The impatient driver could get away from the police only because the officer in charge was on foot.
Presumed New Yorker and Redditor /u/Environmental-Low792 shared headshaking dashcam footage from Latham from earlier last week (Nov 27, 2024) showing a driver in a blue Hyundai Tucson going into oncoming traffic to bypass a line of cars waiting for an ambulance to clear the area.
And, when caught by a police officer directing traffic at the accident, the Tucson driver flipped a u-turn and fled the scene.
Check out what happened via dashcam below.
The person in the blue car should not have a license. [OC]
byu/Environmental-Low792 inIdiotsInCars
The incident happened in Latham on Airport Park Blvd just before the intersection with County Road 151 (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As OP’s dashcam footage shows, he and a number of vehicles are waiting to cross the intersection but are held up by emergency services responding to an accident a couple dozen feet in front of them.
As such, there’s a police officer directing traffic, making sure more accidents don’t happen.
Not wanting to wait, a driver in a blue Hyundai Tucson, not aware of police in front directing traffic, attempts to cut the line and crosses double solid yellows to drive against traffic to the front.
The officer directing traffic sees this, stops the Tucson driver, and attempts to cite them accordingly.
Although the audio’s been muted, Environmental-Low792 commented on what was said.
The missing audio:
The cop shouts: Stop!
What are you doing?
Pull over! (as he points)
Stop!
Now you’re driving the wrong way!
In New York, crossing double yellows and going against traffic like this is an unsafe lane change, and first-time offenders are subject to a fine of $150 and three points on their record.
And, disobeying a traffic control device (the police officer) is subject to a maximum fine of up to $243 and an additional two points on your record.
“There is a certain percentage of drivers who, no matter why you are stopped in the road, will assume you are the idiot and either honk or try to go around you. At least one family is missing a daughter now because of these idiots who don’t pause for one second to wonder why the traffic is stopped unexpectedly,” /u/Pinecone37729 somberly commented.
“My cop friend told me besides high-risk traffic stops and executing search warrants, directing traffic is the most stressful/frustrating part of police work and he said it’s like herding cats and they try to piss you off for their amusement,” /u/LonelyMustard added.
“That cop is all but openly face-palming himself. They must see such stupidity day in and day out,” /u/Karma_1969 added.
OP confirms the officer didn’t pursue the driver, the idiot eventually getting away.
Cutting in line might’ve saved that driver an extra five minutes of waiting.
But, is it worth it if you increase your risk of getting into an accident because of driving against traffic and navigating around other traffic and emergency vehicles?
The answer is invariably no.
It’s not all about you so, be patient.
