The Helping Hand That Led Geese Safely Across Road Now Holds Ticket


By Tom Jackman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 3, 2009

"Make Way for Ducklings"?

Not if the Fairfax County police are around.

The popular children's book, about a family of ducks escorted across a busy street by a Boston police officer, apparently is not on the reading list in Fairfax. When Jozsef Vamosi, 60, tried to help a family of Canada geese cross the Fairfax County Parkway, he was given a ticket by a Fairfax officer -- for jaywalking.

The geese guardian, who lives in Fairfax, is taking his case to court. His trial is set for 9:30 Monday morning in Fairfax General District Court.

"I don't feel guilty," said Vamosi, a home remodeling contractor who said he has been involved in rescuing both people and animals in the past. "My instinct is you try to do something good. We are only humans. I can sleep."

Fairfax police said they couldn't discuss a pending case and acknowledged that motorists in such situations have good intentions. But they said the safety of other motorists is also a concern and is a factor officers consider when deciding whether to issue a summons.

"We can appreciate the citizens' response and compassion for wildlife," Officer Don Gotthardt said. "But a more prudent response would be to pull off the road and use their cellphone. Call the police, and have them respond."

Vamosi said there was no time to wait, as about a dozen geese seemed ready to make their way across the four lanes of traffic on the parkway. Gotthardt said police are very responsive to potential traffic hazards on a major roadway and typically arrive quickly.

The episode unfolded in Reston on June 18, a Thursday, about 9:30 a.m., Vamosi said. Vamosi was driving north on the parkway approaching the Dulles Toll Road when he spotted several smaller geese edging toward the pavement, a full gaggle behind them.

"They were walking like gentlemen," Vamosi said, upright and confident. "Like the Beatles on 'Abbey Road.' "

Vamosi said he pulled his car to the left lane, got out and stood in the right lane. "I showed them my hand," Vamosi said, "and said, 'Move, move, move!' " Vamosi said he grew up in the countryside of Hungary and felt he knew how to approach the animals without spooking them.

The three larger and eight smaller geese waddled to the parkway's wide median, mission halfway accomplished. Vamosi then stepped into the southbound lanes, held up his hands to signal approaching cars, and the cars stopped, he said. Again he urged the feathered pedestrians to make haste. They did, ducked under a guardrail and continued on their way, Vamosi said.


"Everything came out fantastic," Vamosi said. Then an officer sped to the scene.

"He jumped out the car, yelling at me," Vamosi said of the officer, identified in court records as Kevin J. Rusin. Vamosi said that he asked the officer if he was there to help and that Rusin responded by questioning Vamosi's sanity. The officer said Vamosi's priorities were misplaced on a busy highway, Vamosi said. Vamosi added that he had previously helped a Fairfax officer chase some geese off Interstate 395 and was not ticketed.

He said Rusin instructed him to sit in his car and eventually gave him the jaywalking summons. Vamosi said he told the officer that he would fight the ticket. "And if I had the chance, I'd do it again," he said. "That's the way I'm raised."

In Massachusetts, "Make Way for Ducklings" is the state's official children's book, and statues of the ducklings stand in Boston's Public Garden.

In Virginia, the law states that "pedestrians shall not carelessly or maliciously interfere with the orderly passage of vehicles." There is no jail time for violating the law, only a fine of as much as $250.

.

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/221604.html

http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/221604.html

And they were geese, not ducks.

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13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

The guy is a douchebag. Hope he gets the full fine.

First, they are Canadian, why bother helping those losers.

Geese are a nuisance species and should be dealt with accordingly - certainly not helped.

Officer Rusin did the right thing. Admittedly he probably shouldn't have lost his temper.

I witnessed a similar event years ago where a woman stopped her car to help a band of Canadian geese cross this road. The spot was right around a curve(blind) on a road where the speed limit was 50mph.

She almost got run over because cars couldn't see her coming around the curve. Her stopped car DID cause an accident from the stopped cars behind hers who were hit by other cars coming around the curve.

