Hit and Run caught on GoPro - Driver Charged
#226
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I run one because people do plenty of stupid stuff in front of me that doesn't directly affect me, and for sufficiently egregious violations, the local PD enjoys having (and documenting) a "come to Jesus" talk with a dangerous driver. Not sure about the current one, but we used to have a judge who would consider that if they were later in court over a similar offense. It's more of a proactive safety process that way, by giving some of them a harsh reminder that they're neither invisible nor anonymous while they're out screwing around behind the wheel.
#227
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You intentionally hit a cyclist or pedestrian with your car, that is clearly attempted murder.
I don't care if you are the president of a prestigious college or president of the United States. No one is above the law. Too often the white and the wealthy are allowed to walk away with little more than a slap on the wrist. If the driver was black and poor driving a Hyundai he/she would be doing hard time behind bars.
OTOH, riding a bike on a narrow high-speed road with no shoulder or bike lane is not a low risk activity.
It's pure luck the cyclist had a camera or else there would have been no case.
I don't care if you are the president of a prestigious college or president of the United States. No one is above the law. Too often the white and the wealthy are allowed to walk away with little more than a slap on the wrist. If the driver was black and poor driving a Hyundai he/she would be doing hard time behind bars.
OTOH, riding a bike on a narrow high-speed road with no shoulder or bike lane is not a low risk activity.
It's pure luck the cyclist had a camera or else there would have been no case.
Last edited by northernlights; 10-29-17 at 03:24 PM.
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For those who are curious, I checked the docket and trial has been continued until May 29, 2018.
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It's standard stuff. The court sets a quick trial date to comply with the Speedy Trial Act. The defendant says he needs more time to prepare for trial and waives his speedy trial rights. The trial then gets pushed out.
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Crashola-thanks for the update.
July 5 2017 to May 29 2018-pushing a full year.
Like you say SOP- all the outrage is gone
safe bet he will take some sort of plea-
or maybe he will dig in his heals-hope a jury just sees a solid looking middle aged citizen who "accidentally" hit someone-didn't realize it- and let him completely off the hook
Rider-won't have any injuries to display-and doubt the bruises will look like much in pictures
Jurors will be DRIVERS not riders-they will see that ride as inherently dangerous foolish
I have a bad feeling-he might get off the hook-despite the video(and removing the decals etc)
of course he knew he hit the rider-
and safe bet it was intentional-angry boozer who is so disliked his own son ratted him out-
but it is plausible that it was "accidental"
Keep us posted-hell WE might croak before this is adjudicated
Charlie
July 5 2017 to May 29 2018-pushing a full year.
Like you say SOP- all the outrage is gone
safe bet he will take some sort of plea-
or maybe he will dig in his heals-hope a jury just sees a solid looking middle aged citizen who "accidentally" hit someone-didn't realize it- and let him completely off the hook
Rider-won't have any injuries to display-and doubt the bruises will look like much in pictures
Jurors will be DRIVERS not riders-they will see that ride as inherently dangerous foolish
I have a bad feeling-he might get off the hook-despite the video(and removing the decals etc)
of course he knew he hit the rider-
and safe bet it was intentional-angry boozer who is so disliked his own son ratted him out-
but it is plausible that it was "accidental"
Keep us posted-hell WE might croak before this is adjudicated
Charlie
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It's like any sort of gaming, with each side balancing a sure bet against the consequences of losing. The prosecutor looking for a point where the defense thinks that the risk of trial and a possible stiff sentence isn't justified.
My money's on a fine and some sort of probation and/or suspended sentence, possibly including community service.
On the bright side for those who want a stiff penalty, there are both state and federal charges, so regardless of what the outcomes are, the driver will be paying out serious dough inn legal fees.
In a similar case I was involved in some decades back, the prosecutor warned us that it was difficult to make these cases and he'd have to negotiate something, However, he'd play tough to the end, so the driver wasn't going to get off lightly no matter what.
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FB
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#234
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FBinNY- yeah that seems about right.
Your guess is probably no jail
In a way it is "too bad" the rider didn't have a serious injury-photos arm/leg in cast-bruised up face.
But the rider lucked out-so did the driver.
Oh well.
