PlanoFuji

My comment wasn't rude, sorry you read it that way. You made a statement that indicated I had said a cyclist in the OP situation shouldn't do anything--you were wrong and I corrected you. That simple.

-=(8)=-

I was expecting to see an "I punched them right in the face" type story.
Upon pondering for a few moments, I think this is a decent way to let a selfish a-hole
know they should reconsider their actions next time. Ive had people cut me off and wave
and act generally contrite about it. All is cool, no harm, no foul. When someone yells, the
rules change. I think this was a cool and somewhat passive way to let a jerk know there
could be repercussions.

ZmanKC

Seems rude to me.

corvuscorvax

ftfy.

turbo1889

Apparently some people consider responsibility and repercussions for criminal hostility towards others in a public place, even just very mild verbal or written warning, to be "creepy".

Kind of reminds me of some knuckle head politician b*tch I saw on TV once say that telling a child "No" was a form of verbal child abuse ~ obviously the dumb dame had never had a kid. To me some of those on this thread who seem to think that telling an abusive and vicious driver with the selfish mentality of a 2-year old the equivalent of "No" is somehow wrong and creepy. Get real man, get real.

I-Like-To-Bike

Apparantly to you, a woman yelling "Get off the road," once with no other negative action is an abusive and vicious driver with the selfish mentality of a 2-year old. Talk about creepy and getting real.

CB HI

So in your mind, you think asking a person to behave like an adult and not harass others is "childish "getting even" activities".

You believe that I should look up this persons address and knock on their door, or maybe you believe I should confront them at a soccer field in front of everyone, rather than a simple e-mail request.

And some here are calling me the creepy stalker?

turbo1889

From my experience with multiples of such individuals (both sexes), my answer is ~ Yes, I do consider them as such. They just aren't quite to the point of taking direct physical action against you yet, that's the next step after the verbal, and the line between the two steps of anger escalation between the verbal and the physical with an angry childish brat throwing a temper tantrum with a lethal weapon under their control is a lot thinner then most people who don't have a lot of experience dealing with suck individuals would think.

ItsJustMe

I don't personally feel that an individual only seeking to address grievances via the police is "polite and civilized."

Would you think that if your neighbor is doing something you don't like that might lead to an illegal act at some point, the right answer is to not say a thing to him until he does something illegal, then call the cops? Or would it be more polite and civilized to let him know that what he's doing bothers you?

ISTM that contacting the person NOT through authorities might make them realize that the others on the road are real people, the are not anonymous, and that their actions affect real people. I would think that more often than not, a person's future behavior would improve as a result of this sort of VERY low key contact, rather than using confrontation and/or civil authorities.

FBinNY 

As the OP titled his post "having a little fun....

This is precisely why state DMV files should have restricted public access. I understand the need for access when there's a legitimate cause of action, but this "incident" (if we choose to call it that) doesn't make the grade.

The OP abused the info, using it for no legitimate purpose, except to get his jollies, or satisfaction form a driver who yelled at him. Getting yelled at isn't abuse, but accessing someones personal date for the purpose of intimidating them is. I doubt that either action rises to the level where it would be actionable, but the OPs response is in the same vein as typical road rage incidents.

We all feel annoyed and want some kind of satisfaction when drivers annoy us, but there comes a time to act like an adult and move on. In this case if the woman files a police report alleging harassment, asying sho's worried because the sender has her home address and other personal info, the OP could find himself having to explain his motives in taking the time and effort to look up the info and send the email.

I know most of the folks here think this is justified, but I value a right to privacy pretty highly, getting yelled at doesn't warrant the invasion (slight as it is, but how does the receiver of the email know your real intentions).

turbo1889

If you do something in a public place it is no longer private, this especially applies to misbehavior.

An excellent example of that is someone I knew in college who had a "do it in the road" mentality about that area of life and photos ended up being posted online after one of her flings and she got all upset about it and tried to call in the cops. They took one look at the photos she was complaining about and told her that considering how public the place were the photos were taken was she had better shut her mouth and get lost before they filed a public indecency charge against her.

You decide to harass someone in public for going about their legal business in peace, especially when they are doing it nicely and pulling over and letting you by every once in a while when they have no legal obligation to do so. You shouldn't try to claim "privacy" after your public misbehavior. If you do you apparently don't have enough brain power to even understand the most basic meaning of words like "public" and "private".

CB HI

Telling someone to "Get off the road" while operating a 3,000 potential weapon is benign, while a polite e-mail asking not to be harassed is road rage equivalent. You seem to have things upside down.

FBinNY 

It isn't the email, it's that you have her home address that's the intimidating factor. And if you're getting yelled at as they pass, you obviously have no real threat regardless of what they're driving.

In any case, your title tells the story. You weren't threatened, just annoyed, and this was just a childish way getting some fun or personal satisfaction over a slight, and nothing more. If you had truly felt threatened, the title would be different.

BTW- think about the possibility that this woman isn't threatened either, but more annoyed. As you point out she's driving a 3,000# vehicle on the same road you ride regularly.

Sometimes life is like a football game. When there's an unsportmanlike conduct foul over a thrown punch, it's usually the "innocent" guy who threw the second punch that ends up ejected.

