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Having bottles thrown at you while you are cycling.

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Having bottles thrown at you while you are cycling.

Old 05-05-11, 08:00 AM
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Originally Posted by smasha
....there's a good chance i'll get video of the license plate....
I envy you on that aspect, especially when NZ license plates and numbers are practically the size of a roadside billboard.
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Old 05-05-11, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Romans8:28
IMO (based on extensive experience)........

Cops could care less about what happens to road cyclists and they won't do a thing to actually help you or address your complaint. I challenge one person at this forum to share an example of a LEO actually taking the bull by the horns and offering actual meaningful, fruitful assistance
Done. I had a car make an illegal right turn forcing me over 2 lanes. I yelled somethgin obscene at him, One of the motor officers working some problem across the street looked up in time to see the end of things and took off after the guy.

Just to put things in context, during about the same timeframe I was riding in the Sepulveda Flood Control basin and came across a recently stripped and abandondend (as in likely stolen) car. It took half an hour to even get through on the phone and the police were not interested.

Expecting police to invest hours on a he said she said issue where there are no major injuries or damage is totally unrealistic, yet this seems to be what many on this board expect for any cycle related incident.
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Old 05-05-11, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by dynodonn
Looks like another zombie thread has risen again, along with some names that I haven't seen in quite some time.
Resurrecting a "zombie thread" particularly if it isn't too old, is better than starting up a whole new thread on the topic.
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Old 05-05-11, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by davehbuffalo
Truth
It shouldn't work that way, but sadly it does.
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Old 05-05-11, 12:03 PM
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If I ever caught anyone throwing a glass bottle or hard object at me, they better hope I never catch up to them. First thing I would do is give them a little spray of this in their open window at the light https://www.redhotpepperspray.com/fox...per-spray.html (keep a 2oz can in my bike bag) and then they wont be going anywhere for a while. I might stick around after calling the cops depending on the damage done.

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Old 05-05-11, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by fuji86
I'm fortunate, never had a thing thrown at me. I would more than likely call the police and report them as erratic driving behavior, that there was assault & battery, stating that I believe that they were intoxicated as weaving and aggressive driving behavior. Provide license plate #, color, make & model and provide my location & direction the vehicle was headed. Call 911, that way it gets recorded and they have to at least answer to that. Some police squad cars are actually very close by, I figure for a dui bust they'll have fun with that one. I'll be more than happy to meet an officer or ride to where they pull over the driver & passengers, even give my cell phone number to press charges on the assault & battery.
I'd be leery of making a claim of DUI against a driver as if the LEOs do investigate and find that the driver isn't intoxicated they might just let the driver go without any kind of warning. It'd be better IMHO to collect the bottle/can and report the driver to the LEOs.
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Old 05-05-11, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Gharp23
If I ever caught anyone throwing a glass bottle or hard object at me, they better hope I never catch up to them. First thing I would do is give them a little spray of this in their open window at the light https://www.redhotpepperspray.com/fox...per-spray.html (keep a 2oz can in my bike bag) and then they wont be going anywhere for a while. I might stick around after calling the cops depending on the damage done.
Just be careful doing that as you might find yourself on the receiving end of assault charges yourself. As in most areas throwing a projectile at/into a car is a crime. And that can include a stream of water from a waterbottle or pepper spray.
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Old 05-05-11, 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy
Just be careful doing that as you might find yourself on the receiving end of assault charges yourself. As in most areas throwing a projectile at/into a car is a crime. And that can include a stream of water from a waterbottle or pepper spray.
Hmm... good point. I've thought about that as well. Depending on the circumstances and how badly I'm injured, I would take my decisions from there. That would probably be a last resort and I would probably get them out of the car before I ever used it to keep me in the clear. I mostly keep it on my bike in case someone were to get out and try to assault me(i've been jumped by a group of 4 people before), oh.. and dogs wanting to kill me.

