Dear Pedestrians

Dear Pedestrians,

I am one of you. I understand the need and desire to jaywalk when the crosswalks are far away from where you want to be. I also understand the new law where cars must come to a full stop when you (we) are in the designated crosswalks; however, lady in Burberry shawl on Nassau Street yesterday afternoon, you neglected two very important points while you jaywalked in front of my car, immersed in your cell phone screen without even glancing up at the motorist world...

1. The law is that cars must come to a full stop. This, however, does NOT relieve you of your duties as a conscious being. You can't just dart out whenever you feel like it and think you're almighty. If a car is about two seconds from the crosswalk/your body, let the car pass. That is an impossible stopping distance, and you will lose the lawsuit because you were negligent of your own responsibilities.
2. You were not in a crosswalk, and thus had no business even crossing the street in such an aloof and inconsiderate fashion. I watched you park your fancy BMW SUV, get out and fiddle with the parking meter, take your phone out of your pocket, then stare at something I can only imagine was immensely riveting, WHILE YOU STARTED TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET WITHOUT LOOKING BOTH WAYS. I'm sorry to say that wherever your mother is...she failed. Once you got to the other side of the street, you almost collided with two students waiting to safely jaywalk when cars were at a stop.

Job well done.