CB HI

So you have not actually read the thread. I have clearly stated that I have not looked up her address. And please point in the e-mail where I make any indication that I have her address.

I did note that I recognized her, which tells her that she should have recognized who I am.

In this football game, she is welcome to contact the police. After they get done holding back a laugh, I am sure their first question will be "Well, did you yell at him to 'Get off the road?'"

Chicago Al 

+1

It would be a different thing if, having determined this woman's real name, email, and from that probably other personal info, the OP had contacted her using his own actual name.

That would be a constructive way of trying to resolve the situation, while making very clear that nothing sinister is intended.

Instead, by sending this anonymous email, the OP made himself a distant, shadowy figure, with the implication of 'I know where you live and can find you any time.' It asserts power over her and is threatening by implication. ( If you don't think part of the intention was to scare her, you might be interested in a bridge I have for sale.)

Imagine your wife or daughter getting such an email. (Taking the pretty assured step of assuming the 'atta boy' posters here are all male.) You might say, 'Well, honey, maybe you should be more considerate when driving.' But I would bet your impulse would also be to think about 'some weird guy' out there who might be endangering her safety. Mine sure would.

SnowJob

Wow. OP's a bit sensitive if one "Get off the road" caused him to want to go through so much rigmarole to send a creepy, anonymous email. And then spend time defending that action online.

If you're going to send anonymous emails, just do it and don't brag about it. If you want to tell your online buddies about it, be prepared for negative comments. You don't get to paint yourself as the victim. You aren't. Next time someone yells, a proper response is "No thanks." and forget about it. Rude drivers are trying to ruin your day. Don't let them.

stirb

I'm sure Op lets plenty of rude motorists go by, but I think he was just having fun with just this one because op was bored. I personally wouldn't waste my time doing all that unless they hit me or threw something at me.

I found it funny that op did this and I have done this before but only because someone slammed their door into my carand drove off. OP can use the Internet for w/e op wants.

I-Like-To-Bike

What if she says no, and she has no idea why you are sending harassing emails to her making false accusations?

CB HI

Oh I expected the negative responses. And it is no surprise who those responders are.

I am not looking for a pat on the back. But I do hope that some may use my experience in getting some of those who harass them to back off.

You must be overly sensitive if you think a simply e-mail like that is threatening. Driver did not ruin my day, 10 minutes at work on a slow day was turned into a useful purpose of ending future harassment.

You really consider 10 minutes on a slow day "so much rigmarole".

Maybe if she wanted my name in the e-mail, she should have yelled "I am Cecily ........, get off the road".

CB HI

The police here will tell her there is nothing they can do.

turbo1889

I'll answer the question - if my woman got an e-mail like that and complained to me about it I would tell her that her mouth has gotten her into trouble again for the 10,000 time all over again (not that she is unique in that by an means, mine gets me into trouble sometimes too.)

To clarify my position on this, I don't think I would have done what the OP did (and I don't think I can get legal access to the license plate database in my state anyway) but I can't fault him for doing what he did. Its not wrong to call to account someone deliberately harassing you for doing something completely legal and "pop their bubble" of me, me, me, me, selfishness under a perceived shield of anonymity that emboldens them.

Nothing he wrote in his e-mail (at least what he posted, if we assume that is what he actually sent) is in any way threatening but rather is a clear "calling to account" just like one would do with a spoiled brat kid they had to deal with that was having a temper tantrum and it shouldn't always take the cops to have to deal with such situations - there aren't enough cops for that and we need to save their limited resources for bigger fish to fry, so frying a few of the smaller ones ourselves without having to resort to anything threatening or illegal as the OP has done before they develop into big ones is something I can't fault.

turbo1889

I wouldn't be so sure on that. What if the cop she complains too also hates cyclists and also engages in similar criminal harassment of them and is willing to enforce his personal opinions in direct contradiction with the law? I have had dealings with such cops, they do exist.

It would have been nice if you had some proof, and that is one of the big reasons why I personally would hesitate to put something in writing like you did because that puts you in a position of her having tangibles to back up her side of the story and you not having tangibles. I agree that what you wrote isn't threatening or harassing but one needs to always take into account the "two legged pig stuffed into a uniform and/or suit and tie and/or black robe" factor. By no means saying they are all pigs but unfortunately some of them are and that is a factor you need to take into consideration in the equation.

I agree you did nothing wrong, and I have stood up for you in this thread with several posts already. Just saying I personally wouldn't have put something into writing without having some kind of proof or at least a witness to my side of the story. Hash it out with them in words face to face - oh yes, but put something into writing, way more careful on that one.

CB HI

It is on video. A still capture shows here staring at me with her window down. And her annunciation is outstanding, so her words were recorded as well.

My guess is, the next time she passes me, she will be looking for the video camera.

rydabent

Love it!!! What is great is the fact that fools like her worrry. I hope that she has nightmares and wakes up in a cold sweat.

dynodonn 

Hmmmm......... I wouldn't be surprised if this particular incident and possibly many future others may eventually become grounds for Hawaii to follow suit as our state did, and no longer make motorist info so easily accessible.