I'm all for protecting wildlife. Just be smart about it and exercise common sense...

Best thing to do in that instance is speed up. Hit the goose hard enough, and it won't suffer. Plus, the cloud of feathers will give any witnesses something to talk about on FU all day.

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

Help prevent more needless tickets like this. Goose season starts in less than a month! Get your licenses now!

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/webless-migratory-gamebirds.asp#september-canada-goose

The cop is an idiot.

A retiring captain told me 5 years ago that there was a wave of retirements going through FCPD and that a bunch of young, inexperienced officers were joining the force who would reflexively bully people instead of using good judgment.

If you call 911 for geese or other animals in the road, dispatchers will refer you to animal control and hang up.

The birds are properly referred to as Canada geese. They are a pestilence but only Congressional action will allow any significant reduction in numbers as they are protected by Federal law.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/2009 01:17PM by Thomas More.

Great so now they're on their wat to Dulles to take down a plane. Way to go, "Samaritan."

Johnny Walker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great so now they're on their wat to Dulles to
> take down a plane. Way to go, "Samaritan."

According to the Chinese, he is now responsible for the lives of those geese. If they do take down a 747, the blood is on his hands.

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13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

If motorists were racing down the parkway and saw these geese in the road-it could have easily caused a motorist to swerve and harm another driver.

If this guy was able to stop traffic WITHOUT injury to anyone then he quite possible saved lives-not harmed them.

I say no ticket. The cop sounds like a jerk to me.

Only a completely asshole douchebag would run over geese.

Squirrels and rabbits are sometimes difficult to avoid, but you can see geese from a mile away.

eesh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Only a completely asshole douchebag would run over
> geese.
>
> Squirrels and rabbits are sometimes difficult to
> avoid, but you can see geese from a mile away.

Geese are responsible for human death and disease. They are a nuisance species and should be put down at every available opportunity.

PIKA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Geese are responsible for human death and disease.
> They are a nuisance species and should be put
> down at every available opportunity.



.
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more like this, you simpleton:


I will save you the pictures of goose droppings littering parks and spreading disease.


.
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Deer cause traffic accidents...do you think you should run over as many as you see? The plane crash was just a freak accident, we would have plane crashes all the time if geese were such a threat to aviation.

eesh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Deer cause traffic accidents...do you think you
> should run over as many as you see? The plane
> crash was just a freak accident, we would have
> plane crashes all the time if geese were such a
> threat to aviation.

That's why deer have a hunting season.

--------------------------------------------------------------
13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

And geese are hunted too, I still don't think you should run them over.

eesh Wrote:
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> The plane crash was just a freak accident,

Like these:

http://wcco.com/local/plane.crash.geese.2.695566.html


http://articles.latimes.com/1996-01-12/news/mn-23924_1_runway-geese

3 December 1993. A Cessna 550 struck a flock of geese during initial climb out of DuPage County Airport (IL). Pilot heard a loud bang and aircraft yawed to left and right. Instruments showed loss of power to #2 engine and a substantial fuel leak on the left side. An emergency was declared and the aircraft landed at Midway Airport. Cost to repair 2 engines was $800,000 and time out of service was about 3 months.

3 June 1995. An Air France Concorde, at about 10 feet AGL while landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (NY), ingested 1 or 2 Canada geese into the #3 engine. The engine suffered an uncontained failure. Shrapnel from the #3 engine destroyed the #4 engine and cut several hydraulic lines and control cables. The pilot was able to land the plane safely but the runway was closed for several hours. Damage to the Concorde was estimated at over $7 million. The French Aviation Authority sued the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and eventually settled out of court for $5.3 million.

9 January 1998. While climbing through 3,000 feet, following takeoff from Houston Intercontinental Airport (TX), a Boeing-727 struck a flock of snow geese with 3-5 birds ingested into 1 engine. The engine lost all power and was destroyed. The radome was torn from aircraft and leading edges of both wings were damaged. The pitot tube for first officer was torn off. Intense vibration was experienced in airframe and noise level in cockpit increased to point that communication among crewmembers became difficult. An emergency was declared. The flight returned safely to Houston with major damage to aircraft.

