It’s kind of the perfect form of civil disobedience, because they probably won’t catch you, and even if you’re the unlucky one they do catch, I believe it’s *at worst* a misdemeanor that any decent lawyer could quickly get dismissed
Replies
(Actually it seems like a repeat offense could be a felony, or if you cause a large enough amount of damage)
aug 30, 2025, 8:59 pm • 0 0 • view
Ah yes. Like throwing a sandwich is a felony. I don't see how chalk is going to cause that kind of damage, unless they dump a truckload on the crosswalk.
aug 30, 2025, 9:02 pm • 0 0 • view
I don't see how putting a water-soluble product like chalk could, except in a really extreme case, cause any measurable property damage at all, though (caveat: not a chalk scientist)
aug 30, 2025, 9:03 pm • 2 0 • view
I think there’s provision for indirect damage, like a driver could claim that they were distracted by the chalk and swerved into a tree and it wrecked their car?
aug 30, 2025, 9:07 pm • 1 0 • view
OH FFS! I can see some idiot trying to get away with that after an accident but I can't see it not being laughed out of court. Putting these things at intersections has been proven to lower accidents, slows people down and makes them more aware of what's really happening at the intersection.
aug 30, 2025, 9:11 pm • 0 0 • view
yes, if something like that actually happened and prosecutors could prove that the sidewalk chalk was the cause of the accident, then I imagine they could probably pursue a prosecution for altering a traffic signal -- but otherwise I don't see it
aug 30, 2025, 9:09 pm • 1 0 • view
There is research on this and how it helps lower accidents at intersections. I'll see if I can find it. The city I live in uses them to prevent vehicle/pedestrian collisions.
aug 30, 2025, 9:12 pm • 2 0 • view
Not the research I was looking for but this is a very good example of safety strategies. I'm not a driver so they wouldn't annoy me at all. You get the idea though. globaldesigningcities.org/publication/...
aug 30, 2025, 11:12 pm • 0 0 • view
As a parent who has used chalk on concrete and pavement, there is no damage done. It's just color for heaven's sake. Ronnie boy needs to lighten the hell up. Doesn't he have kids? Maybe he should get their opinion. LOL
aug 30, 2025, 9:08 pm • 0 0 • view
They should feel embarrassed trying to charge someone for this, it's laughable. I can't imagine a straight face in the courtroom for this charge. LOL
aug 30, 2025, 8:58 pm • 1 0 • view