Advocacy & Safety - Driver tries to kill cyclist.....

.....who turns out to be a cop!!!

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/teen-driver-road-rage-attacks-cyclist-police-officer.php

Road Rage Karma, Baby
Road rage can be dangerous, especially if the out-of-control driver decides to chase you and you're on on a bicycle. This is exactly what happened to Martin Melvin in Burnley, UK: He was going home on his bike after finishing work for the day when Benjamin Harrison, 18, pulled alongside him, sounded his horn and began to shout loudly: "Get off the road. I will run you off the road. I will kill you. Get off the road." True to his word, he actually tried to run him off the road and kill him...
"Nine times he almost mowed down DI Melvin, aiming for him on the pavement, striking his handle-bars, forcing him off his bike into trees, threatening to kill him and hurling stones and coins at him. [...] The victim had no escape route and had no choice but to continue his journey on the almost deserted road," reported the Lancashire Telegraph.

But my question is, where did he find the stones? Was he carrying stones in his car just for the purpose of throwing at cyclists?

Surprise Ending
But the best part about this story is that the victim, Martin Melvin, is a police officer (detective inspector, to be precise). He made a note of his aggressor's license plate, who was later arrested.

At his parents' home, the teen driver asked the police officers who were arresting him: "Can I not just apologise?" Mmm, no.

Guess Not
The judge said that Mr Melvin was a "bit of an unfortunate choice of victim" and "gave him nine months in jail, suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision and 100 hours unpaid work. He was banned from driving for two years and must pay £750 costs." He was lucky to get a suspended sentence and stay out of jail.

The punishment is far from severe, but everything other then that is pure brill.

-Kurt

Great story! But no jail time?

You couldn't do all that to a deputy in the United States and get off with a $1,500 fine.

Yeah he should have done a bit in one of Her majesty's finest hotels.

I just loved the quote, "Can I not just apologise?" Just puts everything right:rolleyes:

And where did the stones come from? Why have a bunch of small stones in a car if not to throw at someone, doesn't/shouldn't that show intent to do harm? Why wasn't the "kid" charged with attempted murder, doesn't intentionally running a person off of the road and into the trees meet the standards for attempted murder?

And where did the stones come from? Why have a bunch of small stones in a car if not to throw at someone, doesn't/shouldn't that show intent to do harm? Why wasn't the "kid" charged with attempted murder, doesn't intentionally running a person off of the road and into the trees meet the standards for attempted murder?

No, apparently cyclists are fair game... In the US, for instance killing a cyclist is often "rewarded" with no charges or punishment... provided one uses the magic words "he swerved."

Were you not aware of all this?

I'm sorry... you should have been informed.

No, apparently cyclists are fair game... In the US, for instance killing a cyclist is often "rewarded" with no charges or punishment... provided one uses the magic words "he swerved."

Were you not aware of all this?

I'm sorry... you should have been informed.

Ah, but what about the drivers words "Get off the road. I will run you off the road. I will kill you. Get off the road."

Oh, and let's not forget the ever popular "But Officer, I didn't see them. . ."

"He swerved."
"But officer, I didn't see them."

100% Inexcusable.

"He swerved."
"But officer, I didn't see them."

100% Inexcusable.

I agree with ya 100%, and in the case of the last one, what it really means is that they couldn't be bothered to look to see who else might be on the road with them.

Ah, but what about the drivers words "Get off the road. I will run you off the road. I will kill you. Get off the road."

Oh, and let's not forget the ever popular "But Officer, I didn't see them. . ."


Well there are some words that motorists can use that revoke their "free" status... such words are:

"Get off the road. I will run you off the road. I will kill you. Get off the road."

and the ever popular So Cal version:

"I wanted to teach them a lesson"


Now if a motorist uses either phrase... they go directly to jail, do not pass GO, and do not collect $200.

But otherwise, there are plenty of "get out of jail free" phrases a motorist can use.

Besides the classic:
"He swerved" and:
"But officer, I didn't see them."

There is also "That's my driving style." (I understand you can take out two cyclists with that secret phrase)

Well there are some words that motorists can use that revoke their "free" status... such words are:

"Get off the road. I will run you off the road. I will kill you. Get off the road."

and the ever popular So Cal version:

"I wanted to teach them a lesson"


Now if a motorist uses either phrase... they go directly to jail, do not pass GO, and do not collect $200.

But otherwise, there are plenty of "get out of jail free" phrases a motorist can use.

Besides the classic:
"He swerved" and:
"But officer, I didn't see them."

There is also "That's my driving style." (I understand you can take out two cyclists with that secret phrase)

And let's add to the So. Cal. "I wanted to teach them a lesson." The phrase "they are going to say that their injuries are worse then what they really are."

And let's add to the So. Cal. "I wanted to teach them a lesson." The phrase "they are going to say that their injuries are worse then what they really are."

Meanwhile, the victim holds his nose in his lap...

Yeah, classic indeed!

Meanwhile, the victim holds his nose in his lap...

Yeah, classic indeed!

And picking his teeth out of the backseat of the car. . .

Yeah, classic, I can't think of too many that would want that man as their doctor.

Attempted murder of a police officer and he gets a suspended sentence? The UK legal system is just as screwed up as in the USA.

It sounds like the officer was off his bike and into some trees for safety, that's when the kid chased after him and threw stones. He's lucky this was in the UK, as in the US the officer would have been armed.

It sounds like the officer was off his bike and into some trees for safety, that's when the kid chased after him and threw stones. He's lucky this was in the UK, as in the US the officer would have been armed.The story does not really time line when the stones and coins were thrown. Most likely they were thrown throughout the ongoing harassment.

The kid is lucky that didn't happen here in the US. The cop would have been armed and would have shot and killed the kid in a heartbeat.

The kid is lucky that didn't happen here in the US. The cop would have been armed and would have shot and killed the kid in a heartbeat.

Very true. All hands for the brotherhood.

-Kurt

No, apparently cyclists are fair game... In the US, for instance killing a cyclist is often "rewarded" with no charges or punishment... provided one uses the magic words "he swerved."

Were you not aware of all this?

I'm sorry... you should have been informed.

I think this is a major form of lacking advocacy. People actually believe that crap.

They look in disbelief when I tell them: "I don't swerve."

I think this is a major form of lacking advocacy. People actually believe that crap.

They look in disbelief when I tell them: "I don't swerve."

Sadly, that's probably because the last time that they were on a bike they swerved all over the place and think that everyone who rides does the same.