Cop ticketed driver tailgating and honking at me today!
10-20-05, 11:35 AM
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Cop ticketed driver tailgating and honking at me today!
So, I drop my six year old off at school (we ride a tandem every morning) and I am headed back home in front of the school where there is a lane in each direction and traffic is very slow due to the line of parents in SUVs (mostly) dropping there kids off at school. I am taking the entire line because there is no shoulder and with the lane opposite me stop and go there is no room for both me and a car.
So I am crusing along at 17 MPH or so (in a 20) and this guy behind me thinks he is Johann Bruneel and 3-5 from the back of my bike honking his horn. I look back and then hold my left arm (palm down) in a "slow down jesture". He continues and keeps honking. I only have about 300 yards more to go so I shrug and keep riding. As I am getting ready to turn into my sub I notice a police car in the sub and think about saying something to him but as I turn the police car puts on his flashers and pulls out behind the guy and pulls the guy over. I ride back out on the main street to watch.
Net/net, the guy gets out of his car pointing at me and asking the officer "did you see him, did you see him?", "he was riding in the middle of the street, not the sidewalk", etc. . .The officer tells him (I am close enough to hear) that I was doing the right thing and he was doing the wrong thing, that cyclists have a right to the road and can take the whole lane where safe (Texas law). The guy is going ape sh** and the officer very calmly tells him to go back to his car and get his license, registration. He comes back and hands his stuff over and is again pointing at me (the officer asked me to hang around for my info as he suspects this guy will contest the ticket). The officer points out that it is a school zone with a 20mph limit and I was going almost 20.
He writes the ticket and hands it to the guy who sees it and starts screaming "what the f*** - reckless driving?". At that he tells the guy to either get in his car and leave or he will arrest him for disorderly conduct. The guy got in his car and drove away.
I was pumped! The cop told me he is done being nice to drivers that act like he did - he said if he wasn't honking and driving in an almost threatening manner he would have let him off with a warning. I thanked the officer!
Adam
So I am crusing along at 17 MPH or so (in a 20) and this guy behind me thinks he is Johann Bruneel and 3-5 from the back of my bike honking his horn. I look back and then hold my left arm (palm down) in a "slow down jesture". He continues and keeps honking. I only have about 300 yards more to go so I shrug and keep riding. As I am getting ready to turn into my sub I notice a police car in the sub and think about saying something to him but as I turn the police car puts on his flashers and pulls out behind the guy and pulls the guy over. I ride back out on the main street to watch.
Net/net, the guy gets out of his car pointing at me and asking the officer "did you see him, did you see him?", "he was riding in the middle of the street, not the sidewalk", etc. . .The officer tells him (I am close enough to hear) that I was doing the right thing and he was doing the wrong thing, that cyclists have a right to the road and can take the whole lane where safe (Texas law). The guy is going ape sh** and the officer very calmly tells him to go back to his car and get his license, registration. He comes back and hands his stuff over and is again pointing at me (the officer asked me to hang around for my info as he suspects this guy will contest the ticket). The officer points out that it is a school zone with a 20mph limit and I was going almost 20.
He writes the ticket and hands it to the guy who sees it and starts screaming "what the f*** - reckless driving?". At that he tells the guy to either get in his car and leave or he will arrest him for disorderly conduct. The guy got in his car and drove away.
I was pumped! The cop told me he is done being nice to drivers that act like he did - he said if he wasn't honking and driving in an almost threatening manner he would have let him off with a warning. I thanked the officer!
Adam
10-20-05, 11:42 AM
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Oh man right on!
And of course the driver had no clue as to the actual laws... making them up as he went along. Classic.
This really hits the nail on the head... many many times I have stated that motorists simply don't understand that we have the rights to be there.
OK so that's 1... there are only another 100 million or so to go. ;D
And of course the driver had no clue as to the actual laws... making them up as he went along. Classic.
This really hits the nail on the head... many many times I have stated that motorists simply don't understand that we have the rights to be there.
OK so that's 1... there are only another 100 million or so to go. ;D
10-20-05, 11:45 AM
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Bwahahaha. Kudos for the officer. He should have set the perp on fire right from the "he was riding in the middle of the street" comment.
That's one nice thing about suburban school zones. There is often a cop there waiting for dangerous behavior around the kiddies.
That's one nice thing about suburban school zones. There is often a cop there waiting for dangerous behavior around the kiddies.
10-20-05, 11:53 AM
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That is great! Thanks for the story. Now if they'd only enforce the law out of the School Zone as well.
10-20-05, 11:54 AM
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Excellent. Not much more I can say.
(I've been on rare occasion close followed and honked at by drivers when I was traveling in the lane at 16mph in a 15mph school zone. One driver even passed me crossing double yellow with agressive swerving and just barely missed hitting the 'SCHOOL ZONE - DO NOT PASS SIGN as they did it. Boy did I wish an officer was there at the time.)
