I've been behind large vehicles where you can't see the light and the traffic behind me wanted me to clear the intersection. While I like to keep my distance, the tall vehicle blocks the view. If you are following closely, as city drivers expect in such situation, you really can't see the light.
If the bus was in drive, there would have been no brake lights to judge by and the assumption would be to proceed through the intersection. One is expected to keep moving. Those behind don't always take kindly a driver maintaining a long line of sight behind a large vehicle like a bus, and Grayson could have been hit from behind as well.
It's standard procedure, getting a ticket. And if he was speeding, he got a ticket for a fender bender, not arrested for being dangerous.
I've also seen threads on this subject where some seem offended that Grayson was driving a three year old Mercedes. When I questioned a friend about buying one, thinking it was a vanity purchase, he explained that in the long term, they are cheaper than less expensive cars that don't last as long. He considered it a lifetime investment, saying that once you buy one, you don't have to buy another car. He still is driving the thing after many years.
I don't fault Grayson buying one. He had his own money before going into politics, and has never defamed the poor, instead he has fought for many things progressives want. He's been working hard all of his life. Here is part of his resume from Wikipedia:
Grayson was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, United States, to a Jewish family, the son of Dorothy Ann (née Sabin) and Daniel Franklin Grayson.[4][5] He graduated from Bronx High School of Science in 1975 and worked his way through Harvard College as a janitor and nightwatchman, graduating in 1978 in the top two percent of his class, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B. in economics.[6][7] After working two years as an economist, he returned to Harvard for graduate studies.[2] In 1983, he earned a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and a Masters of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Additionally, he completed the course work and passed the general exams for a Ph.D. in government.[6][8]
His work and career and how he made his fortune after that beginning are also at the Wikipedia article bearing his name:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Grayson
Frankly, I think we can cut the man a little bit of slack here, since his political positions, if one takes the time to try to know the man's life, are detailed at the same article. He's one of us on what counts, although some have posted that he can't be one of us because of that car. And that car is now in the shop being fixed, and I'm sure Alan will make restitution to anyone harmed. And this is just my two cents, I'm sure he's not being effected by anyone harping on this, his life speaks of one who gets things done.
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