[fordfasterr]

I would like a list of commonly used traffic offenses that can be charged to unsafe / unruly / dangerous drivers.

Can anyone help me build this up ?

For instance, suppose you get passed unsafely by a car, you end up crashing into a tree or something... what charges " should " the driver be given?

I am not looking for just this specific hypothetical situation, but rather a list of all possible infractions that drivers can be charged with.

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[tomcryar]

You have to ask a lawyer who is detailed on this type of law, and has knowledge of the city, county, state laws, etc., you can't expect a reasonable answer to your question until specifics come into play...Charges can be filed for a lot of things, but rarely do they get enforced. Same for cyclists.

[Eli_Damon]

Here's one that I like from Massachusetts: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/265-37.htm

Basically, it says that it is illegal to try to stop someone from exercising their legal rights (e.g. riding a bicycle, according to chapter 85 section 11B) by force or intimidation. I don't know if this law has ever been successfully applied to a situation where a motorist threatens a cyclist, but it certainly seems to imply that honking and yelling "Get off the road!" at a cyclist comprise a violation of this law.

[The Human Car]

Failure to yield - Cyclists can charge but hard to get a convection

Assault, aggravated assault or Vehicular assault – This seems harder to get a charge unless there is physical harm/damage (an “accident” or battery) if we had better connections to lawyers and helmet cams we might get drivers like the one that got on tape here http://home.swbell.net/mpion/SUVhorn_movbig.html into court.

[sbhikes]

I think the list is pretty much the same list of all the normal traffic offenses between automobiles. And then add a little extra for those jokers who intentionally target cyclists by throwing things out the window, firing fire extinguishers out the window at them, intentionally passing too close, intentionally running them off the road, passing when it's not safe, and getting all huffy when the government pays for cycling facilities.

Additionally, I think it ought to be a crime to drive a car or truck that has too much exhaust around a cyclist. Environmental crimes ought to count.