Officer Torres took the lead, demanding our ID’s. We handed them over, confused as to what we were even in trouble for. Without any explanation, he presented us with a question. 'Alright, who’s going to take one for the team?' I quickly explained that I didn’t understand what this was in regards to. He barked his question again and I repeated my answer. Finally, he said, 'If I'd kept my car at normal speed coming down the road, I would've hit you. You’re a disruption! Now which one of you is going to take one for the team?' We huddled up and debated. Bystanders snapped photos on their iPhones. Should Johanna do it? She’s a consultant and has flexible hours. No, no, that seemed unfair. A bad feeling took over — a feeling I hadn’t felt since my friends were busted for fake ID’s in 2005. Torres grew impatient and interrupted our philosophical debate: 'That’s enough! All of you are getting summoned to criminal court and will potentially face up to six months of probation! If you don’t show up, there will be a warrant out for your arrest.' A biker whizzed by, facing the opposite direction of traffic; pot smoke wafted from the NYU dorms above us and into the night sky. I finally mustered up the courage to ask if he was aware of how much jaywalking actually took place in New York City. 'Yes,' he replied gruffly, 'but I have a quota to fill and you three are going to fill it.' 'But I pay my taxes!' I cried out. He rolled his eyes and ran back to the police car with our ID’s. The cops whispered amongst themselves for a few minutes and Torres returned. His eyes narrowed and he handed back our ID’s. 'Here’s the deal,' he said, 'I don’t want to see your faces again for the next week. If I see you messing up again, you are in for it. And if you give me any lip, I will cuff you and take you down to the station. Understood?' We nodded. And off they went.