If you’re like us, you tend to spend a good amount of time hoofing it through our fair city. And if you’re also honest about it like we are, you probably go ahead and cross the street (when it’s safe) even when the light isn’t green. This, according to law.dictionary.com, is considered jaywalking and is therefore illegal.

jaywalking
n. walking across a street outside of marked cross-walks, and not at a corner, and/or against a signal light. If there is vehicle traffic or clear markings of a place to cross, this is a traffic misdemeanor subject to fine, and may be (but not conclusively) contributory negligence in the event of injury to the jaywalker by a vehicle.

For the most part, the fine men and women serving in the DC Metropolitan Police Department seem to have bigger fish to fry in this city than enforcing jaywalking laws. Except, apparently, today. Pedestrians in the Golden Triangle and beyond, consider yourself warned, courtesy of Justin at So That Happened….

“They actually have us out giving tickets today for jaywalking, which you just did. But I’ll let you go with a warning.” He took my license, jotted down my info, and we talked about my block and neighborhood, which he used to patrol, and how nice the day was.

If only we could all get stopped by Justin’s incredibly nice cop. Since that’s unlikely, we’d suggest minding the traffic signals today, kids. (Hat tip: Tom).