Advocacy & Safety - St. Petersburg Update

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View Full Version : St. Petersburg Update


robtfink
08-06-03, 06:46 AM
Man Who Hit Bicyclists Disputes Driving Charge
By Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 6, 2003

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ST. PETERSBURG - The driver who barrelled into a group of bicyclists in July, injuring 14 of them, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a careless driving charge.

The driver, Joseph Pastore, 60, has a 1 p.m. Sept. 26 pretrial hearing in St. Petersburg traffic court, 1800 66th St. N.

County Judge William H. Overton asked Pastore to get a "Getting in Gear" assessment, a program offered by the Area Agency on Aging. Getting in Gear offers extensive tests, including a road test and computer scenarios to assess vision and reaction time. Overton said Tuesday he will consider the assessment, public input and the police accident report in determining a disposition in the case. If Pastore does not accept the court's decision, he could request a trial.

Blood tests showed Pastore was not on any drugs for which drivers are routinely screened during DUI investigations, though his poor health and prescription medications could have caused him to blackout moments before the crash July 6.

At least two bicyclists remain hospitalized from injuries sustained in the crash.


pointyhead
08-06-03, 07:06 AM
I expect to see this one in the civil courts. Thanks for the update!

John E
08-09-03, 01:50 PM
Unless Pastore's license is permanently revoked, justice will not have been served. As long as he continues to drive, the man is an obvious danger to society.


randya
08-09-03, 06:44 PM
Originally posted by John E
Unless Pastore's license is permanently revoked, justice will not have been served. As long as he continues to drive, the man is an obvious danger to society.

Simply revoking or suspending someone's license unfortunately doesn't prevent them from continuing to drive.

A recent case in Portland involved a DUI driver who killed two cyclists and hospitalized a third. The driver hadn't had a valid license in 17 years, he had been arrested for traffic violations several times in the interim, and he still continued to drive (and drink), until finally he killed several people as a result...

Chris L
08-09-03, 07:11 PM
Originally posted by randya
Simply revoking or suspending someone's license unfortunately doesn't prevent them from continuing to drive.

A car confiscation just might. As far as I'm concerned, that should be the mandatory on-the-spot penalty for anyone who drives without a licence.

John E
08-11-03, 06:49 PM
Originally posted by randya
Simply revoking or suspending someone's license unfortunately doesn't prevent them from continuing to drive.


True. Driving with a suspended or revoked license has to be a separate offense with mandatory jail time.