Road Rage

[idkew]

I thought i might share this with everyone. My funny experience with Road Rage.

Today, I was pulling out of a parallel parking space on a fairly busy street. Behind me all I see is a car waiting to turn left, so I slowly pull out. Not fast, no hurry, nice and slow. I had new fish in the car, and I don't drive fast with them in it. They don't like it.

Anyway, when I begin to pull out, a woman in a jeep cherokee shows up behind me and starts honking at me. I can only guess she was passing the turning car on the right when I checked my mirror, because there we no cars behind me. She is quite mad, and her face makes me laugh. After a second or two of her just sitting there and yelling, I decide she is going nowhere and pull out the (80%) rest of the way.

So, she decides to honk for two blocks while tailgating me. I was going the exact speed limit. I love how that can make people more mad. So, she passes me on the right after two blocks. Stops in front of me, gets out. Attempts to confront me. I honk at her :) She gets more mad at me smiling and tries to open my door which I just locked. I was not in the mood to fight with a fat woman half my size.

She turns around to go back to her car. For all I know she is getting her gun. So, I decide to drive past her, and she tries to stop me with her body i guess, and purposely bumps into me.

Then she passes me and another fellow on the right again and speeds of.



Fun Huh?


For even more fun, I have attached a picture of her Jeep whilst passing on the right. If you are interested, her Illinois license plate is Y580125. I just wish I had taken a shot of her while she was attempting to attack me.


All in all, it was quite the entertaining experience. Just glad she didn't have a gun or anything. All because she had to wait 5 extra seconds. This is Chicago, roads are busy.

[Doctor Q]

How can you keep your sense of humor about this? That was quite a harrowing (and possibly dangerous) experience with somebody who was apparently nuts.

I'm glad you are OK. Some police cars are now equipped with videocameras. Maybe all of us should be too!

[G4scott]

The same thing happened to a friend of mines grandma... She was pulling out of a parallel parking spot, and this motorcycle must've changed lanes or something, but he thought she was going to hit him, and at the next stoplight, he kept on cussing her out and yelling crap... This guy was kinda scary, though, and we quickly made a turn to get away from him...

[bousozoku]

You know, of course, that anyone driving an SUV has the right to do anything they want. :rolleyes: Unfortunately, it's not just those with those prevalent SUVs but anyone who is more important than each of us.

Good that it turned out okay for you. Hope she's found the tree with her name on it. (Yes, after my recent traffic accident, I'm less forgiving.)

Maybe she was in a hurry because she didn't pay for the gasoline after she stopped to fill her overly-large tank. I can understand being late and trying to hurry, but to stop to do something about nothing?

[idkew]

How can you keep your sense of humor about this?

you had to see her face. :)

but- when she returned to her vehicle, i decided it was time to leave. who knows what weapon she had in there.

[Raid]

you had to see her face. :)

Now I wish you got a picture of her coming toward your car! :) I wonder if that would stop her agressiveness or make her more angry?

I had one expereince of road-rage when I was 17-18 this guy (coincidentally in a jeep cheerokee) came off the highway on to the road that I was on. Our approaches were such that he and I were side by side as he got into the right lane of the street, but he kept his speed. As we approached a nearby left curve he started creeping into my (left) lane, so I sped up (which in hindsight wasn't really the thing to do) to make it through. I did get in front of him before the curve and he got behind me flashing his brights, and honking. We came to a stop at the light and he got out to yell at me screaming (in my open window) "Do you know what the #&^king brake is?" to Which I responded "Do you know what the #&^king passing lane is?"

Really it was both our faults... but what do you expect when you approach the situation in anger?

He looked like he wanted to get physical, but since he was a 40ish overweight slob and I was a fit young punk he probably decided against it. The thought of him having a weapon never even entered my mind. I'm lucky I live in a country where I don't have to worry too much about armed idiots with all the forsight and temperment of a rabid wolverine. :rolleyes: ;)

[idkew]

Now I wish you got a picture of her coming toward your car! :) I wonder if that would stop her agressiveness or make her more angry?


Really it was both our faults... but what do you expect when you approach the situation in anger?

He looked like he wanted to get physical, but since he was a 40ish overweight slob and I was a fit young punk he probably decided against it. The thought of him having a weapon never even entered my mind. I'm lucky I live in a country where I don't have to worry too much about armed idiots with all the forsight and temperment of a rabid wolverine. :rolleyes: ;)

I bet the camera might have made her think twice, but maybe not. Maybe it would make her more mad. Who knows?