Charlie
Your guess is probably no jail
In a way it is "too bad" the rider didn't have a serious injury-photos arm/leg in cast-bruised up face.
But the rider lucked out-so did the driver.
Oh well.
Charlie
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If this guy ends up paying a stiff fine, after paying his lawyer $10,000 to stay out of jail, I'd consider that justice has been served.
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Right- $10,000-$25,000 all total
plus the bad publicity
seems about right for "no significant injury" accident
Yeah a JERK TAX-
jail time pointless for someone who probably won't re-offend-and "maybe" it was accidental
plus the bad publicity
seems about right for "no significant injury" accident
Yeah a JERK TAX-
jail time pointless for someone who probably won't re-offend-and "maybe" it was accidental
#237
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While many want jail sentences for stuff like this, the reality is that jail sentences don't serve society well, and impose huge costs on the state. I prefer stiff fines, including if necessary forcing folks to liquidate assets to pay, and/or alternative sentences like weekend jail, long probation, and any other alternatives which send a serious message, yet don't destroy lives or cost the state as much.
I've seen a fair number of low-earners who were actually substantially better off to take personal leave and sit out their ticket in jail than work to pay it off. Some counties credit the jail time at $200+/day, with no taxes coming out of it, so unless you take home $25+/hour, (assuming 40 hour work weeks) it's not hard to end up in that situation. Much better, IMO, to offer them $25/hr credit for community service and not have to pay all the other associated costs of incarceration. Maybe more for harder and/or higher skill jobs.
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IMO, a lot of the fine-only crimes need both some mandatory community service and an option to pay off the whole thing in community service. That way the guy making $250k/yr still has to suffer through 8-16 hours of mopping the courthouse or scrubbing graffiti in the park, while the guy making $8.50/hour minus child support doesn't have to give up 2+ weeks of his take home pay for the same minor infraction. .....
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Here is the latest from the Nashville newspaper. Trial scheduled for May. Natchez Trace Parkway bike incident will go to trial in 2018
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However, the guy with a $20k income likely has a lot of free time, (unless he's got one of those under the table jobs) so why not let him work off the whole fine on evenings and/or weekends. Gets him doing something useful, and may get him to realize that a second job wouldn't be so bad after all. Meanwhile, the $100k earner is going to feel the pinch of having to go do a full day or two of unpaid labor.
There are plenty of options to improve the current system, but political will to do so is lacking, and judges hands are tied often limiting them to options that don't serve anybody.
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We can debate sentencing equity until the cows come home, but this isn't the place for it. This thread is about a specific event, and we should try to stay on topic.
That's doubly true because if this becomes a debate about sentencing equity, it'll get moved to the P&R forum, which would be unfair to those who care about the original subject.
That's doubly true because if this becomes a debate about sentencing equity, it'll get moved to the P&R forum, which would be unfair to those who care about the original subject.
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FB
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
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Some people won't believe this can happen to them til it happens to them, like it did to me.
Is this GoPro camera hi fidelity enough to capture someone's license plate number? If so then I may need to get a little accessory upgrade.
Also hit and run is a felony, fines aren't even in it. If convicted this guy won't work in a university again (or anywhere else worth a damn), and will hopefully get some unleasant prison time as well.
Hahaha. not a surprise in the least to me, I grew up surrounded by these people and there's a shocking amount of scumbags in the ivy league crowd.
Is this GoPro camera hi fidelity enough to capture someone's license plate number? If so then I may need to get a little accessory upgrade.
Also hit and run is a felony, fines aren't even in it. If convicted this guy won't work in a university again (or anywhere else worth a damn), and will hopefully get some unleasant prison time as well.
Well, this blows my mind...I was just about ready to start thinking that the really malicious acts were caused only by malcontent curmudgeons like that guy in Michigan that drove into a cycle club ride (I don't want to say his name).
Here, we have what appears to be someone involved in an upper echelon of education, and apparently from an Ivy League college.., driving a Volvo, no-less.
This doesn't add-up: He needs to be investigated by law enforcement.., particularly forensic psychologists, so that they get a clear understanding of this drastic departure from civility, maturity and professionalism.
Here, we have what appears to be someone involved in an upper echelon of education, and apparently from an Ivy League college.., driving a Volvo, no-less.
