The Stupid Motorist Law
During most of the year rain and thunderstorms are rare in Tucson until the monsoon season hits in July (the average is July 3rd) and continues though September. If you haven't experienced one, the monsoon storms are so intense they often force motorists to park along the shoulders, hazard lights blinking, until the storm passes which usually isn't very long (read my previous blog - Monster Monsoon).
The thing that makes them so dangerous is when the washes fill with rushing water. When this occurs local officials place barricades in front of the rivers to prevent drivers from trying to cross the stream. Drivers are trusted to use common sense and not try to cross the heavily flooded roads that may not yet be blocked off yet.
For those drivers who decide to risk trying to cross the official barriers and end up stranded in the stream, well, they will face the "The Stupid Motorist Law" (section 28-910 of the Arizona Revised Statutes). This law holds the drivers financially responsible for their rescue.
And yes, people do try and cross the rapids and almost always end up on the local news, as the filming crew is more than happy to film the rescue. It's not a very classy way to get your 15 minutes of fame.
Oh, and thank you to my handsome hubby Jeff for the pic.