Also, this was prolly both our faults. I never saw her, and she was most likely speeding and passing illegally on the right.

I though about kicking my door open into her, but where would that get me? Where would fighting a woman get me? Either I am a bully, or I got my ass kicked by a girl. A no win situation. Also- the funny thing is, canadians have more guns (per capita) than americans. You all just must have much clearer heads, and don't resort to violence so quickly. Not sure why us americans are so quick to get furious. A finger is one thing. Stopping in the road and attempting to enter someone else's vehicle is another.

[krimson]

i usually drive speed limit when people start tailgating me... especially those big lifted trucks.. then i speed up when they try to pass, and then i try to box them in.. that really pisses them off...

but there are crazy people here, and I wouldn't go so far as you, i'd probably get shot..

[Apple Hobo]

i usually drive speed limit when people start tailgating me... especially those big lifted trucks.. then i speed up when they try to pass, and then i try to box them in.. that really pisses them off...


That's always fun to do. :D "Brake jobs" are also a fun thing to do to tailgaters. Slam on your brakes and scare the ***** out of them. They usually follow at a safe distance after that! :D :D

[mintlivedotcom]

This is my first post, after reading them for a few months now, so congratulate me.

I had an interesting road rage incident about four years ago. I was driving home on a four lane road at night and noticed the guy in front of me did not have his light on. I politely flicked my brights at him to get him to turn his on for safety reasons.

He decided to slow down to half of the posted speed limit and force me to slow down with him. After a couple minutes of this (mind you, the traffic was pretty heavy), he chose to change lanes and pull his car alongside mine.

Now I was driving a convertible at the time and immediately felt that my space and life was being invaded! He started honking and cursing at me and then pulled behind me to do the same.

Then, a stop light came up! Finally he moved alongside my car again and I turned to him as he continued to cuss. I had a mellow look on my face and told him, "Your lights are off."

He looked down into his dash and realized what I had tried to help him with. What a dork. I laughed the rest of the way home.

[virividox]

sheesh seriously you are really lucky she wasnt packing heat hehe

but its cool that you were able to stay calm getting angry only escalates these kind of things

[Dros]

i usually drive speed limit when people start tailgating me... especially those big lifted trucks.. then i speed up when they try to pass, and then i try to box them in.. that really pisses them off...

but there are crazy people here, and I wouldn't go so far as you, i'd probably get shot..

I think driving the speed limit is a reasonable thing to do, but even that is dangerous. You may be in the right, but provoking someone can have consequences. But, speeding up and boxing in is being almost as bad. If someone is passing you, it is polite to let them merge in ahead of you. You have to take the high road and let them gun past if that is what they want. Otherwise a gun is likely to get involved.

Although I will admit to often going at just the right speed at this one area in Palo Alto so that the impatient Porsche or BMW Z3 behind me would pull into the next lane to pass, only to realize the lanes were merging and have to pull back in. Usually a tailgater is so enraged by your only going 5 miles over the limit and fixated on your vehicle they block out other important cues, like the merge sign, or a red light up ahead, and make dumb decisions because of that.

[RBMaraman]

This thread reminds me of my Dad's favorite road rage story.

One time, my Dad was pulling out of a gas station when this kid on a Moped/Scooter cut him off. My Dad sped up to get next to the kid, and the kid began cussing and flicking off my Dad. They both stopped right next to each other at a stoplight, and the kid kept making gestures at my parents. As this was happening, he wasn't paying attention that my Dad's lane was clear, and traffic was backed up in his lane. When the light turned green, they both took off, and the Kid slammed into the back of a Cadillac. My parents said it was the funniest thing they've ever seen!

[iJon]

This thread reminds me of my Dad's favorite road rage story.

One time, my Dad was pulling out of a gas station when this kid on a Moped/Scooter cut him off. My Dad sped up to get next to the kid, and the kid began cussing and flicking off my Dad. They both stopped right next to each other at a stoplight, and the kid kept making gestures at my parents. As this was happening, he wasn't paying attention that my Dad's lane was clear, and traffic was backed up in his lane. When the light turned green, they both took off, and the Kid slammed into the back of a Cadillac. My parents said it was the funniest thing they've ever seen!
now that is funny as hell, did he fly off the moped?

iJon

[evoluzione]

That's always fun to do. :D "Brake jobs" are also a fun thing to do to tailgaters. Slam on your brakes and scare the ***** out of them. They usually follow at a safe distance after that! :D :D




yeah and it's also ********** dangerous. it makes you no better than the tailgater. just move out the way and know you're a better person than them. simple. anyone who deliberately cuts someone off, or slows down etc etc is just as much a danger on the roads as the "crazy driver". no one owns the roads, and most people cannot drive properly, deal with it, you're not going to change anything, just make someone even more mad and likely to cause an accident.

