Advocacy & Safety - What to do with plate #'s of bad drivers

I got buzzed today by a driver that came within inches of me. I was in the far right side of the right lane with no oncoming traffic and the a-hole still buzzed me. We were on a 2 lane country blacktop. I got his plate number. Is there anything I can do with it? Illinois has a 3 foot rule.

platewire.com

Call the police immediately or at the next safe place to pull over.

call the police immediately or at the next safe place to pull over.

+1

I don't know about Illinois, but in California one can also notify the DMV regarding unsafe motorists.

I don't do anything when getting buzzed. They won't treat it as a crime. If I get brushed by a car, I would then call it in as a hit and run, then go get some x-rays.

according to a number of statements made by police, a goodly number of the motorists are calling the cops on us when we are riding legally. This has given me incentive to call in motorists when they are driving dangerously. Haven't acted on it, I usually forget in the heat of the moment. I should have called someone in yesterday. He didn't so much threaten me, but he was driving fast enough that it was affecting the stability of his SUV. Last I saw him he was passing other vehicles on a double yellow, just before a blind curve.

I would call the police, but around here I don't know who is friends with whom. I once called the police about someone and the cops called him and told him all about it.

The problem with posting a bad driver's license plate number to a website is that once it is on that website, it is forever on that website. Not really fair if you ask me. What if the driver sells the car to another person?

The problem with posting a bad driver's license plate number to a website is that once it is on that website, it is forever on that website. Not really fair if you ask me. What if the driver sells the car to another person?

Depends on the state. In NC the plate goes with the person not the vehicle, so in that case it might be a good thing:p

Aaron:)

When a group of teens threw a water bottle at me from their vehicle, I got pretty mad. But it was dark and I could not get their plates.

An anger swept over me and I stopped and picked up the first good-sized rock I found. I then cycled harder than I ever have in my life with the slim hopes of catching up to them. I did not catch up. But I am seriously thinking of carrying a rock with me when I ride. This is the only way to get the message out.

Call the police immediately or at the next safe place to pull over.

Exactly. Call the police and tell them that it was your impression that a driver buzzed you.

A little known "quirk" in Massachusetts law permits citizens to file complaints of unsafe motor vehicle operation with the Registry of motor Vehicles. Link to type of form. (http://www.walkboston.org/documents/21171.pdf) See is your respective state law has something similar.

Of course, there are several problems here. You must be prepared to follow through. This means taking time out of your schedule to attend a hearing, if one is scheduled. Also, I don't think any such complaint from a private citizen can end up on the driver's record, as only an actual police officer may write a citation. I think all that happens with these is that the bad driver gets a scolding from the registry hearing officer (not a judge, and typically a retired cop.) and warned to be more careful. So, no insurance surcharges, (MA) or the dreaded "points on your license" (most other states.)

Making a complaint directly to local police is probably the best option. Let them take it from there.

he said she said-- clogging up the judicial system by whining about non-events. Don't you know, that's what A&S is for!

I've called police 3 times. Nothing happens. They act like it's an inconvenience. They'd rather write money generating tickets than do something that would require thought. I've been assaulted twice and hit once and they didn't do anything. The police department in Genesee County NY is an absolute joke so next time I'm calling the state troopers. I'd suggest calling the staties or local (town, city) since they seem more professional and willing to help over a county sheriff.

Friday - riding home with groceries. A contractors pickup passed me (safe enough, I had no issues with the pass), and the passenger in the right rear seat leans out and yells "get off the road". I told him to "f" off. I prefer to avoid that, but it came out fast. They stop at a red light, and the guy is still leaning out of the window staring me down. I roll by and tell him to "grow up". I catch a green light and keep going.

But I got the plate. I saw a PO parked later, and I stopped and had a talk. He took the details, and told me he would drop by and have a talk with them.

He freely told me thats as far as it would go, and if they "played difficult" IE: refuse to say who it was ect ect, there was nothing he could do. However, he and I both agree'd that most employers don't want their works acting like ass's.

I don't know if the local police system tracks this stuff, but if it does and there is a pattern or one is started, then it could come back into play if there is another problem for someone else.

he said she said-- clogging up the judicial system by whining about non-events. Don't you know, that's what A&S is for!

Maybe the whining will carry more weight in the judicial system and the wheels of justice will start spinning faster if the whiner complains that his Constitutional Rights were infringed. :rolleyes:

I will turn in a motorist's plate number/vehicle and motorist description for what I would call aggressive driving. My level of what I would consider aggressive driving has changed considerably over the years, so I've only reported one motorist in the last 10 years or so.

An anger swept over me and I stopped and picked up the first good-sized rock I found. I then cycled harder than I ever have in my life with the slim hopes of catching up to them. I did not catch up. But I am seriously thinking of carrying a rock with me when I ride. This is the only way to get the message out.

Good way to have a truck load of folks pile out and pummel or kill you. Act responsibly or ignore it....or be willing to suffer the consequences. I'm not willing to suffer. This is bike riding, not war.

Maybe the whining will carry more weight in the judicial system and the wheels of justice will start spinning faster if the whiner complains that his Constitutional Rights were infringed. :rolleyes:

Hence, bicycling as a religion. Thou shalt not buzz me, under penalty of stoning.

http://www.thebikechurch.org/storage/bc_logo.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1241068014779

Cooly take their plate details,
make sure they see you taking it,
tell them that is what you are doing.
Take a photograph on our mobile (or pretend to).
Voice out the plate number as if you are tring to remember it for later.

Report it if you can be bothered, or if it is serious enough.

Whatever you do,
they will probably worry about it a lot, regardless how much they feel the police will not do anything if reported,
and they may drive differently afterwards.
But then again...........

I got buzzed today by a driver that came within inches of me. I was in the far right side of the right lane with no oncoming traffic and the a-hole still buzzed me. We were on a 2 lane country blacktop. I got his plate number. Is there anything I can do with it? Illinois has a 3 foot rule.

I'm working on a list of:

MOST WANTED ROAD TERRORISTS, BIKE MOLESTERS AND PREDATORS OF ALL KINDS.

I've got harassed by drivers blasting the horn yesterday and today. They want me out of their way, and this exclusive city doesn't want on their sidewalks either. :o

For $100 just buy your own helmet video camera. Then you have a clear record of the incident with license plate. No "he said/she said". If it's not worth $100 of your money, then it is not worth the cop's time either..

Best thing to do with the numberplate is to use it to zero your sights before taking a few shots at the driver.

Best thing to do with the numberplate is to use it to zero your sights before taking a few shots at the driver.

Only effective weapon against drivers that already past you is either a hand grenade or bazooka. :rolleyes:

But those are heave artillery so I much prefer the banana (finger) given to them in a civilized way. :thumb: