The idea that a jaywalking sting is a government conspiracy to raise revenue and target "some of the most economically vulnerable members of the community" is absurd. Pedestrian injuries and deaths are a major problem in the Islands, and, in a lot of cases, the pedestrian is at fault. I cross Dole Street on a daily basis on my way to campus, and almost every day I see someone walk in front of a moving vehicle because they cannot wait 15 seconds for a light to change. You are right to point out that often there are no cars coming and there is no real harm, but at the same time are you ever really that far from a crosswalk? As far as the crackdown on students being "typical police harassment" and what one would "expect from a gravy train-riding institution like HPD," I have a very different take on the issue. HPD has a very difficult job to do. I actually think its kind of funny that a student - who probably pays little, if any, taxes goes to a state subsidized university, lives with his parents and has federally subsidized student loans - is going to lecture people about the lack of government funding for parking or criticize anyone for riding the "gravy train." Also, give me one good reason why mo-peds should be allowed to park for free on campus. They don't have to get insurance, pay a vehicle tax or comply with emissions standards like all other motor vehicles - even though they drive on the same roads and can park in the same stalls. We have an excellent bus system on the islands, so why don't these people ride the bus to school if they don't want to park? If we want a campus that doesn't look like a used mo-ped lot, we all need to pay the small cost. That means that we pay for parking through a fee. It also means that we respect the fact that parking mo-peds on sidewalks and driveways makes the campus look bad, limits access for emergency vehicles and causes our disabled classmates tremendous hardship. Finally, it means that, as responsible members of the community, we respect the laws, even if they cost you a few seconds of your time.
Nathaniel Smith Gaduate student, Meteorology
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