[Doctor Q]

Just once, I'd like to see the guy who cuts around me and everyone else, going well over the speed limit and weaving from lane to lane, get stopped by a traffic cop right before my eyes. Just once.

No, not a road rage story, just a simmering dislike of seeing people get away with it. I am against those big-brother cameras they are installing at major intersections, but I'm glad to see dangerous drivers stopped by real cops, especially if I saw the infraction and I can putt-putt right by them as they get their multi-hundred-dollar ticket at the side of the road.

[bousozoku]

That's always fun to do. :D "Brake jobs" are also a fun thing to do to tailgaters. Slam on your brakes and scare the ***** out of them. They usually follow at a safe distance after that! :D :D

You must have "learned" to drive in Floriduh. Once someone kills you in a rear-end collision, you won't slam on your brakes again.

The ones I see doing it mostly are driving 30 in a 45 mph zone on a two lane road, thinking that the speed limit is 30 as it was 20 years ago.

[latergator116]

Once, I was riding in the car with my dad when he stopped for a pedestrian at a crosswalk. This must have annoyed the car behind us because he started honking and yelling profanity at us. People can make such fools of themselves. :)

[MacAztec]

i dont drive yet but my dad has some real bad road rage. i can think of about 8 incidents off the top of my head (get out of the car and fight type deal), but i will share 2.

once i was about 11 and my sister was in highschool, we were dropping her off. On the way out of the school, some guys zoomed passed us and gave us the finger and were yelling stuff. It was a red light and my dad got out of the car and went up to the guys window. the guy was chicken and said he was sorry. then, we got back in our car. when the light turned green, the guys friends in the back flipped us off and they took off. we just left, i had to go to school.

a good one was this past year at the beach. we had been there for a month, and were at a gas station ready to go home (packed and everything). there was a big lineup, and a lot of commotion. some 20 year old guy started driving out of the station and yelled to my pops "hey you ******** toursits, get the ***** outta here". pops walked up to the car (stop sign/intersection deal) and said something to the guy. i was spit fly out of the guys window onto my dad, and my dad hit the guy in his face.

my sis got out of the car and told the guy to get the hell out of here unless he wants to die, my dad was nuts right then. he tried to open the guys car and pull him out to fight. it was hilarious.

im afraid one day somethin will piss him off and the other person that did it will pull a gun or something.

[alxths]

It's hilarious how expressive people are when they're in their cars... i'm not trying to discriminate, but i've noticed that women do this particularly much(i mean making faces and flailing arms, not actually trying to start fights). I guess it's sort of a backlash to how women are expected to repress those things a little more in every day life,than men are...

[PlaceofDis]

i had a truck driver get out of his truck and come yell at me for passing him but whatever i didnt care, im from chicago and im used to people acting like this, its nothing new to me really, people yell honk do whatever because they cant keep thier calm. i was a delivery person for about 3 years, you just have to learn to keep your cool in traffic, especially on the Kennedy...wow...but yeah your story is funny as heck, its happened to me plenty of times before

[Neserk]

How can you keep your sense of humor about this?


I was wondering the same. But I'm glad you can. When I lived on the 95 corridor I had to deal with people like her all the time. Oddly, I rarely see it in CA. People tend to be more laid back here (or scared out of their mind, one) ;)

[rainman::|:|]

i was at mcdonalds once, waiting for my food in the drive thru, and it was taking forever-- they told me to pull ahead to #1, which was a spot painted in the lane, someone runs the food out to you. The woman behind me gets her food before I do, and then sits there staring at my car for a good 10 seconds before realizing that she'd have to drive around me, and she started screaming obscenities! waving her arms, it was pathetic. We wheeled out of there, and followed her for about a block in a yelling match. Not one of my finer moments. But christ, to be that high-strung, you can't figure out a mcdonalds so you go postal?

i don't get road rage unless someone else does first... then it's on, bitch :)

paul

[Doctor Q]

When I lived on the 95 corridor I had to deal with people like her all the time. Oddly, I rarely see it in CA. People tend to be more laid back here (or scared out of their mind, one) ;)That's because we are extremely lazy. We drive from our homes to the corner mailbox. We drive up to the door of the health club and pay for valet parking so we never have to walk anywhere. We might shoot at each other on the freeway (a fad we had a few years back), but we NEVER bother to get out of our cars to fight with each other.

[cb911]

LOL :D you should have got a photo of her face. even better, video of the whole experience. :D i know if that was me, i'd probably just be sitting there laughing my ass off!! and then i'd just go around her while she was out of the car and speed off.

but are you sure you didn't pull out and cut her off? well, it sounds like you were okay... but people doing stupid things on the road also make me quite mad.

for instance, on a main road near my house, there used to be three lanes that merge to two. the left lane merged, then before the lights there was another left lane added as the turning lane. instead of merging people would just drive over the median strip where there was no lane, only a bicycle lane, then for people who had merged, then wanted to merge back into the left turning lane, they had to watch for all the asses that drove over the bike lane. a couple of times i just sped past people that did that to make sure i got in the turning lane without stopping traffic in my lane while i was trying to merge. that experience also had me wishing that i carried a crow-bar in the car, but i'm not a violent person, so i dont' carry any weapons with me when i drive. :)

idkew, although that is funny, it's not good to think about it afterwards and think that she may have had a gun. thinking about stuff like that really freaks me out.

also, if i were on a bike and a car nearly cut me off, i'd be damn pissed about it as well. people just dont' look and as a result bikes are just invisible to them, and they could easily kill someone by driving like that.

another time, i was just driving along, passing a car in the left lane... just as i was beside then they put their indicator on and decided they wanted to be in my lane. now i was parallel with me and they didnt' see me there, i just blasted my horn (pathetic though it is) and they eventually figured out that only one car can drive on a specific piece of road at a time. :rolleyes:

oh well, i better stop now or i'll be going all night. :D

[kettle]

How can you keep your sense of humor about this?
I found that putting a smiley on the thick end of my spare pick axe handle does the trick as a humour additive.

FYI a black permanent marker does the job admirably, mine actually has a little tongue at the edge of the smile to make it that little bit more jolly, it usually pays to go the extra mile! :)

Happy commuting everyone! :D

[jefhatfield]

I thought i might share this with everyone. My funny experience with Road Rage.

Today, I was pulling out of a parallel parking space on a fairly busy street. Behind me all I see is a car waiting to turn left, so I slowly pull out. Not fast, no hurry, nice and slow. I had new fish in the car, and I don't drive fast with them in it. They don't like it.

Anyway, when I begin to pull out, a woman in a jeep cherokee shows up behind me and starts honking at me. I can only guess she was passing the turning car on the right when I checked my mirror, because there we no cars behind me. She is quite mad, and her face makes me laugh. After a second or two of her just sitting there and yelling, I decide she is going nowhere and pull out the (80%) rest of the way.

So, she decides to honk for two blocks while tailgating me. I was going the exact speed limit. I love how that can make people more mad. So, she passes me on the right after two blocks. Stops in front of me, gets out. Attempts to confront me. I honk at her :) She gets more mad at me smiling and tries to open my door which I just locked. I was not in the mood to fight with a fat woman half my size.

She turns around to go back to her car. For all I know she is getting her gun. So, I decide to drive past her, and she tries to stop me with her body i guess, and purposely bumps into me.

Then she passes me and another fellow on the right again and speeds of.



Fun Huh?


For even more fun, I have attached a picture of her Jeep whilst passing on the right. If you are interested, her Illinois license plate is Y580125. I just wish I had taken a shot of her while she was attempting to attack me.


All in all, it was quite the entertaining experience. Just glad she didn't have a gun or anything. All because she had to wait 5 extra seconds. This is Chicago, roads are busy.


she could have been on a mission www.bitchmobile.com ha ha ha ha

[cb911]

smileys! great idea :D i know a guy who is really big on the whole smiley thing, he's got smiley stickers on everything he can put them on... and he always seems pretty happy. i might try that. :D good tip with the little tongue draw on. :)

[Chip NoVaMac]

I bet the camera might have made her think twice, but maybe not. Maybe it would make her more mad. Who knows?

Also, this was prolly both our faults. I never saw her, and she was most likely speeding and passing illegally on the right.

