DaveWC

Ok, let's use that logic... a driver nearly right hooks you while texting and steering their car with their knees... what damages do you have? None. Can you prove they were done by the driver? No. Can you prove the owner of the vehicle is the driver? No.

So in your world, unless & until you are lying at the side of the road in a pool of blood you should suck it up buttercup. Dangerous driving, behaving like an a-hole is all ok so long as you're not dead. There is no benefit to preventive policing. Just suck it up the next time a passenger tosses that full can of coke at your head... so long as they miss & you continue to breathe.

Shimagnolo

When I first heard the term "rolling coal", I did some googling to learn more about it.
I found myself on a tech forum for diesel enthusiasts, and the unanimous attitude there was that the coal-rollers were a bunch of cretins.

bikemig 

I've ridden in Texas more than a few times over the years. There is some great riding there but I didn't realize until I read this how much tougher those TX riders are than those from any other state. How cool is that?

therhodeo

Good chance the big talking texan has a huge dooshy truck himself.

WhyFi

Yup. When you take decades and great pains to improve a product and the product image, it's probably not very endearing to have some hunyucks undo all of that just for kicks and some youtube hits.

GlennR

Never said that, but unless observed by law enforcement there's little you can do.

It's not like he purposely pushed you off the road, like he swerved into gravel and pelted you with stones. He was just a stupid "Billy Bob", being a d!ck.

How many times to drives blow the horn when passing and not a little toot to let you know they were there, but a long angry blat to scare you. And then when they see a red light, pull as far right as they can to prevent you from passing?

We've all been harassed by cars.

What he should do:
1) Show it to the local police and let them do whatever they think is appropriate.
2) move on for the next "a"hole on the road.

WhyFi

Yeah, it's too bad that he didn't catch it on film or anything.

Hypno Toad

Police will not issue a ticket with a video (typically); however, I have had PD call drivers with a warning. (at least that is what the officer told me).

DaveWC

Most people are recommending showing the video to the police so they can observe this behavior. You took exception to the suggestion of going to small claims court. It makes sense to me because whether you win or lose it causes inconvenience to the driver & could change his future behavior. I'd do the same if I caught a driver on video driving dangerously & putting my life at risk.

As for not being pushed off the road, I've never been physically contacted by a vehicle & pushed off the road but I have had a vehicle encroach to such an extent that I had to get off the road & risk my life/bike to avoid him. I imagine if I'm caught in a cloud of black smoke I'd do the exact same thing to avoid it. So in essence I'd be pushed off the road.

I don't see why the reaction of a cyclist to a driver behaving like a dick bothers you. You're in favor of wasting the time of the police (if they witness it & let's face it, watching a video is witnessing it) but you stop short at using the small claims courts.

bikecrate

In Texas they have 10 gal. bike helmets.

Shimagnolo

Oh? This is my video.
Click on "Show More" under the description to get all the details.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbIhrsL6JXY

And this one (also mine) got the driver a personal visit and warning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m27QkPuNlo

And this was two different police departments, (Clear Creek Sheriff and Broomfield PD).


And in this video that went viral, the Boulder Cty Sheriff cited this old imbecile based on cell phone video:
Erie man accused of harassing cyclists wants plea deal | Channel 2 News
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8QSgMipZGc

69chevy

I hate to play devils advocate here but it looked to me like he punched it to pass you both in a hurry. Since you were riding with such a big gap, he had to really punch it.

When you slow down and then take off in a diesel, it black smokes.

exime

Just get his license plate and you get his name and address from that for $50 from a private detective. I'll leave the second half of the equation to the imagination but it can tell you it's not delivering flowers.

Number400

Ding ding! Plate is 36038FT and is linked to the following description in CarFax: 2001 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY.

Was easier once I found this link: https://www.licenseplates.cc/highs.php?where=MD

The Carfax site is really helpful to link a plate to the right vehicle.

Hypno Toad

The word "typically" was in there because of the CO video/story. Yes, sometimes police will take action, but I would recommend that a biker sending a video to the police not expect action.

For the record, I've been using a GoPro to report drivers for 4 years, I just upgraded since my old Hero 2 is getting flaky. I recommend using an action camera and reporting any dangerous driver. I just don't have specific expectations of the police response.

Hypno Toad

Really, I use my mom's diesel Chevy from time-to-time and I've never had that happen. A well maintained diesel should not blow black soot like that.

(Yes, my 74-year-old mother drives a 4x4 diesel super-duty Silverado)

seymour1910

Agreed. I have NEVER seen my fathers F250 do that, not even when he "punches it".

WhyFi

Nice work.

K.Katso

This guy has a solution:

Upset About Rolling Coal? Stop Whining And Fight Back With This

Number400

The guy flipped a switch that he installed specifically for blowing smoke and floored it. That was completely intentional.

Number400

Was easy with your cleaned up picture. I have to decode plates from my dash cams sometimes. I will try your technique.

SpeshulEd 

To the people defending the truck driver here...it's so awesome to modify a truck so it pollutes more, isn't it?! That's just the coolest thing ever! **** the planet, climate change is a myth!

The owner of that truck should be hauled out of it and curb stomped. ****ing ignorant *******.

69chevy

Then odds are it's a turbo diesel.

A turbo maintains the air/fuel mixture much more effectively than a non-turbo. I am speaking of engine breaking a nonturbo diesel, then punching it.

It will black smoke.

WhyFi

lol. I was going to add a funny aside, but then it would get too "political" for forums rules.

Then I though about how sad it is that science is considered political and I despaired.

69chevy

I don't think people are defending him. I also think it's possible (very) that he didn't roll coal, but black smoked from accelerating after engine braking.

It very well could have been a dick move, but it very well could have been unintentional.

I hope you don't get called for jury duty.