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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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