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Old 05-05-11, 12:50 PM
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I now do most of my riding with a helmet camera mounted to my bike, I did sent one video to police of a car buzzing me at 35 mph and less than 12" while thay could not do anything about that they did say having video like that is good if someone throws something and on video then assult can be charged and thet can look into it.
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Old 05-05-11, 01:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy
I'd be leery of making a claim of DUI against a driver as if the LEOs do investigate and find that the driver isn't intoxicated they might just let the driver go without any kind of warning. It'd be better IMHO to collect the bottle/can and report the driver to the LEOs.
AS long as they were behaving in a way that makes the suspicion reasonable I don't see an issue. Possible DUI is one that at least the CHP will respond to, as long as you have enough info that they can identify to possible drunk. I know because one almost took me out on hte interchange where the 14 splits off the 5 (in my car, not my bike, those are freeways). About 4 miles farther on was a CHP weigh station/ truck inspection area. There were 2 CHP mechanics there. They called it in, I went on my way. About 5 minutes later a CHP car blew past me (I was doing a bit over 70) like I was standing still. A few miles later they had the car pulled over.

A drunk driver is one they can win. Any report is reasonable cause to oull the car over and if the driver is over the limit it nothing else matters, they have him.
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Old 05-05-11, 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Keith99
AS long as they were behaving in a way that makes the suspicion reasonable I don't see an issue. Possible DUI is one that at least the CHP will respond to, as long as you have enough info that they can identify to possible drunk. I know because one almost took me out on hte interchange where the 14 splits off the 5 (in my car, not my bike, those are freeways). About 4 miles farther on was a CHP weigh station/ truck inspection area. There were 2 CHP mechanics there. They called it in, I went on my way. About 5 minutes later a CHP car blew past me (I was doing a bit over 70) like I was standing still. A few miles later they had the car pulled over.

A drunk driver is one they can win. Any report is reasonable cause to pull the car over and if the driver is over the limit it nothing else matters, they have him.
Okay, look at it this way than. Some bloody cager throws a bottle or can at you. You call 911 and report a "drunk driver." They take your name, number and address. They make a stop, they find out that the driver isn't drunk. Now that they have "your" information they can locate you and charge "you" with having filed a false police report.

Whereas if one were to stop and "secure" the bottle/can and call 911 the police would be able to take custody of the evidence and using the tag information, description of the car, fingerprints, and DNA and locate driver/owner of the car and file the appropriate charges. Particularly if it's coupled video evidence of the object having come from a particular car.

Even if one doesn't leave their name and address most if not all calls to either the 911 or non-emergency number is recorded these days, as well as one's number is recorded whether the caller "gives" it to the operator or not.

So, yes call 911 and report that someone just threw a bottle or can, or what have you at you. "Secure" said object if you can do so safely and wait for the police to show up and take custody of the object and give them the tag number, and description of the car and let them couple the evidence of fingerprints and DNA with your statement, and/or video tape charge the driver or passenger with assault with a deadly weapon.

Last edited by Digital_Cowboy; 05-05-11 at 03:20 PM.
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Old 05-05-11, 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Maxximum
Anyone ever have bottles, or other objects thrown at you by passengers in cars and trucks while you are cycling legally, and obeying all the traffic laws?

How do you react? Can you report them when you get the plate? Does it even work? Do cops even care?
I haven't experienced that, yet.
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Old 05-05-11, 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Romans8:28
IMO (based on extensive experience)........

Cops could care less about what happens to road cyclists and they won't do a thing to actually help you or address your complaint. I challenge one person at this forum to share an example of a LEO actually taking the bull by the horns and offering actual meaningful, fruitful assistance
I totally agree with this sentiment.

Back on 04/26/2011, I was hit by a cyclist who was driving at the time. As is typical with motorists, she drifted to the right, causing me to crash. I had been 'taking the lane' before I rode the shoulder(stupid move; I should have continued to 'take the lane') Four officers responded to the call that went out. I thought 'So I have to get hit by an errant n' ignorant motorist, in order for the police to give a hoot.'.

If a motorist is not seen by police being irresponsible towards/around cyclists, they don't care about any report made by a cyclist. But if it is the other way around, where a motorist is calling about a cyclist, the police will give a hoot.

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Old 05-05-11, 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Chris516
I totally agree with this sentiment.

Back on 04/26/2011, I was hit by a cyclist who was driving at the time. As is typical with motorists, she drifted to the right, causing me to crash. I had been 'taking the lane' before I rode the shoulder(stupid move; I should have continued to 'take the lane') Four officers responded to the call that went out. I thought 'So I have to get hit by an errant n' ignorant motorist, in order for the police to give a hoot.'.

