john4789

Then this happened:

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2015...ets-handcuffed

spdntrxi

F'n cops... I would have rode away from his arse.... see ya... catch me fat boy

JonnyHK 

"Since there is no damage to the car we'll do you a deal. We won't push for a careless/dangerous driving charge against this off duty officer (by the way, here is a list of witnesses) if you drop the charges against my client, the cyclist. Sound fair?"

B. Carfree

It sounds like somebody didn't like having his poor driving pointed out to him. I hope the victim pursues his case against the officer and his department. We need cops who obey the law, not cops who abuse their position to harass law-abiding citizens.

Chris516

It is situations like this. That makes me glad I asked my parents' for, and was presented with, a GoPro Hero 4 Silver. For my birthday back in May.

While I understand why he hit the (off-duty)officer's vehicle. At the same time that could be considered 'assault on a police officer'.

Still, I hope the officer is held accountable.

Another thought does come to mind. If the officer was really off-duty. Then why did he have a pair of handcuffs on his person. Because, Police officers don't keep their gunbelt on that has their handcuffs(uniformed-only), or keep their handcuffs(plainclothes) on their person. When they are off-duty. They have to turn that in before they leave the station.

Some departments are allowing officers to take their cruiser/plain brown wrapper, home. The county police here allow that.

FBinNY 

Sorry, not fair at all. If this were simply a shouting match, then we might argue that each gave as good as he got. But this is an armed police officer, and it's critical that he knows the limits of his authority, and can keep a cool head if aggravated or flustered. This is why we nee to hold them to a higher standard relating to nonsense like this. Cops who abuse their badge, or who can't control their tempers are no good to anybody, least of all to the force that employs them.

That said, I wasn't there, and don't know the extent of the give and take (if any) and whether any of it rose to the level where "disorderly conduct" might apply. Certainly, hard hand thumps against a vehicle, when/where one's life might be threatened doesn't.

SalsaShark

I have banged on moving cars before to get inattentive drivers' attention. Will continue to do so if it keeps me from getting run over....I can deal with an angry individual, but cannot deal with a ton of automobile on my back

JonnyHK 

Given how the 'system' works it would be a good result. We all know cops are rarely held accountable to the same standards if at all.

Hitting a vehicle quite easily falls into many categories: disorderly conduct could apply as could criminal damage (no damage technically necessary in some places) or my favourite AUS charge of "interfering with a motor vehicle".

However, hitting a car could easily be seen as 'justified' in your defence if the car was driving dangerously and it was your only method to hand (so to speak!) to attract the attention of the driver (bikes don't have horns).

A half decent lawyer would beat this BS charge if it goes to court. Too many witnesses who will say the SUV was driving like an A-hole.

kickstart

Its situations like this that make me glad I don't have one.

I'm not easy to provoke, and tend to be more forgiving than most, but I have a temper, and don't hold back when pushed too far or unjustly. Its better that I focus on the possible consequences, rather than providing myself evidence of justification.

Chris516

While I get the evidence. I don't react 'in the moment'. Except for the occasional WHAT!!!!. I don't have the time, on the road. For a long drawn out discussion about the driver's errant, ignorant ways.

CliffordK

Was the driver of the SUV observing the 3 foot or 4 foot law or whatever the local law is for a safe passing distance? It is pretty hard to bang on someone's vehicle if it is over 4 feet away. Unless the bike swerved towards the vehicle just to knock on the window.

As long as they don't run over me, I don't worry too much about other people's driving.

I did, however, knock on an old lady's window a week ago. Her trunk was open. I pointed to the back of her car... she motioned to me to close it (which I did) and then she waved a thank you.

Dave Cutter

So what did we learn here? That it is currently trendy to hate the police? And that the most trendy bigotry is that against all who wear blue? Apparently so.

Pounding on the cars that frighten you may seem cool. But no one has the right to pound on someone else's car/SUV. Being scared is a normal human reaction... but it does not entitle anyone to react violently. The hotshot lawyer knew better then to pound on someone's car. He has no excuse. I am sure the cop would have rather handcuffed some one other than a lawyer for such a pissy offense. Stupid actions are always lose, lose.

