If you are ever assaulted by a motorist PLEASE file a police report. You never know when your report might be an important piece of a puzzle that could help law enforcement authorities identify when, where, and hopefully who has decided to act out against cyclists.
I've unfortunately had to file a few reports over the years, the most recent being from today's morning ride....
So I'm out for my 5am bicycle ride enjoying the nearly empty, peaceful backroads around our home when a motorist -- in only the 4th car I've seen during the past hour on the road I ride out and back on -- shoots me in the leg with an air pistol. With any luck, the motorist is somone who has been passing my way on these same roads every day that I just never took the time to notice. However, I'll now make a point of noticing, wearing my prescription glasses, and carrying my cell phone with the hope that I catch a better view of the car and the license plate. Our local authorities have also indicated they will have a cruiser dispatched to the area for the next couple of mornings "just in case".
According to the officer who took my report, Georgia prosecutes cases involving the discharge of a firearm (any type) from a moving car as aggravated assaults. It's a felony that carries a 5 - 20 year prison sentence. Gee, do think the motorist knew that?
SamDaBikinMan
10-21-03, 08:34 AM
Holy cow Mark! Man I am very sorry to hear about this and hope it was not a serious injury.
Things have just gotten so out of hand on our roads these days. It is pathetic that you cannot enjoy a ride on even an empty road without some idiotic jerk doing some stunt like this.
I recently called in a report about a motorist myself. I was in my vehicle behind this truck when he swerved at three kids on bikes. The driver of the truck was laughing about it with the passenger.
I followed them and called 911 giving the liscense number and everything. I truend around and drove back to where the kids were and told them I had reported the vehicle and encouraged them to get their parents to file charges at the sherriffs office to go along with my report.
Rich Clark
10-21-03, 08:36 AM
shoots me in the leg with an air pistol.
Cripes, Mark, are you OK?!?
Agree with everything else you said. I keep my cell phone in my jersey for easy accessibility.
One thing you said puzzled me... have you been riding *without* your prescription glasses? Is that wise? I'd feel pretty disoriented riding if I couldn't read text the size of a passing license plate.
RichC
djbowen1
10-21-03, 08:38 AM
I try to carry something good to throw with me, some ******* drove up behind me yesterday in the parking lane that he shouldnt have been driving in and reved his $500 Honda rice car at me loudly. the areas i ride are pretty much filled with cars. If one hit me knowbody would even stop or get a plate or anything. If i ever lived in a rural area i wold buy and carry a small firearm for sure.
SamDaBikinMan
10-21-03, 08:53 AM
I try to carry something good to throw with me, some ******* drove up behind me yesterday in the parking lane that he shouldnt have been driving in and reved his $500 Honda rice car at me loudly. the areas i ride are pretty much filled with cars. If one hit me knowbody would even stop or get a plate or anything. If i ever lived in a rural area i wold buy and carry a small firearm for sure.
I like your style dj. But I have to leave my peice at home due to the serious temptation to use it.
But I am right there with ya man.
TandemGeek
10-21-03, 09:10 AM
Cripes, Mark, are you OK?!?
Thanks for your concern. My love for my fellow-man has once again been deeply scarred, but my inner thigh is, as they say, a flesh wound. There is a nice round abrasion with a break in the skin where the projectile (pellet or BB shot) impacted and a large welt, 4" in diameter forming that will no doubt become an equally large bruise. Thank goodness for tights, eh?
One thing you said puzzled me... have you been riding *without* your prescription glasses?
I almost never ride with my glasses as I have only a minor vision correction and it's low-light where my ability to read something like a dimly license plate is at its worst. Road debris in my headlights and just about anything else comes into focus just fine, so no worries. In fact, most mornings this time of year there is so much mist hanging in the air at 5:00am that any type of lense quickly become useless.
Regards,
Mark
P.S. Although I could escalate the conflict by carrying a 9mm on my hip, I don't think the local authorities would endorse the approach.
TeleJohn
10-21-03, 10:22 AM
I filed a police report yesterday for a pickup that was repeatedly(1-2 times per week over several weeks) driving to close and swerving towards me on my commute. I got the plate number. The police will contact the fellow and advise. Further complaints from me will result in tickets and court time for the driver.
lotek
10-21-03, 10:33 AM
Mark,
Glad to hear you're doing ok if a bit bruised.
I hope they get the *****hole and nail him.
and all I ever worried about was ******s yelling
inane things at me.
Marty
Da Tinker
10-21-03, 12:44 PM
Past history from other reports can set a precedent and pattern of behavoir that can be used in court to impose greater penalties.
In other words, put that idiot away for a long time (preferably with a very large, muscular, homosexual roommate).
randya
10-21-03, 10:56 PM
...carrying a 9mm on my hip, [but] I don't think the local authorities would endorse the approach.
