Twenty Two Years Ago I Was A Traffic Cop
There was a call for volunteers at the Traffic and Transportation Office of Miami Dade County right after Hurricane Andrew. A battery operated radio and my land line phone was working
The house had only lost a few shingles, there was no electricity, my car had a full tank of gas and I had enough ice for a couple of days. I called my office, they were waiting for instructions from Tallahassee and Washington DC. We would be busy but not for a day or two. People would be hired to help in the clean up after the hurricane. They were happy I had no big issues. They told me to stay off the roads. Good advice, immediately ignored.
I got in the car to go to the T&T Office. The drive was an adventure. Going north there was tree damage, and most intersections with lights were out of commission. Those yellow traffic signals seemed a lot bigger laying on the ground. Most but not all had been pulled out of the intersections. The traffic rules were that you should treat an intersection with malfunctioning lights as a four way stop. Drivers in Miami had forgotten that rule.
They were happy to see me at the T&T Office. They were even happier to see I had made it all the way from South Miami. I was going to be given a big assignment. They asked me if I would be able to direct traffic at US 1 and SW 57 Avenue. Ignorance is bliss, I was a lot younger and if this had been the military they might have told me I was going on a dangerous but important mission.
They gave me one of those florescent jackets, a page typewritten set of instructions. Back then not everyone had cell phones. They also said they would send more help to that intersection as soon as it was available.
The trip back to my post was worse than going north. More cars on the road at every intersection. I parked at the Wendy's on the corner and waded into traffic. Standing in the intersection I got traffic on US 1 to stop, Red Road Traffic crossed the intersection for about two minutes, then stopped the Red Road Traffic and US 1 traffic went for about three minutes. I kind of figured out left turns after a few traffic cycles. No close calls, but it would have helped to have eyes in the back of your head.
After about 90 minutes of directing traffic a kindly Florida Highway Patrol Officer stopped for a conversation. We both left the intersection. I showed him the printed instructions I had received. He told me I would be responsible if there were any accidents at the intersection. I told the officer I was more concerned about cars crashing in to me than into each other at a relatively low speed which had been produced by gridlock of no traffic lights. He left, and I went back to the intersection. He did give a piece of good advice. If you get too hot and thirsty take a break. He also said he would try to get someone with a uniform to relieve me or more help. About an hour later another police officer told me to take a break and get another assignment, he was taking over.
Relieved in more than a couple of ways, I got in my car, went home, had my last cold beer for a few days and called the office. They said they needed me on Wednesday and to wear comfortable clothes.
The adventure was only beginning.
The house had only lost a few shingles, there was no electricity, my car had a full tank of gas and I had enough ice for a couple of days. I called my office, they were waiting for instructions from Tallahassee and Washington DC. We would be busy but not for a day or two. People would be hired to help in the clean up after the hurricane. They were happy I had no big issues. They told me to stay off the roads. Good advice, immediately ignored.
I got in the car to go to the T&T Office. The drive was an adventure. Going north there was tree damage, and most intersections with lights were out of commission. Those yellow traffic signals seemed a lot bigger laying on the ground. Most but not all had been pulled out of the intersections. The traffic rules were that you should treat an intersection with malfunctioning lights as a four way stop. Drivers in Miami had forgotten that rule.
They were happy to see me at the T&T Office. They were even happier to see I had made it all the way from South Miami. I was going to be given a big assignment. They asked me if I would be able to direct traffic at US 1 and SW 57 Avenue. Ignorance is bliss, I was a lot younger and if this had been the military they might have told me I was going on a dangerous but important mission.
They gave me one of those florescent jackets, a page typewritten set of instructions. Back then not everyone had cell phones. They also said they would send more help to that intersection as soon as it was available.
The trip back to my post was worse than going north. More cars on the road at every intersection. I parked at the Wendy's on the corner and waded into traffic. Standing in the intersection I got traffic on US 1 to stop, Red Road Traffic crossed the intersection for about two minutes, then stopped the Red Road Traffic and US 1 traffic went for about three minutes. I kind of figured out left turns after a few traffic cycles. No close calls, but it would have helped to have eyes in the back of your head.
After about 90 minutes of directing traffic a kindly Florida Highway Patrol Officer stopped for a conversation. We both left the intersection. I showed him the printed instructions I had received. He told me I would be responsible if there were any accidents at the intersection. I told the officer I was more concerned about cars crashing in to me than into each other at a relatively low speed which had been produced by gridlock of no traffic lights. He left, and I went back to the intersection. He did give a piece of good advice. If you get too hot and thirsty take a break. He also said he would try to get someone with a uniform to relieve me or more help. About an hour later another police officer told me to take a break and get another assignment, he was taking over.
Relieved in more than a couple of ways, I got in my car, went home, had my last cold beer for a few days and called the office. They said they needed me on Wednesday and to wear comfortable clothes.
The adventure was only beginning.
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