04 September 2003. A Fokker 100 struck a flock of at least 5 Canada geese over runway shortly after takeoff at LaGuardia Airport (NY), ingesting 1 or 2 geese into #2 engine. Engine vibration occurred. Pilot was unable to shut engine down with the fuel cutoff lever so fire handle was pulled and engine finally shut down, but vibration continued. The flight was diverted to nearby JFK International Airport where a landing was made. The NTSB found a 20- by 36-inch wide depression on right side of nose behind radome. Maximum depth was 4 inches. Impact marks on right wing. A fan blade separated from the disk and penetrated the fuselage. Several fan blades were deformed. Holes were found in the engine cowling. Remains were recovered and identified by Wildlife Services.

3 August 2006. A Cessna Citation 560 departing a General Aviation airport in Indiana hit Canada geese on the take-off run. Left engine ingested birds causing an uncontained failure. Aircraft went off the runway during the aborted takeoff. Top cowling and fan were replaced. ID by the Smithsonian, Division of Birds. Aircraft was out of service for 13 days and costs were estimated at $750,000.

23 October 2007. A Piper 44 flying at 3,400 feet AGL disappeared during a night training flight from Minneapolis, MN to Grand Forks, ND. The instructor and student pilot did not report any difficulties or anomalies prior to the accident. Wreckage was found 36 hours later, partially submerged upside down in a bog. The NTSB sent part of a wing with suspected bird remains inside to the Smithsonian. Remains identified as Canada goose. The damage that crippled the aircraft was to the left horizontal stabilator. NTSB investigated. Two fatalities.

27 November 2007. A CRJ-200 descending into Memphis International Airport (TN) encountered a flock of large birds, sustaining ingestion into both engines, a cracked nose panel, damage to the right wing root and left horizontal stabilizer, and left engine anti-ice cowling. Bird remains were subsequently identified as snow geese. Maintenance made temporary repairs before aircraft could be flown for more permanent repairs.

Whatever you say PIKA. I hope they all shit in your backyard.

eesh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Whatever you say PIKA. I hope they all shit in
> your backyard.

as long as when they are done, they down a jet with you in it.

The geese have wings and obviously flew there to begin with. They certainly can fly away at any time. They fly south to South America and back to Canada and the US all on their own, I'm quite certain they can cross the parkway on their own if necessary. From what I've read, the geese were just sitting on the side of the road. Who's to say they didn't want to be there? Why did this guy feel it was necessary to cross them across both the north and southbound lanes when they weren't even in the road to begin with?

I wonder if some of the people who support this nut job would change their tune if they were stopped on a MAJOR highway 6-8 lanes wide by this guy only to be rear-ended by another unsuspecting vehicle at 55 MPH?

I'd question this guy's sanity as well.

PIKA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> eesh Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Only a completely asshole douchebag would run
> over
> > geese.
> >
> > Squirrels and rabbits are sometimes difficult
> to
> > avoid, but you can see geese from a mile away.
>
> Geese are responsible for human death and disease.
> They are a nuisance species and should be put
> down at every available opportunity.


So are many criminals but we house them comfortably for life

for the idiot that called the good samaratin a douche bag same back to you I just hope you run over a goose with a fedreal DNR cop around. you will make a trip to federal court have you car impounded and fined and if you were a hunter you would have you hunting lisence revolked. It a fereal law that has been tested about killing migratory water fowl

The police should have shot the ducks first, declared them a security risk after they were dead, planted a piece at the scene, then justified their actions by saying the ducks were on crystal meth and the cops' lives were in danger.

Re: Man Helping Ducks Cross Street Gets A Ticket new
Posted by: Officer Friendly ()
Date: August 03, 2009 08:23PM


The police should have shot the ducks first, declared them a security risk after they were dead, planted a piece at the scene, then justified their actions by saying the ducks were on crystal meth and the cops' lives were in danger.


