I read with interest the open letter from Deeda Seed about her jaywalking incident. Although I will agree with her that some of our officers need to exercise a little more courtesy when dealing with the public, I disagree with her that she was treated unfairly.
She admits to crossing the street after the red hand started flashing the "do not walk" signal. I walk to and from work almost every day and am appalled by how many people ignore the signals telling them when they can and cannot cross the street. I will stand on the sidewalk in rain, sleet and snow and wait until the signal tells me I can cross.
Does Deeda Seed think she is better than the rest of us? I work just as hard as she does, and I still take time to obey the traffic signals. I have no sympathy for anyone who gets a ticket when they break the law even if they consider it to be a small law. Laws are not enacted for each of us to decide whether we will or will not obey them. If we get caught disobeying the law, we have no complaint when we get a ticket.
Grow up and learn to take your turn like everyone else and pay your ticket without further complaint. Seed has been in high-profile positions in this city long enough that she should know the laws and their consequences better than a lot of people.
She should be setting an example for everyone else that when you break the law, no matter who you are or who you work for, you get the opportunity of paying the fine.
If you don't want to pay the fine, then don't do the crime. And it is a crime to break even a little law.
Pat Hoefer
Salt Lake City