I though about kicking my door open into her, but where would that get me? Where would fighting a woman get me? Either I am a bully, or I got my ass kicked by a girl. A no win situation. Also- the funny thing is, canadians have more guns (per capita) than americans. You all just must have much clearer heads, and don't resort to violence so quickly. Not sure why us americans are so quick to get furious. A finger is one thing. Stopping in the road and attempting to enter someone else's vehicle is another.

I had a similar experience. Funny how talking to 911 on the cell phone made them run away.

[Chip NoVaMac]

i was at mcdonalds once, waiting for my food in the drive thru, and it was taking forever-- they told me to pull ahead to #1, which was a spot painted in the lane, someone runs the food out to you. The woman behind me gets her food before I do, and then sits there staring at my car for a good 10 seconds before realizing that she'd have to drive around me, and she started screaming obscenities! waving her arms, it was pathetic. We wheeled out of there, and followed her for about a block in a yelling match. Not one of my finer moments. But christ, to be that high-strung, you can't figure out a mcdonalds so you go postal?

i don't get road rage unless someone else does first... then it's on, bitch :)

paul

In my younger days when someone leaned on their horn at a stop sign, my car would "suddenly" die. Had to pop the hood. Generally they were too close to my bumper to move around me. I would just shrug at them. And if they cursed i blew them a kiss....

[MongoTheGeek]

I can't remember what inspired it but once my wife followed a guy for 6 miles leaning on the horn. We even went out of our way to do so.

the closest I got to road rage was when I got hit by a pickup truck. I was in the crosswalk and he had a stop sign. (I was on foot). Boy was I pissed. I almost broke the driver side window.

[cb911]

she could have been on a mission www.bitchmobile.com ha ha ha ha

OH MY! :eek: this needs the 'XXX' warning on it! sure you get the 'warning: sexually explicit material' before you go in, but 'sexually explicit' is such a broad term. :p

LOL. :D it is funny to think that the lady was 'on a mission'. ;) :D

[cb911]

And if they cursed i blew them a kiss....

okay... so are you a guy or a girl? and would you only be doing this to a person of the opposite gender? i hope so... :eek:

the closest I got to road rage was when I got hit by a pickup truck. I was in the crosswalk and he had a stop sign. (I was on foot). Boy was I pissed. I almost broke the driver side window.

well that's just crazy... i hope you really gave them a good yelling at. i know a guy who was just walking home from work one day, then some drunk driver ran up onto the footpath, hit this guy and he flew about 10 metres or something. well that person died... and he had a wife and 2 kids. :( i'm not exactly sure what happened to the driver, but i bet he got off with a minor offence.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I can't remember what inspired it but once my wife followed a guy for 6 miles leaning on the horn. We even went out of our way to do so.

the closest I got to road rage was when I got hit by a pickup truck. I was in the crosswalk and he had a stop sign. (I was on foot). Boy was I pissed. I almost broke the driver side window.

Did toss my cherry slurpee in to a white leather convertible once when the driver tried to run me over in a crosswalk. He probably didn't hear hit because he was jamming with his tunes very loud.

[Roger1]

I had some lady recently pull out of a parallel parking spot right in front of me. She nearly got a big dent in the sided of her new Caddy. Fortunately for her, I was doing 10mph under the speed limit and missed her by about 12 inches. The miss would have been greater if she 1. LOOKED BEFORE SHE PULLED OUT, or 2. STOPPED when she heard my horn honking. I guess she wasn't intimidated by my pos 93 villager missing her car by mere inches. :rolleyes:

idkew. Here's my interpretation of your incident-
You pull out into traffic failing to yield to right-of way, because you look in your mirror (which is good for traffice BEHIND you, not necessarily beside you(look over your left shoulder next time-much safer.
Person honks because they nearly nail your a$$ (which would have been your fault if they did, because you failed to yield).
You think it's funny so you try to provoke them into doing something stupid (which worked).
Was it worth it??