Or shoot the people in the cars, and the geese, plant the gun on the biggest goose then declare the goose to be a student at Westfield High

---------------------------------------------------
W.W.S.D. what would Scooby Doo

Just saw this story on Fox 5 News. The guy is whacko. I'm glad he got a ticket. Too bad I wasn't there with my 12 gauge, I would have pulled over and shot those birds.

realistic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The geese have wings and obviously flew there to
> begin with. They certainly can fly away at any
> time. They fly south to South America and back to
> Canada and the US all on their own, I'm quite
> certain they can cross the parkway on their own if
> necessary. From what I've read, the geese were
> just sitting on the side of the road. Who's to
> say they didn't want to be there? Why did this
> guy feel it was necessary to cross them across
> both the north and southbound lanes when they
> weren't even in the road to begin with?
>
> I wonder if some of the people who support this
> nut job would change their tune if they were
> stopped on a MAJOR highway 6-8 lanes wide by this
> guy only to be rear-ended by another unsuspecting
> vehicle at 55 MPH?
>
> I'd question this guy's sanity as well.


I've seen all kinds of dead animals on the side of the road. I've never seen a dead goose.

I see birds in the middle of the road, chomping on some other dead animal, and I never have to slow down, because they always fly away before I could possibly hit them.

I know it's hard for some tards, but they can FLY.

goose hunter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> for the idiot that called the good samaratin a
> douche bag same back to you I just hope you run
> over a goose with a fedreal DNR cop around. you
> will make a trip to federal court have you car
> impounded and fined and if you were a hunter you
> would have you hunting lisence revolked. It a
> fereal law that has been tested about killing
> migratory water fowl


What's a fereal law? ;)

But seriously, have you EVER seen a dead goose laying on the road?

I remember back when Evan's Farm was still Evan's Farm. Every once in a while a gaggle of geese would cross all four lanes of 123, and EVERY TIME, people stopped to let them cross. I've never seen anyone hit a goose, and I've never seen a goose carcass on the side of the road.

You'd have to be a really inattentive driver with really poor eyesight to hit one. Oh wait, they can fly, can't they? You'd have to really TRY to hit one.

The cop was correct in ticketing this asswad. He should have also been charged with Reckless Endangerment, Interfering with the free flow of traffic, illegal parking, and attempting to kill himself.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/2009 11:35PM by Thurston Moore.

even the little goslings? im pretty sure you would either hit the brakes or swerve out of the way for a family of geese. but that's true i have never seen a dead goose or duck in the road.

Goose Call
A Fairfax judge makes the right decision in the case of 11 geese and a well-intentioned motorist.


Tuesday, August 4, 2009

WHAT'S GOOD for the goose might not be good for Fairfax drivers.

The actions of one Fairfax County driver have ruffled some feathers. When Jozsef Vamosi stopped to help a gaggle of geese cross the Fairfax County Parkway, he found himself ticketed for jaywalking. On June 18, Mr. Vamosi sighted three large geese and eight smaller ones attempting to cross four lanes of fast-moving traffic. In a move reminiscent of the children's classic "Make Way for Ducklings," he pulled over, got out of his car and waved the geese across, standing in the path of traffic and shouting "Move, move, move." The geese made it across unscathed, but Mr. Vamosi attracted the attention of a Fairfax police officer, who repeatedly ordered him out of the road and concluded by handing him a ticket.

On Monday, District Court Judge Thomas E. Gallahue acknowledged that it was difficult to figure out the right thing to do in such a situation. You can't help cheering for someone who takes the initiative to save a family of geese from a terrible fate. Besides, Canada geese are protected by federal law, and killing them is illegal. And had he struck the geese with his car, Mr. Vamosi might have brought traffic to a screeching halt and even caused an accident.

