Looking For Opinions About Incident In Rush Hour Today

[yssie]

::HUGS:: Smurfy!!



I don't believe he was a real cop, so I'm assuming he was just messing with you too - and I reckon he'd be in a big pile of doodoo if he's caught playing at cop actually - but whatever it was, I'd be a wreck too!

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 5/15/2010 8:07:07 PM
Author: kenny
I consider someone pretending to be a cop, when the aren''t, to be very very dangerous.


I''d report it with a description of the guy, the car and the license plate number.

I told the sheriff about what happened and described the car and the guy, but unfortunately I didn''t get his license plate number. I didn''t think to write it down at the time, hopefully there won''t be a next time, but if there is, im definitely getting the plate number

 

[PumpkinPie]

he sounds like a bit of a nutjob - but it also seems as though he may have felt that you were tailgating him. His reaction however, was a bit wacky. I''m certain he was not a police officer.

 

[rockzilla]

This discussion reminded me of an advice column I recently read.

http://www.slate.com/id/2251570/ is the link. The reply to the question is in the link, second one down.

Just a reminder for all of us to be safe and smart on the road. So many people can be affected by an offhand, split second decision.

Dear Prudence,

A little more than a year ago, I witnessed a horrible accident. I was hauling my horse and driving the speed limit. A young woman behind me became impatient and attempted to pass a car, a bus, and my trailer around a blind curve. When she realized there was oncoming traffic, she tried to squeeze back in between me and the bus but got broadsided by the car in the other lane. She died on impact, and the couple in the other car was seriously injured. I pulled over and went to see whether I could help the couple. The first words a bystander said to me were, "This is what happens when you drive too slow." I have suffered tremendous guilt over the death of this young woman. I know it was not my fault, but I still blame myself. I often need to pull over when I drive because I sob uncontrollably. I obsessively run over what I could have done differently to prevent her death. I have told no one about my part in the accident, aside from my husband and therapist. I am so ashamed. How can I move on from this tragic event?

—Guilt Ridden
http://www.slate.com/id/2251570/

 

[Laila619]

Date: 5/15/2010 2:27:49 PM
Author: kenny
99.99% of the time you do not need to pass.

Take a deep breath.
Slow down.
Back away from the slow driver and just accept you are going to get there 45 seconds later.

I am a slow driver who tries to be as considerate as possible while still saving gas.
Often I'm passed up and meet that car at the next red light, where I resist the temptation to look over.
They used up gas and brake pads for no reason.

Ditto kenny.

No worries Smurfy, the guy was just messing with you. He wasn't a cop. Just probably thoroughly annoyed at being tailgated.

 

[Laila619]

Date: 5/16/2010 10:06:13 AM
Author: rockzilla
This discussion reminded me of an advice column I recently read.

http://www.slate.com/id/2251570/ is the link. The reply to the question is in the link, second one down.

Just a reminder for all of us to be safe and smart on the road. So many people can be affected by an offhand, split second decision.

Dear Prudence,

A little more than a year ago, I witnessed a horrible accident. I was hauling my horse and driving the speed limit. A young woman behind me became impatient and attempted to pass a car, a bus, and my trailer around a blind curve. When she realized there was oncoming traffic, she tried to squeeze back in between me and the bus but got broadsided by the car in the other lane. She died on impact, and the couple in the other car was seriously injured. I pulled over and went to see whether I could help the couple. The first words a bystander said to me were, 'This is what happens when you drive too slow.' I have suffered tremendous guilt over the death of this young woman. I know it was not my fault, but I still blame myself. I often need to pull over when I drive because I sob uncontrollably. I obsessively run over what I could have done differently to prevent her death. I have told no one about my part in the accident, aside from my husband and therapist. I am so ashamed. How can I move on from this tragic event?

—Guilt Ridden
http://www.slate.com/id/2251570/

That is awful, but it was NOT the "slow" driver's fault!!

 

[FrekeChild]

Impersonating a police officer is a very serious offense here in NM. Take down their license plater number, should that ever happen again.

 

[kittybean]

Date: 5/15/2010 4:47:20 AM
Author:Smurfyimproved

I''m really concerned because in Colorado reckless driving is a VERY serious criminal charge. It''s as bad as a DUI. I personally didn''t think I was being reckless apart from trying to pass sooner than I could, but then backed down...Anyways, any thoughts you all have on this would be appreciated...

... I don''t know what to think, but I read that in Colorado if you are accused of reckless driving that you have to go to jail for a year and/or have your license suspended for 90 days :- Not to mention it would stay on your record forever.

This is not true. DUI = 12 points and automatic license suspension. Reckless = 8 points and possible suspension if you have too many points on your license already. Both are misdemeanors.

The jail/license suspension you mention are the maximum possible penalties. These are very, very rarely imposed. Jail would be appropriate if there were some extreme aggravating circumstances. Most of the time, it wouldn''t happen.

The circumstances you described would, in my opinion, be unlikely to sustain a conviction of reckless driving. If you were pulled over by a real cop, you may have been cited for careless driving (4-point ticket), which you would likely be able to plead down to a lesser offense if your driving record is decent.

Moral of the story = that guy is a jerk and most likely not a real police officer, but you should be careful driving in the rain.

Disclaimer: this is all just my personal opinion and does not constitute legal authority or advice in any way.

 

[waterlilly]

You should have taken his license plate number down and reported him. Impersonating a police officer is a felony and that is exactly what he attempted to do.

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 5/16/2010 10:06:13 AM
Author: rockzilla
This discussion reminded me of an advice column I recently read.


http://www.slate.com/id/2251570/ is the link. The reply to the question is in the link, second one down.


Just a reminder for all of us to be safe and smart on the road. So many people can be affected by an offhand, split second decision.


Dear Prudence,


A little more than a year ago, I witnessed a horrible accident. I was hauling my horse and driving the speed limit. A young woman behind me became impatient and attempted to pass a car, a bus, and my trailer around a blind curve. When she realized there was oncoming traffic, she tried to squeeze back in between me and the bus but got broadsided by the car in the other lane. She died on impact, and the couple in the other car was seriously injured. I pulled over and went to see whether I could help the couple. The first words a bystander said to me were, ''This is what happens when you drive too slow.'' I have suffered tremendous guilt over the death of this young woman. I know it was not my fault, but I still blame myself. I often need to pull over when I drive because I sob uncontrollably. I obsessively run over what I could have done differently to prevent her death. I have told no one about my part in the accident, aside from my husband and therapist. I am so ashamed. How can I move on from this tragic event?


—Guilt Ridden

http://www.slate.com/id/2251570/

That is absolutely horrible. When it comes down to it, you can''t speed along with a horse trailer. And the other person was being irresponsible, not that driver. I feel so bad for them.