Attention Jaywalkers!
I was jaywalking in St. Petersburg across
Revolution Square, a very serious offense there.
Just as I was about to get on to the curb, I felt
a tug at my sleeve and found myself face to face
with a Russian cop who proceeded to drag me back
to the center of the square in the area where the
Police Cars congregated. I tried speaking Russian
to him, explaining that I didn't know what he
meant and that I didn't know where there was
anyplace to cross. At that point he brought me
over to his car and opened the passenger door and
motioned for me to get in. I got scared. I had
read stories of how brutal Russian prisons are
even those just for people waiting for trial, so
I got terrified. I also had heard stories of how
corrupt Russian Cops were and was afraid that I
would be robbed while I was at his mercy.
Hopefully my use of Russian marked me out as not
being an American, and hence not in possession of
money.
The Police Officer got in the driver's side
and then reached across and opened the glove
compartment. He pulls out a book that turns out
to have been a book of Russian street signs. he
showed me the signs for crosswalk and then
pointed out to me where the crosswalks were. He
then told me that I had to pay a fine. He wrote
me up a ticket for $.75, roughly which I paid on
the spot, and he let me go, seating and very
relieved. I had encounter a kind and honest
police officer. I actually hoped that he had
pocketed my fine money for himself.
--Joe
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