On the other hand, Officer Kevin J. Rusin's response was hardly unwarranted. Mr. Vamosi stopped his car on a busy parkway at a busy time of the morning, causing many drivers to slam on their brakes. This, too, could have caused a terrible accident. And Virginia law prohibits "carelessly or maliciously" interfering with the passage of vehicles, an action that carries with it a fine of up to $250.

No doubt weighing all these factors, Judge Gallahue said he would dismiss the case as long as Mr. Vamosi remained on good behavior for the next six months. He wisely noted that "I think we have to be careful when we do a thing we think is for the greater good that the consequence isn't more dangerous." And it's worth recalling that before Mr. and Mrs. Mallard completed their dangerous (if fictional) journey with little Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack, Officer Michael had arranged for the cooperation of the police department.

realistic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The geese have wings and obviously flew there to
> begin with. They certainly can fly away at any
> time. They fly south to South America and back to
> Canada and the US all on their own, I'm quite
> certain they can cross the parkway on their own if
> necessary. From what I've read, the geese were
> just sitting on the side of the road. Who's to
> say they didn't want to be there? Why did this
> guy feel it was necessary to cross them across
> both the north and southbound lanes when they
> weren't even in the road to begin with?
>
> I wonder if some of the people who support this
> nut job would change their tune if they were
> stopped on a MAJOR highway 6-8 lanes wide by this
> guy only to be rear-ended by another unsuspecting
> vehicle at 55 MPH?
>
> I'd question this guy's sanity as well.


Geese molt around June-July and lose all their flight feathers, making them completely flightless for 4-6 weeks. The geese were molting about the time Mr. Vamosi decided to play crossing guard.

I still don't think this justifies stopping traffic on a major highway, putting motorists at risk.

I hate to say it, but sounds to me like the cop was a real jerk!

Didn't realize how many morons there are around till I read this blog. Police Officer was a total putz. Giving a good samaritan a ticket for trying to help wildlife cross a road. He should have got an award, not a ticket. In some states, the police escort ducks and geese to safety.

-------------------------------------------------------
> The Helping Hand That Led Geese Safely Across Road
> Now Holds Ticket
>
>
> By Tom Jackman
> Washington Post Staff Writer
> Monday, August 3, 2009
>
> "Make Way for Ducklings"?
>
> Not if the Fairfax County police are around.
>
> The popular children's book, about a family of
> ducks escorted across a busy street by a Boston
> police officer, apparently is not on the reading
> list in Fairfax. When Jozsef Vamosi, 60, tried to
> help a family of Canada geese cross the Fairfax
> County Parkway, he was given a ticket by a Fairfax
> officer -- for jaywalking.
>
> The geese guardian, who lives in Fairfax, is
> taking his case to court. His trial is set for
> 9:30 Monday morning in Fairfax General District
> Court.
>
> "I don't feel guilty," said Vamosi, a home
> remodeling contractor who said he has been
> involved in rescuing both people and animals in
> the past. "My instinct is you try to do something
> good. We are only humans. I can sleep."
>
> Fairfax police said they couldn't discuss a
> pending case and acknowledged that motorists in
> such situations have good intentions. But they
> said the safety of other motorists is also a
> concern and is a factor officers consider when
> deciding whether to issue a summons.
>
> "We can appreciate the citizens' response and
> compassion for wildlife," Officer Don Gotthardt
> said. "But a more prudent response would be to
> pull off the road and use their cellphone. Call
> the police, and have them respond."
>
> Vamosi said there was no time to wait, as about a
> dozen geese seemed ready to make their way across
> the four lanes of traffic on the parkway.
> Gotthardt said police are very responsive to
> potential traffic hazards on a major roadway and
> typically arrive quickly.
>
> The episode unfolded in Reston on June 18, a
> Thursday, about 9:30 a.m., Vamosi said. Vamosi was
> driving north on the parkway approaching the
> Dulles Toll Road when he spotted several smaller
> geese edging toward the pavement, a full gaggle
> behind them.
>
> "They were walking like gentlemen," Vamosi said,
> upright and confident. "Like the Beatles on 'Abbey
> Road.' "
>
> Vamosi said he pulled his car to the left lane,
> got out and stood in the right lane. "I showed
> them my hand," Vamosi said, "and said, 'Move,
> move, move!' " Vamosi said he grew up in the
> countryside of Hungary and felt he knew how to
> approach the animals without spooking them.
>
> The three larger and eight smaller geese waddled
> to the parkway's wide median, mission halfway
> accomplished. Vamosi then stepped into the
> southbound lanes, held up his hands to signal
> approaching cars, and the cars stopped, he said.
> Again he urged the feathered pedestrians to make
> haste. They did, ducked under a guardrail and
> continued on their way, Vamosi said.
>
>
> "Everything came out fantastic," Vamosi said. Then
> an officer sped to the scene.
>
> "He jumped out the car, yelling at me," Vamosi
> said of the officer, identified in court records
> as Kevin J. Rusin. Vamosi said that he asked the
> officer if he was there to help and that Rusin
> responded by questioning Vamosi's sanity. The
> officer said Vamosi's priorities were misplaced on
> a busy highway, Vamosi said. Vamosi added that he
> had previously helped a Fairfax officer chase some
> geese off Interstate 395 and was not ticketed.
>
> He said Rusin instructed him to sit in his car and
> eventually gave him the jaywalking summons. Vamosi
> said he told the officer that he would fight the
> ticket. "And if I had the chance, I'd do it
> again," he said. "That's the way I'm raised."
>
> In Massachusetts, "Make Way for Ducklings" is the
> state's official children's book, and statues of
> the ducklings stand in Boston's Public Garden.
>
> In Virginia, the law states that "pedestrians
> shall not carelessly or maliciously interfere with
> the orderly passage of vehicles." There is no jail
> time for violating the law, only a fine of as much
> as $250.

