JoeyBike

Well...OK...but that vehicle in the video looked like a typical diesel vehicle in good repair. Anyone driving a diesel truck can blow smoke if they floor it up a hill, even a brand-spanking new one with a paper "license plate" in the window. I am not sure how effective it would be reporting that prank without video proof of some sort. Even then the operator could simply say he was powering up the mountain and his truck blew smoke just like every other diesel on the road straining up a hill.

Or maybe my sense of humor is better than most. I can think of a long list of things passing motorists can/have done to me that deserved the attention of law enforcement. If I called the cops every time a diesel blew smoke on me I think Siri would divorce me and the cops would block my number.

A&S is a tough crowd. Wow.

To desensitize yourselves go here:


These are trucks at a diesel tech training course and are all in perfect repair. Or do a Google search for "Diesel Smokeout Video" - it's a hillbilly national pastime. Get with the program folks. Embrace a foreign culture today! (Although, I don't think the local fire department was all that impressed when they showed up for nothing)

dynodonn 

In Louisiana, brand new unmodified diesel trucks might emit that amount of smoke when floored, thankfully that's not the case here. Wanna let loose of some hard earned cash and support the man, do some "rolling coal" exhibitions on public streets in my locale. There was a brief period in my locale a few years back when "rolling coal" was popular among diesel truck owners, not so now, especially hearing about some hefty fines being handed out.

The crowd here is tough, but you seem to keep coming back for more.

JoeyBike

A&S is always entertaining one way or another.

GHill762

eh, I've seen better coal rollin videos.. and WAY better just around town..

adablduya

i would disagree with your claim. enciting violence is not free speech.

Notso_fastLane

TO be a bit more precise, the driver threatened violence, he didn't incite it. Inciting violence is trying to get others to do it for you.

Also, most states have laws that attempt to curtail violence pre-emptively, allowing people to be cited for 'threats and intimidation' or similarly worded ordinances. This would definitely fall under that category, in my non-legal opinion.

katsrevenge

The guy behind the shootings in California that left 7 dead also had a history of posting scary and threatening videos on Youtube. If he had been correctly ID'ed as a danger before hand, he would have gotten the help he needed and his victims would still be alive.

This guy is doing the same thing, going through the same process. Hopefully he gets the help he needs before he kills or injures someone who is just out riding their bike. The police are doing their job; I'm glad to see it.


The Disturbing Internet Footprint Of Santa Barbara Shooter Elliot Rodger - Forbes

katsrevenge

Ugh. looks like we need tighter laws on truck emissions.

Mr. Hairy Legs

Or a mandatory sterilization program.

katsrevenge

I thought that was whatever happened after "Hold my beer, ya'll watch this" was uttered...

FrenchFit 

I say he has serious psychological problems and was calling out for help. Worth remembering that a large percentage of our population suffers from mental illness in some degree, undiagnosed and untreated. And, lots of them are behind the wheel. In my USA, which I will never see in my lifetime, the DMV would do psychological testing, difficult written and in car driving exams, every three years - no exceptions. Driving is a privilege, and 20-30% shouldn't make the cut.

02Giant 

I agree with this 100%...but, you end up with more unlicensed and uninsured drivers on the road.

FBinNY 

Which is a major reason we're seeing more hit and runs.

02Giant 

That seams to be getting more common around here also.

dougmc

Is it really?

I don't doubt that it's a significant factor, but a major reason?

Most hit and runs don't seem to ever be solved, but when somebody *dies* the police tend to take things a lot more seriously and most of those end up solved, and in the large majority of those cases it seems that the driver was properly licensed (and presumably drunk, with that being the reason for the hit and run). There's certainly some exceptions, but most of the drivers seem to be licensed.

The reality is ... if you're caught driving without a license, the penalty isn't that high, far less than that of a hit and run with injury or intoxication assault/manslaughter.

FBinNY 

Agree with everything you said, but data from places like California show no license/no insurance to be major reasons (though not The major reason). While the penalty for no license driving may not be severe, that for a no license accident can be, especially in the case of a suspended or revokes license. That's a different legal situation than never driving with an expired, or never having had one in the first place.

Add in no insurance, and the problems of non-documented aliens, and you have large numbers of people who simply cannot be caught having had a serious accident.

The reasons for hit and run are many, and the mix of causes probably varies according to region. Some years back the number one reason for hit and run in the Newark, NJ area was car theft. Drivers having accidents there committed hit and run literally, abandoning the car and bolting on foot.

shipwreck

I don't know why, but I thought it was Hi-larious myself, in a sort of grim, black foxhole humor sort of way. I'm in the hills, and get lots of diesel drivers trying to get me on the up hills, even to the point of light power braking to get more smoke. My reaction when I saw the vid was, "this guy is pretty good". Most of the hickabillys here either miss, or else misjudge the wind.
My family, on the other hand, was incensed, especially when I told them how often I get it, and how this guy is way better than most.

I would rather have someone blow smoke at me than throw a beer bottle or do a close pass.

JoeyBike

Yep. Same thoughts I had while watching it.

Mithrandir

Incorrect. Many restrictions on speech have been deemed constitutional; you cannot yell fire in a theatre, you cannot libel or slander, you cannot falsely advertise, you cannot foment sedition, and most importantly... you cannot threaten the lives of your fellow citizens. This man was threatening the lives of me and my fellow cyclists, and I hope he rots in prison for a *very* long time.

Essex

Sadly, I don't think Maddox is going to be spending much time behind jail. If he gets a lawyer who advises him to do the right thing he'll probably promise to do some community service/psych work and he'll get off…unless there's something else there. I would bet donut dollars that he has had prior arrests, some type of chemical dependency and needs some serious psychological counseling. This is in addition to graduating from high school.

achoo

Yeah, but he's gonna be out a few thousand bucks for that lawyer.

That in itself is a significant punishment.

Essex

Again, I will bet donut dollars that - he'd gonna dun represent himself as a lawyer…'shade tree' type.

The punishment will be the folks in the room having to listen to him speak.

Rollfast

Was this REALLY the OP's first post?

CB HI

And it has been an interesting thread.

Too bad it is another thread that you do not want to read but feel forced to post in.

dougmc

Looks like he plead guilty and was ordered to attend anger management classes, and if he keeps his nose clean the entire thing will be dismissed -- classic deferred adjudication.

Piedmont man pleads guilty in anti-cycling viral video case - The Anniston Star: News