you got a ticket for a 500' tresspass on RR property VVVVVV

                       

                       

                      OK, I'm guessing it wasn't actually a trespass ticket and that wasn't  rail police.

                       

                      Sincere question: Did the police officer look like the guy on the right? If so, it was the fashion police and you got busted for running in cutoffs.

                       

                      FSocks


                      KillJoyFuckStick

                        I think this is the best thing all week.  Thanks all for the entertainment.

                         

                        Oh and to the OP: pay the fine, you were in the wrong, get over it.  Next time run in one of Chicago's fine parks.

                        You people have issues 

                          I've heard numerous similar tales of tax collection on runners.  I am still completely baffled why anybody would stop and talk to these yahoos.  Maybe if I was dumb enough to let them follow me to my house I would feel obligated, otherwise....catch me if you can fatty!

                             If any Chicagoland lawyers would like to volunteer and get me the justice I deserve, please contact me here as soon as possible.

                             

                            Chicago lawyer here.  I don't do criminal work, but I can offer some informed observations.  Unfortunately, it doesn't really look like you have a leg to stand on.  The criminal trespass to property law is pretty straight-forward  (720 ILCS 5/21-3).  You might be able to make some headway if you can show that there were no signs posted.  Other than that, you've basically admitted your guilt.

                             

                            Your real beef seems to be that the police officer should have exercised his discretion to let you off with a warning.  You have every right to your opinion about how law enforcement should carry out their responsibilities, but that won't get you very far in court.    Its up to law enforcement agencies and the individual officer -- not the judge -- to make those decisions.  Indeed, it may well be that the individual officer was operating under a "no leniency" directive from his superiors, especially in light of the recent death of a pedestrian on Metra tracks.  The officer might have lost his job if he let you go without a citation.  Judges tend not to second-guess prosecutorial decisions, although the circumstances here will hopefully guide the judge to select the lower end of the range of possible fines.

                             

                            As far as the drivers license thing is concerned, you might have actually caught a huge break.  Illinois is among a minority of states with a bond requirement, and the law gives law enforcement very little discretion in this area.  Surrender of your drivers license happens to be one of the statutory methods of posting bond.  If you hadn't had your drivers license you might have been escorted to the police station to post a $75 cash bond.   Personally I think its a stupid law, but that's the fault of the state legislature and governor, not the Metra officer who issued the citation.

                             

                            Good luck, and I hope you'll keep us posted about what happens.

                            How To Run a Marathon: Step 1 - start running. There is no Step 2.

                            flarunner


                              Reading the thread title makes me think the OP has been ticketed while running elsewhere. Maybe that's why he carries his DL.

                              Nakedbabytoes


                              levitation specialist

                                The keeping the license part bugs me. That's the only photo ID I have--I use it at the bank, at the beer store (when I'm lucky enough to still get carded), etc.  It's not just for driving!

                                 

                                Maybe he thought you would run, given your past historyWink

                                 

                                I know, I know. Couldn't help myself.