'Don't you ever cross a street again without looking both ways'

Good example. I think in this case you could go either way. So what's different about this and the more general, less specific to a given instance "Don't cross the street without..."? As I roll them around in my mouth, I feel we could say either of "Never cross a/the street..." But only "Don't cross the street without...". Somehow "Don't cross a street without..." doesn't sound right to me.