So about a month ago I was downtown in Austin on 6th street and me and another couple got freaking jaywalking tickets. First time ever I've heard of anyone getting a jaywalking ticket on 6th street. Anyhow, the court date was supposed to be today. I rescheduled for next week, but the couple I was walking with went today. My friend texted me and told me that the girl's ticket was dismissed, but her boyfriend had to pay a fine and got 30 days of probation. He said her ticket got dismisssed because he said it was his fault and he was holding her hand as they were crossing the street. In summary....wtf? You can get probation for jaywalking? I thought it was just traffic offense. Side story...30 seconds after I got my jaywalking ticket I saw some punk rock chick walking down the street totally topless. She walked past the cops like no big deal. So I walked over and asked them how that was legal. They said it's completely legal for girls to be topless in Austin. Who knew!
Austin area cops are very racists. The ones in Williamson county would have put you in a squad and molested you.
I got a jaywalking ticket just off campus in Austin last year (not of color... not that there's anything wrong with that...) Cost me $100 and "probation"... meaning the ticket would be dismissed as long as I didn't get busted jaywalking in the next 30 days. On a strange note, during this I found out that jaywalking is somehow classified as a semi-serious offense. It is in the same class as mar1juana possession and minor physical assault. Who knew?
Couldn't you just tell the officer that you didn't have any ID on you? This wouldn't have worked for the OP since he was likely bar hopping on 6th, but should have been an option for you.
Last weekend when I was down there I was standing right next to a cop and as I was waiting for the walk light. A couple people start walking across when it was still red and one guy next to me says something like this to the cop "Well, I'm just gonna wait for the light." Cop replies with a laugh "Man, I really don't give a damn." Even when I was getting my ticket one of the others cops asked me what I was being held there for and I said jaywalking and he laughed. I have never seen anyone get a jaywalking ticket down on 6th street with cops in arresting distance...until I got one :grin:
I'd be willing to bet that they can somehow take more money from you if they put you on probation - they'll probably have a "probation fee" or some other bull****. No state taxes = tons of bull**** fees and fines
Happened to a buddy of mine on 6th many years ago. I believe he paid a small fine and had some probation. ...makes me miss my days in Austin and jaeger bombs at The Aquarium.
