Parking Antics #2

July 21, 2011-Today morning walk around my neighborhood created a "what the heck" moment:

     Time: 8:18 a.m.

     Location: Northeast corner of Filbert Street & Stockton Street

     Victim: City's white van #425 504

     Offense: Stupidity

The white City's van is parked in a yellow striped crosswalk. Must be an 'emergency situation,' but no rooftop flashing light bar nor flashing yellow vehicle signal lights. The van looks more like a shuttle van. since 2   passengers are seated in the second row of seats. I watched the driver and front passenger disembarked and entered the "Liguria Bakery" at that corner of 1700 Stockton Street---to purchase the best Italian focaccia bread.

Those longitudinal stripes crosswalk are known by 'traffic consultants' as "continental" pattern. These yellow stripes are supposedly to increase the visibility of a crosswalk to oncoming drivers. The City's tends to have them near school crossings, since they cost four times to install and maintain than standard crosswalks. 

The next question...is it illegal to park in a crosswalk?

Answers:

#1-Not if it is more convenient.

#2-Who's going to enforce the rules.
and finally #3-I have a "CA EXEMPT" license plate---meaning exempt from all rules.

Final thoughts: Not all City's management personnel live in San Francisco, therefore this driver might reside in another City. A pedestrian get injured at this crosswalk, the City's would be liable. The plaintiff sued the negligent driver or the unsuspected City's property tax ratepayers!