Advocacy & Safety - What would you do?

Last night I found myself in a situation I hadn't planned on, and was a bit torn between politeness and concern for public safety. I think I made the wrong choice, but that probably would have been the case no matter what I did.

There's an overlook at the top of Lake Washington Boulevard, with a bench, stone wall, garden, and a view of the lake with a neighboring city for a backdrop, and the mountains off at the horizon. I like the spot quite a bit, and only live a few miles away, so when I have time, I enjoy heading out this way, either as part of a longer ride, or for a bit of quick exercise after work.

I took a seat at the bench, enjoying the view and some bread and cheese, when a truck pulled up and parked. There's absolutely no parking here, so this already caught my attention. Two ladies jumped out, talking about the best view around ... one walked over to within a few feet of me, without actually seeing me sitting there, dropped her pants, and let loose. I turned away out of politeness, and heard a torrent of water that would put Niagra Falls to shame. The other lady had disappeared behind a bush for a moment.

The lady noticed me as she left, and said "... alcohol ..." after an awkward pause, in a "that explains everything" sort of way. Then she told her friend "That guy just watched me pee," both of them giggling. Then they got back in the truck and left, following a not-very-straight line. Clearly, the passenger wasn't the only one who'd had a lot to drink that night.

I didn't bring my cell phone with me on the ride, which I guess is mistake #1. Nor did I get their plates. So our story ends here.

What would you have done? Am I wrong to think the driver was almost certainly intoxicated, and didn't belong on the roads? In my shoes, would you have taken down the license plate numbers and called the police when you passed a phone? Or would you see that as jumping to histrionic conclusions and forcing yourself into other peoples' business? I'm sure I'll regret asking, but I've been wondering what I 'should' have done...?

Sounds like a good intro to a penthouse letter...

Imagine two loafs of bread, fighting over a hair raccoon's tail.

Sorry.

If you do not get a plate # and report them, do not be surprised when they run you off the road sometime in the future.

I have called a company president about an employee (that lives near me), driving drunk in a company truck. He lost the home use of the company truck for many years.

I have called a company president about an employee (that lives near me), driving drunk in a company truck. He lost the home use of the company truck for many years.

That's totally cool with me- a wrecked truck (hopefully that's the worst of the damage) hurts the company and its employees as well.

Sounds like a good intro to a penthouse letter...

Sounds like a couple of "girls" I don't ever want to meet. Ever.

Were these two of the Kardashians, by any chance?

Call 911 and report it. That gives police cause to stop the vehicle if they see it and determine if further action is warranted.

Nutten Honey

I hate to offend those two women, but those two are idiots... :(

I'm telling you, man... Have your cell phone with you no matter where you're at. This is just stupid...

I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that but my mind just went nuts. :eek: :rolleyes:

I have reported drunk drivers lots of times. Had some frat boys practically pull up in my yard while they stopped to try to figure out where they were going. They were all smashed, and the cops caught them within a few blocks. Taking a drunk driver off the road is always a good idea.

Thanks, everyone, for confirming my gut feeling that I really was in the wrong here. I stuffed a pen and sticky-pad in my saddle bag, and will start making a point of always bringing my cell phone with me on rides. More importantly, I'll listen to my gut before it's too late, if there's a next time.


If you do not get a plate # and report them, do not be surprised when they run you off the road sometime in the future.

Or run somebody else off the road, when I might have prevented it ... which would make me feel a lot more guilty.

Last night I found myself in a situation I hadn't planned on, and was a bit torn between politeness and concern for public safety. I think I made the wrong choice, but that probably would have been the case no matter what I did.

There's an overlook at the top of Lake Washington Boulevard, with a bench, stone wall, garden, and a view of the lake with a neighboring city for a backdrop, and the mountains off at the horizon. I like the spot quite a bit, and only live a few miles away, so when I have time, I enjoy heading out this way, either as part of a longer ride, or for a bit of quick exercise after work.

I took a seat at the bench, enjoying the view and some bread and cheese, when a truck pulled up and parked. There's absolutely no parking here, so this already caught my attention. Two ladies jumped out, talking about the best view around ... one walked over to within a few feet of me, without actually seeing me sitting there, dropped her pants, and let loose. I turned away out of politeness, and heard a torrent of water that would put Niagra Falls to shame. The other lady had disappeared behind a bush for a moment.

The lady noticed me as she left, and said "... alcohol ..." after an awkward pause, in a "that explains everything" sort of way. Then she told her friend "That guy just watched me pee," both of them giggling. Then they got back in the truck and left, following a not-very-straight line. Clearly, the passenger wasn't the only one who'd had a lot to drink that night.

I didn't bring my cell phone with me on the ride, which I guess is mistake #1. Nor did I get their plates. So our story ends here.

What would you have done? Am I wrong to think the driver was almost certainly intoxicated, and didn't belong on the roads? In my shoes, would you have taken down the license plate numbers and called the police when you passed a phone? Or would you see that as jumping to histrionic conclusions and forcing yourself into other peoples' business? I'm sure I'll regret asking, but I've been wondering what I 'should' have done...?

Just curious, here. Is that the intersection at Madrona and Lk Washington Blvd?

It was up the hill a bit, at the intersection of Lake Wash and Hillside.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=47.622584,-122.284693&spn=0.000922,0.002658&t=h&z=19

I would have called it in merely for the possibility that those two might be the type to make their own call that you were "peeping" at them while they went.

Call it in now, with the description that you have. No reason why you shouldn't, even if it was yesterday.

-Kurt

It was up the hill a bit, at the intersection of Lake Wash and Hillside.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=47.622584,-122.284693&spn=0.000922,0.002658&t=h&z=19

Yeah, that's pretty blatant. I'd have snitched.

If I had seen her weaving dangerously I would have called it with a cell phone. Without it...nothing to do but pedal on....