If a motorist is not seen by police being irresponsible towards/around cyclists, they don't care about any report made by a cyclist. But if it is the other way around, where a motorist is calling about a cyclist, the police will give a hoot.
Yeah, as we've said before the sad thing is that unless the victim is a LEO, or they doing something as outrageous as the "good doctor" from LA who made the "mistake" of not just once but twice saying that he wanted to "teach cyclists a lesson." With one of them being recorded by the 911 operator. Nothing, or less than nothing will be done about it.
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Old 05-05-11, 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Keith99
Expecting police to invest hours on a he said she said issue where there are no major injuries or damage is totally unrealistic, yet this seems to be what many on this board expect for any cycle related incident.
At first, yes. But when a motorist reports a reckless driver, the police do something about it. The same courtesy should be given to cyclists who make a report about a bad driver.
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Old 05-06-11, 02:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy
I'd be leery of making a claim of DUI against a driver as if the LEOs do investigate and find that the driver isn't intoxicated they might just let the driver go without any kind of warning. It'd be better IMHO to collect the bottle/can and report the driver to the LEOs.
If it's a Heineken, Budweiser or Corona bottle who's making anything up ? Most of what I miss in the gutter as broken glass is a green tint. That tells me Heineken is the most likely beer bottle thrown out a moving car. Then there was the Pabst cans that I had to navigate too. Reporting aggressive behavior by motorists like this, usually involves drinking, and even if they don't blow over the legal limit, it's an open container violation. The LEO's pull them over and smell alcohol, that's not a good thing for the driver or passengers. It's a win for the cyclist if the police do respond and at least delay the motorist.
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Old 05-06-11, 02:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Chris516
At first, yes. But when a motorist reports a reckless driver, the police do something about it. The same courtesy should be given to cyclists who make a report about a bad driver.
Yep, besides, when you make the call, what's the difference whether you're another motorist, cyclist, even a pedestrian. If the police officer actually sees it, it's even more heinous if the motorist endangers a cyclist or pedestrian.
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Old 05-06-11, 04:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy
Okay, look at it this way than. Some bloody cager throws a bottle or can at you. You call 911 and report a "drunk driver." They take your name, number and address. They make a stop, they find out that the driver isn't drunk. Now that they have "your" information they can locate you and charge "you" with having filed a false police report.

Whereas if one were to stop and "secure" the bottle/can and call 911 the police would be able to take custody of the evidence and using the tag information, description of the car, fingerprints, and DNA and locate driver/owner of the car and file the appropriate charges. Particularly if it's coupled video evidence of the object having come from a particular car.
1 - unless there's a dead body, a seriously injured body, or a sexually assaulted body - DON'T expect any police force in the world to even think about DNA.

2 - same as above, but add thefts of obscene values (the amount varies between jurisdictions and other factors) before fingerprints are considered. yes, high value property crime gets more attention and police resources than violent crime that doesn't result in serious injury or death.

3 - don't worry about "filing a false report". you're giving information on what you believe is probable based on what you witnessed. keep it reasonable and it's not a false report. a beer bottle or "suspicious driving" means that you have reason to advise the police dispatcher that you "think" or "suspect" they've been drinking. if someone is aggressive towards you and you see something in their hand it "may have been a gun, it was dark". this is NOT falsifying a report, as long as it's rooted in reality and your legitimate concerns.
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Old 05-06-11, 07:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Romans8:28
IMO (based on extensive experience)........

Cops could care less about what happens to road cyclists and they won't do a thing to actually help you or address your complaint. I challenge one person at this forum to share an example of a LEO actually taking the bull by the horns and offering actual meaningful, fruitful assistance
OK I realize that this was not an issue of thrown bottle or can... but I was hit by a car that had stopped at a stop sign and then proceeded ahead just as I entered the intersection. The cop issued the motorist a failing to yield right of way ticket, AND came to visit me in the hospital.

This happened some 29 years ago.
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Old 05-06-11, 09:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Romans8:28
Cops could care less about what happens to road cyclists and they won't do a thing to actually help you or address your complaint. I challenge one person at this forum to share an example of a LEO actually taking the bull by the horns and offering actual meaningful, fruitful assistance
I was shot with a paintball gun while I was riding my bike. It hit my back through my fairly thick shirt and still drew blood.

I was huffing it up a hill and was too winded to give chase and didn't get a license plate, but I called the police and they took it very seriously. They took my description, offered to send a car out to photograph my wound (but I declined) and did immediately a cars out to the neighborhood to look for cars matching the description of what I reported. They didn't find the guy, but they did try.