LesterOfPuppets

If you don't want your car to get slapped, don't swerve into the bike lane.

Cop or not, makes no difference. Well, you'd think a cop could maintain his lane, the police around here have track days at PIR.

79pmooney

We used to semi-jokingly talk of mounting spokes on our bikes sticking out to the left to scratch the paint of motorists who pass too close. Recently I have had a number pass within 12". Now, if I get some spoke-like 14 ga wire that extends say 15" past my body and a passing motorist scraped his paint on it, can he argue I was willfully damaging property? In Oregon, one must pass a bicycle "safely". I would ask my attorney if I could counter-sue for endangerment AND reimbursement for my costs of his suit. (I would do this so if I can report his license #, I can also say "you will find a scratch from this encounter X" above the road. Take a photo showing that wire with tape measures showing the height off the road and distance out from my body. That "safely" part of Oregon law would be pretty hard to argue against.

Ben

Chief

America's biggest street gang....

Trevtassie

Yeah, because you should just let people swerve into your safety zone with a 2 tonne weapon... what would you suggest then to get the attention of a driver who is driving dangerously? A howdy hoo' and a polite "excuse me, but you are trying to kill me". The violence in this situation is the driver threatening a cyclist with a deadly weapon, not a fist against steel and glass.

What the bet the a$$ hat policeman will be shown to have been texting or jerking around with their mobile, and having crapped their dacks when the window got pounded on, didn't do the sensible thing and slink off, but went I'm a pleesman I can do anyfink I want.

skye

The only thing we learned from this post is that you're a troll, and a crappy one at that.

dksix

I see it as the perfect storm. Both probably used to using there status in the legal system to their advantage but this time they came up against someone also who felt entitled. I doubt either would have handled the situation like they did had the other known who they were dealing with, also doubt it's this first time either acted this way. Yes, this requires some speculation on my part but what are the odds that the first time the cycle got aggressive was with the first time the off duty cop paid no attention to his driving?

02Giant 

This from the guy who threatens to kick someones azz who flips him off...talk about stupid.

Moe Zhoost

I've rapped a few doors and hoods before when vehicles encroached into my space. Seemed like the thing to do at the time but I can't say that it really did anything other then allow me to relieve some ire. Policeman definitely seemed to lose his cool, and likely could have handled this differently. It will be interesting to see how this case evolves.

Paul Barnard

I have a hunch those charges will get dropped. I hope the bicyclist pursues a formal complaint against the officer. Having witnesses helps. As far as banging on vehicles goes, I have never done it and generally consider it a bad idea. I am not saying I won't, but if I am that concerned for my safety, I am going to invest my efforts in avoiding collision.

Dave Cutter

Wow! You must have been there and seen first hand the total carnage of the severely injured cyclist huh?!?!? Wait... there was NO injury you say? Just a lawyer bad mouthing those that serve?!?! Your post is a shining example of the new trendy hatred for our police.

Dave Cutter

Interesting. I doubt you learned anything from this or any of these posts. You operate on you feelings. You "feel" the cops are bad people... cause you're told to feel that way by your peers. You haven't lived enough to know better... and learning... well that would require you make an effort wouldn't it.

Dave Cutter

I don't recalled threating anyone (recently). I think you've got your posters mixed up (...talk about stupid). In parts of the world gestures (and things like car slapping) can be considered invites to violence. A lot of times the naïve, or very young, don't realize this.

However I am a veteran.... and have served my country in uniform. So I guess you could say I've worked as a hired killer. You could say that... if you're asshat... or a lawyer.

Dave Cutter

Pounding on (and sometime denting) cars is malicious, childish, and against the law. Bad idea? Yeah.

I'd defend my life... by whatever mean necessary. And I expect others to do the same. But it's just childish silliness to pretend that anyone thinks for a minute that the guys life was in danger. Most car slapping is just childish street bad behavior.... and nothing more. The idiot managed to slap the wrong car was all.