Yes, Seattle can now ticket you for driving like a jerk

Jacob Nierenberg

Jacob Nierenberg Jun 21, 2025

Jan 12, 2018

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                <h1>Yes, Seattle can now ticket you for driving like a jerk</h1>
                <h2><p>Gridlock is a problem in many cities, and Seattle is no exception; numerous intersections, especially those along the Mercer Corridor, count instances of drivers “blocking the box” in the triple digits on a daily basis. It’s a hassle for people who are trying to make a turn, and it’</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/jacob-nierenberg-crosscut-com/">Jacob Nierenberg</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Jan 12, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>Gridlock is a problem in many cities, and Seattle is no exception; numerous intersections, especially those along the Mercer Corridor, count instances of drivers “blocking the box” in the triple digits <em>on a daily basis</em>. It’s a hassle for people who are trying to make a turn, and it’s at the very least annoying for pedestrians to weave between cars. To combat this, city police are now authorized to make a $136 ticket out any vehicle that does so, according to <em><a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/seattle-to-crack-down-on-its-jammed-up-intersections/?ref=avalancheghost.one">The Seattle Times</a></em> and <a href="http://mynorthwest.com/11/2795307/Seattle-drivers-face-hefty-fine-for-jerkish-behavior?ref=avalancheghost.one">MyNorthwest</a>. City council member Sally Bagshaw has previously taken these drivers to task in a <a href="http://bagshaw.seattle.gov/2015/07/31/dont-be-a-jerk/?ref=avalancheghost.one">blog post</a> for their “jerkish driving behavior.”</p>
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Gridlock is a problem in many cities, and Seattle is no exception; numerous intersections, especially those along the Mercer Corridor, count instances of drivers “blocking the box” in the triple digits on a daily basis. It’s a hassle for people who are trying to make a turn, and it’s at the very least annoying for pedestrians to weave between cars. To combat this, city police are now authorized to make a $136 ticket out any vehicle that does so, according to The Seattle Times and MyNorthwest. City council member Sally Bagshaw has previously taken these drivers to task in a blog post for their “jerkish driving behavior.”

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By Jacob Nierenberg

Jacob Nierenberg is an editorial intern at Crosscut. He has lived in Washington for nearly all of his life, and still proudly identifies with the Pacific Northwest despite his relocation to Stanford U