This doesn't add-up: He needs to be investigated by law enforcement.., particularly forensic psychologists, so that they get a clear understanding of this drastic departure from civility, maturity and professionalism.
Last edited by Oneder; 04-27-18 at 06:53 PM.
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This is the reason why camera is a must for everyone during travel. Anyways, I'm glad that the driver was caught, It was all clear in the video what the driver did.
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WOW! Just WOW! These type of incidents are scary. I hate to say this, but I think there was a lack of common sense on the parts of both sides. Going up a long hill riding two abreast with a double yellow line is not being very considerate to people that have to be somewhere in a timely manner. I'm most definitely not condoning what the vehicle driver did either. This should not be a war of us against them, and this is what it looks like it's turning into.
I'm glad the guy got caught.
I'm glad the guy got caught.
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The two abreast argument is specious in almost all cases, unless the road is very wide.
it's made by people in cars who want to (unsafely) squeeze past a cyclist who they think should be hugging the gutter. Even if the cyclist is on the white line, if the car gives the recommended (if not required) 3 or 4 feet, few roads in the country would allow that without the car crossing the center line.
Given that the car is going to cross the center line anyway, it can't pass until the way is clear. If the way is clear, then fully changing lanes is not a problem anyway.
So why on a narrow road is riding two abreast a problem?
I have noted that car drivers these days seem to have a serious aversion to turning the wheel more than a few degrees. I'm serious about this. I have noted that when pulling into or out of the subdivision I live in (I have the corner lot) people tend to go very wide, driving in the oncoming lane for a couple hundred feet or more, unless there's oncoming traffic there. And they like to cut the corner, driving on my lawn a lot (do I sound old?). When passing people want to just barely turn the wheel.
it's made by people in cars who want to (unsafely) squeeze past a cyclist who they think should be hugging the gutter. Even if the cyclist is on the white line, if the car gives the recommended (if not required) 3 or 4 feet, few roads in the country would allow that without the car crossing the center line.
Given that the car is going to cross the center line anyway, it can't pass until the way is clear. If the way is clear, then fully changing lanes is not a problem anyway.
So why on a narrow road is riding two abreast a problem?
I have noted that car drivers these days seem to have a serious aversion to turning the wheel more than a few degrees. I'm serious about this. I have noted that when pulling into or out of the subdivision I live in (I have the corner lot) people tend to go very wide, driving in the oncoming lane for a couple hundred feet or more, unless there's oncoming traffic there. And they like to cut the corner, driving on my lawn a lot (do I sound old?). When passing people want to just barely turn the wheel.
#247
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WOW! Just WOW! These type of incidents are scary. I hate to say this, but I think there was a lack of common sense on the parts of both sides. Going up a long hill riding two abreast with a double yellow line is not being very considerate to people that have to be somewhere in a timely manner. I'm most definitely not condoning what the vehicle driver did either. This should not be a war of us against them, and this is what it looks like it's turning into.
I'm glad the guy got caught.
I'm glad the guy got caught.
Read closely, the driver lied about hitting the biker and tried to cover the damage to his vehicle.
If you are guilty of riding two abreast it's not a reason to be run down. The vehicle behind must yield to slower moving vehicles, not run over/into them!
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Of course not, and I don't believe I said anything remotely like that. I was also unaware that this is a designated bike recreational road.
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WOW! Just WOW! These type of incidents are scary. I hate to say this, but I think there was a lack of common sense on the parts of both sides. Going up a long hill riding two abreast with a double yellow line is not being very considerate to people that have to be somewhere in a timely manner. I'm most definitely not condoning what the vehicle driver did either. This should not be a war of us against them, and this is what it looks like it's turning into.
I'm glad the guy got caught.
I'm glad the guy got caught.
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What ever happened to common courtesy? If I am driving or riding a slower vehicle, bicycle, class A motorhome, etc, if I notice I am slowing somebody else down, I will generally pull over at the first safe opportunity and allow them to pass. I have done that many, many times on my bicycle, as well as motorhome. The law where I live states that a bicycle may occupy the full lane on certain marked roadways. I will still pull far enough off to the side to allow faster traffic room to pass. Just because the law says I can do something does not mean it's always wise.