Al
(I've been on rare occasion close followed and honked at by drivers when I was traveling in the lane at 16mph in a 15mph school zone. One driver even passed me crossing double yellow with agressive swerving and just barely missed hitting the 'SCHOOL ZONE - DO NOT PASS SIGN as they did it. Boy did I wish an officer was there at the time.)
Al
10-20-05, 12:03 PM
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Am I dreaming**********??? That is sooooo cool. Update us on the outcome, if you get called as a witness.
Originally Posted by acrafton
So, I drop my six year old off at school (we ride a tandem every morning) and I am headed back home in front of the school where there is a lane in each direction and traffic is very slow due to the line of parents in SUVs (mostly) dropping there kids off at school. I am taking the entire line because there is no shoulder and with the lane opposite me stop and go there is no room for both me and a car.
So I am crusing along at 17 MPH or so (in a 20) and this guy behind me thinks he is Johann Bruneel and 3-5 from the back of my bike honking his horn. I look back and then hold my left arm (palm down) in a "slow down jesture". He continues and keeps honking. I only have about 300 yards more to go so I shrug and keep riding. As I am getting ready to turn into my sub I notice a police car in the sub and think about saying something to him but as I turn the police car puts on his flashers and pulls out behind the guy and pulls the guy over. I ride back out on the main street to watch.
Net/net, the guy gets out of his car pointing at me and asking the officer "did you see him, did you see him?", "he was riding in the middle of the street, not the sidewalk", etc. . .The officer tells him (I am close enough to hear) that I was doing the right thing and he was doing the wrong thing, that cyclists have a right to the road and can take the whole lane where safe (Texas law). The guy is going ape sh** and the officer very calmly tells him to go back to his car and get his license, registration. He comes back and hands his stuff over and is again pointing at me (the officer asked me to hang around for my info as he suspects this guy will contest the ticket). The officer points out that it is a school zone with a 20mph limit and I was going almost 20.
He writes the ticket and hands it to the guy who sees it and starts screaming "what the f*** - reckless driving?". At that he tells the guy to either get in his car and leave or he will arrest him for disorderly conduct. The guy got in his car and drove away.
I was pumped! The cop told me he is done being nice to drivers that act like he did - he said if he wasn't honking and driving in an almost threatening manner he would have let him off with a warning. I thanked the officer!
Adam
So I am crusing along at 17 MPH or so (in a 20) and this guy behind me thinks he is Johann Bruneel and 3-5 from the back of my bike honking his horn. I look back and then hold my left arm (palm down) in a "slow down jesture". He continues and keeps honking. I only have about 300 yards more to go so I shrug and keep riding. As I am getting ready to turn into my sub I notice a police car in the sub and think about saying something to him but as I turn the police car puts on his flashers and pulls out behind the guy and pulls the guy over. I ride back out on the main street to watch.
Net/net, the guy gets out of his car pointing at me and asking the officer "did you see him, did you see him?", "he was riding in the middle of the street, not the sidewalk", etc. . .The officer tells him (I am close enough to hear) that I was doing the right thing and he was doing the wrong thing, that cyclists have a right to the road and can take the whole lane where safe (Texas law). The guy is going ape sh** and the officer very calmly tells him to go back to his car and get his license, registration. He comes back and hands his stuff over and is again pointing at me (the officer asked me to hang around for my info as he suspects this guy will contest the ticket). The officer points out that it is a school zone with a 20mph limit and I was going almost 20.
He writes the ticket and hands it to the guy who sees it and starts screaming "what the f*** - reckless driving?". At that he tells the guy to either get in his car and leave or he will arrest him for disorderly conduct. The guy got in his car and drove away.
I was pumped! The cop told me he is done being nice to drivers that act like he did - he said if he wasn't honking and driving in an almost threatening manner he would have let him off with a warning. I thanked the officer!
Adam
10-20-05, 12:07 PM
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Road rage takes many forms. In Texas there are definitely some serious laws against it. The same can be said of reckless driving, as at least one bonehead cager has discovered. Cool!
10-20-05, 12:23 PM
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Horrible school zone killings. Motorist charged with murder.
https://www.sfgate.com/flat/archive/2...GDCFB8G01.html
VACAVILLE
Crash kills 2 young schoolkids
Brother, sister die, 10 people hurt when speeding car loses control, hitting a group of children as they were leaving class
Demian Bulwa, Leslie Fulbright, Chronicle Staff Writers
Thursday, October 20, 2005
A speeding driver in Vacaville lost control of his car and crashed into a crowd of mostly young children near an elementary school that had just let out, killing two siblings and injuring 10 other people on Wednesday, police said.
https://www.sfgate.com/flat/archive/2...GDCFB8G01.html
VACAVILLE
Crash kills 2 young schoolkids
Brother, sister die, 10 people hurt when speeding car loses control, hitting a group of children as they were leaving class
Demian Bulwa, Leslie Fulbright, Chronicle Staff Writers
Thursday, October 20, 2005
A speeding driver in Vacaville lost control of his car and crashed into a crowd of mostly young children near an elementary school that had just let out, killing two siblings and injuring 10 other people on Wednesday, police said.
