Advocacy & Safety - The story of a homicidal cager...

I want to see how this ends as much as anyone else, so here goes.


A friend of mine as told me what happened to him recently, and I am really worried about him, and how this may turn out.
Here goes:



On the way home, a car buzzed and honked at him. He took a shortcut to the next street to get a closer view of the car/driver/tag and the driver noticed him, steered his car directly at him at full speed and my friend dove out of the way just in time within just inches of this crazed cager. He was not able to get the tag # because of the high speed and relative adrenaline that just went through him. He was able to snap a picture of the back of the car with his cell phone just as the car drove away but not close enough to get the tag.

He called the police, gave them the description and explained what happened. The police officer who saw him told him that without any accident, or bodily injury that it would be unlikely that anything could be done. The officer would not write a report.

The following day, my friend spotted the same car, at the same time, on the same road and noticed that it parked just a few blocks away at a bar. He was able to get the tag, but did not confront the driver. Then he went home and later told me exactly what is written here.




Now here is where the no-nonsense part of this post is most important:

What can he do?

What should he do?

What would YOU do?

I want to see how this ends as much as anyone else, so here goes.


A friend of mine as told me what happened to him recently, and I am really worried about him, and how this may turn out.
Here goes:




Now here is where the no-nonsense part of this post is most important:

What can he do?
Legally? Not much. Police won't do anything for reasons stated above.



What should he do?

His best bet for the future is to get a helmet mounted camera. That way it's not just his word vs drivers word.


What would YOU do?
Take a deep breath and move on, or call non emergency line and report the guy for dunk driving when he leaves the bar. The dude is probably regular.

He should have called the police not to complain of an irresponsible driver, but attempted murder. Unfortunately, there isn't much he can do because there was no damage, which I think is a little bit BS. What happens when somebody attempts to shoot you with a gun, but misses?

call non emergency line and report the guy for dunk driving when he leaves the bar. The dude is probably regular.

+1. Police take drunk driving far more seriously than dead cyclists. If you want to start a file on him, this is what you do.

+1. Police take drunk driving far more seriously than dead cyclists. If you want to start a file on him, this is what you do.

Besides, dead cyclists make it to the 6 o'clock news, which is good for the ratings, just like passion crimes, drive-by shootings and other stuff that happens in the jungle. :rolleyes:

You guys know where he does his drinking. Keep checking the bar and the next time his car is there, wait until he leaves, call 911 and report a drunk driver weaving down the road almost causing an accident.

Don't even mention your on bikes.

+1 for calling the cops on him as a drunk driver.

When you speak with the police always be very polite, can't even hurt to call the cop sir/maam. This might placate their ego a bit and make them more likely to help you. Always maintain a respectful, if not submissive demeanor. If you're rattled and your adrenaline is pumping wait a few minutes to collect your wits prior to contacting the police. Once you realize they are not going to do anything ask for their name and badge number and that you would like to speak with their supervisor. It might go nowhere and cause you much headache, but the cop you interact with on the street or the person at the desk at the local police station is not the end of the line.

Our respective authorities have to start recognizing vehicular assault and attempts to do so as very serious crimes...write your representative, mp, or whatever politician you think might get some things done to change the laws.

I have had a few folks purposely try and take me out... I have been lucky in that I am fast and very agile and have avoided becoming road kill.

call non emergency line and report the guy for dunk driving when he leaves the bar. The dude is probably regular.i like this idea

set the car on fire.

I like the part about the shortcut. Gives the story the bull**** feeling it deserves.

I like the part about the shortcut. Gives the story the bull**** feeling it deserves.

It's true.

The shortcut involves getting off of his bike, running up a 30 foot hill and then the same road comes by it again!.


The cager was on his way up the hill and my friend was right there waiting for him.

File a complaint with the DMV. Even if the police won't do anything, the DMV can pull his license, they don't need an accident to happen.

Loosen the valve cores

this

File a complaint with the DMV. Even if the police won't do anything, the DMV can pull his license, they don't need an accident to happen.

Can you explain this process in a little more detail? I don't understand what he would tell them, and what they would (or you expect them to) do?



Loosen the valve cores



That fall under the " what would YOU do? " section .

lol

I would have called the cops and reported the motorist for erratic and dangerous driving. Where I live, the police take those calls quite seriously and would have been on the lookout for the motorist.

[QUOTE=fordfasterr;7724670]Can you explain this process in a little more detail? I don't understand what he would tell them, and what they would (or you expect them to) do?


Get the address to the main state dmv office. There is a complaints department. In a letter, describe the incedent, include as many details as possible. They can take action against the abuser, they may choose to send a warning letter, they can issue a citation, they may do nothing.

Cost of letter = 42 cents
citation issued = priceless
nothing happens = wish you had a helmet cam

I like the part about the shortcut. Gives the story the bull**** feeling it deserves.

Maybe, maybe not. I've been able to catch up to motorists because of shortcuts... either they didn't know the area and the roads or there was a real shortcut that is only available to peds and cyclists. It happens.

Get the address to the main state dmv office. There is a complaints department. In a letter, describe the incedent, include as many details as possible. They can take action against the abuser, they may choose to send a warning letter, they can issue a citation, they may do nothing.

Cost of letter = 42 cents
citation issued = priceless
nothing happens = wish you had a helmet cam

Interesting. I recall a local police program against aggressive driving here where they encouraged such reporting and promised follow up, but thought that it was a special one-time program. I hope that I am wrong.

A civil suit, in small calims court, for assault might really change that drivers attitude. He can get the car owners name/address from DMV. bk

I would have called the cops and reported the motorist for erratic and dangerous driving. Where I live, the police take those calls quite seriously and would have been on the lookout for the motorist.Throw in that the guy seemed drunk or high. And if he turns out to not be drunk, well, you're not trained to spot drunks, are you? But why else would a person attempt to charge a cyclist beyond being drunk? (It's a rhetorical question, but `road rage' is less well defined than drunk.)

Normal motorists do not intentionally attempt to kill (or maim, hurt or even scare) cyclists.

Drive and park near the bar next time you see his car parked there. Wait for him to start driving, then follow him and call the police with his location and say that he's weaving all over the road and you believe he's drunk. Hope he gets arrested for DUI.

If you have his tags, file a complaint.
If the driver does it again to your friend or someone else, the first complaint will be on file, in case there is a more serious incident and that file can help in any possible court case.