(I guess it wasn't actually fruitful, but that wasn't due to any failings on their part. Had I gotten a license plate, things would probably have been different.)
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Old 05-06-11, 09:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Chris516
Back on 04/26/2011, I was hit by a cyclist who was driving at the time. As is typical with motorists, she drifted to the right, causing me to crash. I had been 'taking the lane' before I rode the shoulder(stupid move; I should have continued to 'take the lane') Four officers responded to the call that went out. I thought 'So I have to get hit by an errant n' ignorant motorist, in order for the police to give a hoot.'.
Wouldn't this be an example of the police actually "offering actual meaningful, fruitful assistance" ?
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Old 05-06-11, 01:36 PM
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i've had jamba juice thrown at me
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Old 05-06-11, 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Rex G
I was hit by a nearly-full can of Dr Pepper, which struck the bill of my cap, fortunately, while riding on the grass well off the pavement, by a farm-to-market road in SE Texas. (Why no helmet? This was the 1970's, and I did not yet know cycling helmets existed.) I did not bother reporting it, because the speeding vehicle was too far away for me to see a plate or even exact model by the time I recovered enough to take a look.

Objects thrown from vehicles that cause injury are prosecuted around here. Minor injuries merit a Class A misdemeanor, which is up to one year in jail, plus fine. If a bone is broken, or other serious injury occurs, it is a felony. Yelling a statement that indicates a hate crime will bump it up one degree. A thrown cookie, that left a welt on a pedestrian, resulted in a third-degree felony that way, a while back, in a Houston PD case, because the bad guy yelled an anti-gay statement. Bicyclists are not a "protected" category, so there is no upgrading of the charge simply because the victim is riding a bike.

If I managed to catch a motorist or passenger who had thrown an object at a cyclist, I would treat it like any other assault or attempted assault. I would have to review the case with the D.A.'s office, of course, but I do not anticipate any lack of cooperation.
I had a bottle thrown at me by some kids that yelled "***!" as they went by. Funny thing is, they got stopped by the light at the next intersection, and traffic was too heavy on the cross street for them to run the light - so as I cruised up I got to say "I'm in better shape at 40 than you are at 20, and I'm the ***?!"
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Old 05-06-11, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by dougmc
Wouldn't this be an example of the police actually "offering actual meaningful, fruitful assistance" ?
Of course not, they did not actually catch anyone!

Decades ago, well before I started cycling I was rearended as I was making a right turn, hit and run the driver never slowed down. I actually recovered very quickly and took off after the car, but all I knew was it was yellow. About a half mile down the (major) road I had been going down I found a yellow car. Got the plates, called it in and the police investigated. No damage to the car, driver surprised. Simple answer is I was still too slow and it was not the right yellow car. Done, but some here would say the police wrote them off.

Honestly I would not be surprised f some of the people on this board do get written off by the police. Attitude makes a difference, with teh police and everyone else. If they see they are dealing with someone who is a jerk and will never be satisfied (and possibly a poor witness) then why try?

A few years ago someone called the police because we had a camper parked in front of the house. They claimed someone was living in it. Complete lie, we had just returned from a vacation and were slowly unloading it. We were cordial, even inviting the officers dispached to take a look if they desired. They declined. WE ahd been very cordial. The last thing the lead officer said was that if the guy had done things 'right' he would have called parking enforcement and that we chould watch for chalk marks on hte tires, in case he got it right on his second try. If we had been jerks he would not have said that, if we had been major jerks he might have alerted parking enforcement himself.

In an ironic twist the 'neighbor' who did this tried to sell his house a couple of years later. He had unrealistic expectations. He could have sold near the peak of the market, but instead kept having unrealistic expectations and rode the houses value on down through the downturn. Finally he rented it out to tenants who trashed it and left in the middle of the night. A cop eventually bought it at rock bottom prices and fixed it up.
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Old 05-06-11, 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Keith99
Of course not, they did not actually catch anyone!
Was it a hit and run? He wasn't entirely clear, but since he knew the driver was a cyclist, I suspect not. (Unless there was a bike on the back of her car and he knew from that?)

Either way, the police probably took a report, offered medical attention if needed, may have made at least a token effort to find the driver if it was a hit and run ...
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