Maybe the cop rides, too??
10-20-05, 12:34 PM
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Reminds me a LOT of a ticket I did not get for speeding. 80 MPH back in the 55 limit days. The CHP Sarge who pulled me over asked if I had $40 that I wanted to throw away. I said no sir and he said then slow down. End of stop. Reading between the lines it seems this cop might have been leaning the same way, but then this jerk at the least talked himself into a bigger ticket.
10-20-05, 12:41 PM
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It's.... it's just so beautiful! *sniff*
Seriously, hooray! Let's hope this sort of thing becomes a trend (I mean the enforcement, not the situation). Two days ago a cab squeezed around me when I was rightfully in the lane going fast... right in front of a couple of cops. Now, they did not ticket the guy but one cop yelled at the cabbie. Made my morning! (I thanked the cop as I went by, of course!)
Seriously, hooray! Let's hope this sort of thing becomes a trend (I mean the enforcement, not the situation). Two days ago a cab squeezed around me when I was rightfully in the lane going fast... right in front of a couple of cops. Now, they did not ticket the guy but one cop yelled at the cabbie. Made my morning! (I thanked the cop as I went by, of course!)
10-20-05, 12:53 PM
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Here is how the driver will remember it:
I was just driving down the and this guy on a bicycle is doing circles the the middle of the street. I stopped and waited a little bit to see if he would see me. After a minute of waiting I tapped my horn to get his attention. Then all of the sudden this cop pulls up behind and gives ME a ticket. Cops got nothing better to than pull me over for nothing on my way to work.
I was just driving down the and this guy on a bicycle is doing circles the the middle of the street. I stopped and waited a little bit to see if he would see me. After a minute of waiting I tapped my horn to get his attention. Then all of the sudden this cop pulls up behind and gives ME a ticket. Cops got nothing better to than pull me over for nothing on my way to work.
Originally Posted by acrafton
So, I drop my six year old off at school (we ride a tandem every morning) and I am headed back home in front of the school where there is a lane in each direction and traffic is very slow due to the line of parents in SUVs (mostly) dropping there kids off at school. I am taking the entire line because there is no shoulder and with the lane opposite me stop and go there is no room for both me and a car.
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10-20-05, 12:59 PM
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What police jurisdiction was that? KUDOS to them and to you!
You know, when the f-word left the guy's lips, the officer could have written him up for another offense. It is illegal to swear at a peace officer in Texas.
Woo-hoo! The Lone Star State is getting wiser !!!
You know, when the f-word left the guy's lips, the officer could have written him up for another offense. It is illegal to swear at a peace officer in Texas.
Woo-hoo! The Lone Star State is getting wiser !!!
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10-20-05, 01:59 PM
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i have dreams about this sort of thing.
10-20-05, 03:23 PM
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You may want to consider a letter of commendation to the cop's boss. Rewarding positive behavior works wonders.
10-20-05, 04:47 PM
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Great story. Thanks for sharing.
Although, assault with a deadly weapon sounds like it may have been an even more appropriate charge.
Although, assault with a deadly weapon sounds like it may have been an even more appropriate charge.
10-20-05, 04:54 PM
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Where in Texas do you live? Please say the D/FW area!
Reckless driving! That's uber cool. I don't think you can take defenseless driving to get out of reckless driving. This guy will need to go to court and ask for deferred adjudication or get stuck with the fine and a very nice insurance rate hike. He may even need to hire a lawyer to help deal with it. Even if he ends up getting off, it's going to be a major PITA for him.
Reckless driving! That's uber cool. I don't think you can take defenseless driving to get out of reckless driving. This guy will need to go to court and ask for deferred adjudication or get stuck with the fine and a very nice insurance rate hike. He may even need to hire a lawyer to help deal with it. Even if he ends up getting off, it's going to be a major PITA for him.
10-20-05, 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by scarry
Am I dreaming**********??? That is sooooo cool. Update us on the outcome, if you get called as a witness.
So this guy appologizes to me and i just totaly ignore him. Cop taps his siren and lights and i hear to bad now pull over. I just road on. When i looked back i seen the motorist waving his hands and pointing my way. Seen the cop smiling and heard him say cyclists have every right you do on the road. Seen him gester to the bike route sign and could no longer hear what he was saying.
I was laughing damn hard from the time i heard to bad now pull over.The driver had to hear me yell to bad for you moron.
Some times us cyclists get a little vengence on the morons who infest the roads and put our lives in danger.
10-20-05, 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by lws
Absolutely, write that letter!
To make the letter even more impressive, make a donation to some charity (police fund, Katrina relief, L.A. Foundation, etc.) in the name of the dept. or officer. As they say, putting your money where your mouth is.
I did this for a ferry boat crew member who found my pack and returned it.
