"Citizen traffic cop" steps in when light fails, gets ticketed by real So. Calif. cops

(CBS/KCBS) SOUTH PASADENA, Calif. - When a major traffic light went out on a recent Thursday morning in South Pasadena, Calif., Alan Ehrlich took matters into his own hands, directing traffic.

"I grabbed a bright orange shirt that I have and a couple of orange safety flags. I took it upon myself to help get motorists through that intersection faster," said Ehrlich.

For his trouble, Erlich got a ticket.

Before Ehrlich stepped in, traffic was backed up for more than a mile and it took more than 30 minutes to get through the busy intersection, according to CBS station KCBS.

Ehrlich said the Sept. 8 incident wasn't the first and that the light goes out regularly.

"It was just kind of chaos of cars . . . there were stop signs up. But people were challenging each other to get through the intersection," said Richard Gerrish who works at an office located at the intersection.

Gerrish said Ehrlich cleared up the mess in 10 minutes. After 15 minutes, South Pasadena police say they finally received a call about their newest traffic officer, KCBS reported.

Police responded to the scene and told Ehrlich to stop and issued him a ticket, but never stepped in to direct traffic themselves.

"I don't know if this ticket is $50 or $400 dollars. It's a small price to pay for the greater good," Ehrlich said.

According to KCBS, South Pasadena Police Chief Joe Payne said he did not have the man power needed to staff officers at the intersection and that it is safer to let traffic back up.

That's not what Alan Erlich thinks.

"We have limited resources . . . we need to prioritize them. One of the major intersections out at rush hour in our city should be a priority," said the self-appointed traffic cop.

He plans to address the matter at an upcoming city council meeting. Police and the city of South Pasadena say they currently have no plans to change any procedures.