If it's on your hip and visible it's not a concealed weapon; you should check with your local law enforcement authorities to see if that's legal; it certainly would be a deterrent (I know we've already discussed this here before with mixed opinions on the benefits of riding armed; but with the shock jocks and a bunch of other yahoos in motor vehicles seemingly out to get cyclists, it looks to me like a better idea all the time...)
randya
10-21-03, 10:58 PM
BTW, I agree with filing a police report if the incident is serious enough; a police report I filed many years ago against someone who harassed a friend and I while we were cycling was eventually used as part of the evidence to establish a pattern and justify a jail sentence when the motorist was arrested several years later on a DUI charge.
Chris L
10-22-03, 02:53 AM
P.S. Although I could escalate the conflict by carrying a 9mm on my hip, I don't think the local authorities would endorse the approach.
I'd be more concerned about escalating the conflict than what any official would say about carrying the gun. Remember, they've got a car to throw at you if you point a gun at them. Somehow I can only see one outcome from that sort of confrontation. I think simply reporting it to the cops and letting them deal with it is the best thing to do.
PS, I'm glad to hear you only suffered a bruise out of that lot. It could have been much worse.
supreemo1
06-01-05, 09:27 PM
I filed a police report yesterday for a pickup that was repeatedly(1-2 times per week over several weeks) driving to close and swerving towards me on my commute. I got the plate number. The police will contact the fellow and advise. Further complaints from me will result in tickets and court time for the driver.
i called the sherriffs dept to file a report today but was told since there was no direct contact and no plates on the car that they could not take a report. to summarize what had happened.. i was riding along and could hear a car fast approaching from behind. the jerk begins to taunt me by revving his engine and nudging up behind me. he honks twice in the most jerkiest of fashion and proceeds to pass me while straddling both lanes. he doesn't even look over at me and swerves back into the lane just missing my front wheel.. i react by veering right.. right into a dirt and rock horsetrail roughly 8 inches below road level. my hips/waist and arm/shoulder took most of the brunt of my fall.. just really sore now and it hurts to raise my arm past my shoulder (i'm thinking rotator cuff here).. and my front wheel is out of true/out of commission/out of wack/out of order..
:mad:
JoeTown244GL
06-01-05, 09:52 PM
Chris,
I love you man, but I think you are wrong on this one. In all seriousness. I've shot at a moving vehicle coming towards me. Several in fact. When windshield glass starts exploding in the driver's compartment from your rounds - every driver I've shot at - attempted to change directions while he was still alive*. :eek: In fact, when my vehicle came under fire I drove evasivley away from the source.
*Disclaimer - This poster is not currently shooting at anyone, nor does he have plans to shoot anyone. Poster was shooting at the enemies of the United States of America in an authorized combat situation, and under the prevailing rules of engagement.
Should you also wish to shoot at drivers (cagers), as many of you here seem to desire, I'd suggest you click here (http://www.goarmy.com/flindex.jsp).
Deallean
06-01-05, 09:58 PM
Argg... up here the drivers are all pretty good, but you do get the couple idiots who HONK right when they're driving by you and scare the crap out of you, and those who drive WAY to close to the side of the road and almost hit you... Ugh..
chrisgerne
06-01-05, 10:13 PM
Chris,
I love you man, but I think you are wrong on this one. In all seriousness. I've shot at a moving vehicle coming towards me. Several in fact. When windshield glass starts exploding in the driver's compartment from your rounds - every driver I've shot at - attempted to change directions while he was still alive*. :eek: In fact, when my vehicle came under fire I drove evasivley away from the source.
*Disclaimer - This poster is not currently shooting at anyone, nor does he have plans to shoot anyone. Poster was shooting at the enemies of the United States of America in an authorized combat situation, and under the prevailing rules of engagement.
Should you also wish to shoot at drivers (cagers), as many of you here seem to desire, I'd suggest you click here (http://www.goarmy.com/flindex.jsp).
i have nothing to add, other than..
that was a fantastic disclaimer.
moxfyre
06-01-05, 10:26 PM
If you are ever assaulted by a motorist PLEASE file a police report. You never know when your report might be an important piece of a puzzle that could help law enforcement authorities identify when, where, and hopefully who has decided to act out against cyclists.
I've unfortunately had to file a few reports over the years, the most recent being from today's morning ride....
Wow......
I'm really glad you're okay. I hope they catch him and let you take pot shots at him while he rides down the road on a bike. What a worthless @#$(*#@$.
The only thing I would like to add is, it might be worthwhile to post a description of the vehicle and location here, assuming it's moderately complete. A few extra eyeballs will never hurt...
DieselDan
06-02-05, 10:52 AM
Around here the cops are the worst drivers on the road. It wouldn't do any good.