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Chicagoist doesn’t drive very often and when we do it’s usually because we’re headed out of town on a road trip. So when we overhear traffic reports, we usually pause only long enough to laugh at the poor bastards stuck on the Kennedy as we wonder if we’ll be sitting next to the guy that smells like pee again on the bus this morning.
There’s some good news in this morning’s Sun-Times for anyone who drives in Sector 3245 of the Loop as the city plans on testing a right-turn traffic signal at the corner of 
State and Washington. No more will Old Navy-bound pedestrians prevent cars from moving through the intersection! Though the change doesn’t require any additional signals to be installed, the city still managed to find a way to charge taxpayers $20,000 per intersection. Thank goodness pedestrians and drivers always obey traffic signals or that’d be just a waste of money. Plus, isn't it nice that even though Chicago is a big city, news of a new traffic light downtown still hits the daily paper?
If you happen to get pulled over going through one of the new signals, the state of Illinois wants you to know that it’s wise for you to stay in your car. Secretary of State Jesse White is saying that his office may add tips for surviv...er, handling traffic stops to the Rules of the Road handbook in response to a recent altercation between police and State Senator Rev. James Meeks. The Chicago Police Department also released a version of said tips that recommends staying in the damn car, doing what the officer tells you, being cooperative and everything else you don’t see on an average episode of Cops.
Observers think that the addition of these new rules will reduce future incidents but may lead to a decrease in publicity for any other future mayoral candidates.
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cops always say to stay in your car when you get pulled over.....if you get out and start walking toward the cops, they thing something is up. i don't have much sympathy for this guy.
No kidding, 30 years of living around these parts has taught me to STAY IN THE CAR WHEN PULLED OVER, how could he not know that.
I read somewhere that the new signal was going to be in Sector 3446.
If the change does not call for any additional signals to be installed how are the cars going to know when to make a right turn?
I'm glad they're putting this on paper but doesn't EVERYBODY know that you stay in the car and make no sudden movements when you're pulled over, give me a break. I.....AM....REACHING....INTO....THE.....GLOVEBOX.......NOW.
Sorry, NSH. I should have mentioned that they will just be re-adjusting the existing signals.
One thing that was not mentioned in the link in the story but was mentioned by John Kass in the Trib:
"Meeks said he and his family were coming home from Wednesday night Bible study at Salem Baptist Church. They weren't driving Meeks' car with the state Senate license plates--they were in his driver's car, and the driver was behind the wheel.
They pulled behind a police car, which was stopped at an intersection. The sergeant in the car looked like he was writing something on a notepad, and after a moment, Meeks' car pulled around and made a turn. The officer pulled them over.
Right then, a tail car with two of Meeks' additional security officers--including an off-duty cop--pulled up. Meeks got out of his driver's car. His other security guards got out of Meeks' tail car."
No wonder the cop freaked! He's got one guy getting out of the car in front an another car pulling over with more guys getting out....
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0507170315jul17,1,5368143.column?coll=chi-news-col
Yes! Finally! I am so glad that we're at long last making the city friendly to automobiles, because those damn pedestrians have had it too easy.
This will be horrible. The drivers will not stop. Chicago is bad enough ... I can't believe this is even a consideration. Nice pedestrian-friendly cities have traffic jams, folks. Deal with it! Instead of spending money, you'd think the city'd crack down on the general lawlessness (by motorists and pedestrians) that makes driving and walking downtown so nervewracking to begin with.
I am in favor of it. We all have very short memories. It wasn't that long ago that state street was so pedestrian friendly that cars were not even allowed on the street. That didn't work out very well! And if CDOT does something similar to the countdown ped signals on michigan ave along with the reconfigured lights it will be a win win in my book.
This is just for the city buses that turn right on this corner.
Don't kid yourself. The CTA is behind this.
Moon, where are you getting that info? I don't see it in the original article.
Anybody who has crossed that corner a few times knows this. The CTA drivers can't turn the corner because of so many pedestrians crossing with the light. (let alone those who cross against the light)
It's NOT the busiest traffic corner downtown.
"doing what the officer tells you"
Although they'd like you to think you are legally obligated to follow their every request, you are not. Typically, if they ask you before they do something, this means you have the right to answer 'no', but they won't tell you this if you don't ask. So, if the officer asks you to do anything other than provide your license and registration, politely ask the officer if the law requires you to comply with his or her request.
http://www.expertlaw.com/library/criminal/police_stops.html
http://www.flexyourrights.org/traffic_stop_scenario