Steve Kirk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Didn't realize how many morons there are around
> till I read this blog. Police Officer was a total
> putz. Giving a good samaritan a ticket for trying
> to help wildlife cross a road. He should have got
> an award, not a ticket. In some states, the police
> escort ducks and geese to safety.
>

This isn't a blog.

The "good samaritan" endangered himself and other motorists.

The cop was correct in issuing him a ticket.

In the future, don't just hit reply, type in some gibberish and leave the entire original comment below your drivel. We don't need to see the entire 200 line original comment with leading >'s below your 2 line comment.

Steve Kirk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Didn't realize how many morons there are around
> till I read this blog. Police Officer was a total
> putz. Giving a good samaritan a ticket for trying
> to help wildlife cross a road. He should have got
> an award, not a ticket. In some states, the police
> escort ducks and geese to safety.

Which states can afford to hire police officers to escort ducks and geese to safety?

I'm serious because I don't know of any state that can afford dedicate even one police officer as the Duck/Goose Protector in these economic times.

RestonLass Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Which states can afford to hire police officers to
> escort ducks and geese to safety?
>
> I'm serious because I don't know of any state that
> can afford dedicate even one police officer as the
> Duck/Goose Protector in these economic times.


Maybe Alaska? I mean, just look at the type of leadership they have up there. Plus, they get all that money from the oil companies that they can probably afford to assign an officer to each individual duck.

just look...
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Looks like that monkey bitch Michelle Ogorilla...

i believe the driver did the right thing and shoud not have to pay a tickets. i love ducks, geese and all animals and gods creatures

5/19, 4:30pm southbound Stringfellow Rd. just south of Fair Lakes pkwy, a family of Canadian geese started across the road. FCPD cruiser #3071 paused, then ignored it and sped on through. Not much he could do, couldn't rush the geese after all. No sense in blocking traffic himself or using his lights, he must have thought. Would have taken a couple of minutes anyway. Looks like he had somewhere to go, though no lights so I guess he wasn't on a call; he kept on towards New Braddock Rd. and turned into the neighborhood at Singletons Way.

@Will - cool story, bro
@mary - wish you would love reading thread dates as well LoLz

pic unrelated
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