[idkew]

I had some lady recently pull out of a parallel parking spot right in front of me. She nearly got a big dent in the sided of her new Caddy. Fortunately for her, I was doing 10mph under the speed limit and missed her by about 12 inches. The miss would have been greater if she 1. LOOKED BEFORE SHE PULLED OUT, or 2. STOPPED when she heard my horn honking. I guess she wasn't intimidated by my pos 93 villager missing her car by mere inches. :rolleyes:

idkew. Here's my interpretation of your incident-
You pull out into traffic failing to yield to right-of way, because you look in your mirror (which is good for traffice BEHIND you, not necessarily beside you(look over your left shoulder next time-much safer.
Person honks because they nearly nail your a$$ (which would have been your fault if they did, because you failed to yield).
You think it's funny so you try to provoke them into doing something stupid (which worked).
Was it worth it??


yes, thank you very much.

just because you were in a similar situation, does not mean this is the exact same thing. also, you will read that i said i missed seeing her. quite obvious. also, she was not besides me thank you. she was, as i said, most likely passing to the right, which happened to be directly behind the suburban behind me. maybe that is why passing on the right is illegal. also- there was no excessive breaking. there were no squealing tires, there was just one unintelligent woman driving an suv.

so- i guess you are for a law that says if someone makes you slow down on the road, they are fair game for any retaliation? ever driven in chicago?

[Chip NoVaMac]

What dismays me is that I was taught that if someone is pulling out of a parking space in a parking lot, you give them the right of way. It is not law, but common sense. And the right thing to do. Too many people have the "hell" with you attitude.

That is why I want the traffic fines to be linked to what a person earns. And earmark those funds towards traffic enforcement.

[agreenster]

Wow. She actually tried to open you car door??? Woah. That's gotta be illegal. I dont know what I would do if some lady tried to open my door. I would probably just stare at her in disbelief.

I think people need to generally chill out when driving. When someone accidentally pulls in front of you, you need to learn to shrug it off and learn the "I'm sorry-wave" or the "It's cool-wave." Usually involves just putting a hand out the window (with all fingers extended) and doing a slight nod. You'd be suprised how many situations that can calm down.

And another trick to avoid road rage is to leave earlier. If you arent in a hurry to get somewhere, you are typically less apt to flip out when someone gets in your way. But there is no excuse for this lady to flip out on you. So you almost pulled out in front of her. Big deal. A *phew* and a "it's cool-wave" would have been a more appropriate response. She's just lucky you weren't psycho. For all she knew, you had a sawed-off in your back seat and she was in the evening news with flowers being sent to her husband.

I admit, I've gotten ragey before, but mostly when serious danger is involved. I once was driving about 60 on a through-town highway, and gramps pulled right out in front of me from the center median. Oh crap. He got the horn. Luckily, the SUV that was on my right side sped past and I swerved before my car met his.

[Roger1]

yes, thank you very much.

just because you were in a similar situation, does not mean this is the exact same thing. also, you will read that i said i missed seeing her. quite obvious. also, she was not besides me thank you. she was, as i said, most likely passing to the right, which happened to be directly behind the suburban behind me. maybe that is why passing on the right is illegal. also- there was no excessive breaking. there were no squealing tires, there was just one unintelligent woman driving an suv.

so- i guess you are for a law that says if someone makes you slow down on the road, they are fair game for any retaliation? ever driven in chicago?

I know our situations were different. You say you missed seeing her. That is easy to do when parallel parking or pulling out of one, but you said you looked in your mirrors for traffic. Again, that's why you turn your head and look out the windows. Mirrors have major blind spots in them, regardless of how you set them.

As for wanting a law for retaliating against people who make me slow down, not true. In my situation anyway, if I didn't have a quick reaction, there could have been a collision. Why? Because the person looked in their mirror, instead of over the shoulder.

Edit: I used to live 1/2 hour from Chicago, and have driven in Chicago many times.

[idkew]

Wow. She actually tried to open you car door??? Woah. That's gotta be illegal.



road rage is a felony.

[Dippo]

road rage is a felony.


Well too bad you didn't have someone with you, because as she was trying to open your door, they could have jumped out and jumped in her car and drove off. :D

[idkew]

Well too bad you didn't have someone with you, because as she was trying to open your door, they could have jumped out and jumped in her car and drove off. :D


now that would have been hilarious. not right, but hilarious.

i still like my idea of kicking the door as she opened it, thereby throwing her into oncoming traffic, but that would get me nowhere but in trouble. she is lucky i wasn't the crazy one though.

whoever said it is right, i could have had a gun and if she threatened my safety, i could protect myself, and possibly not even be in trouble for shooting her. too many situations like this end up with the person in my position being shot, so i would have reason to protect myself.

[Chip NoVaMac]

now that would have been hilarious. not right, but hilarious.

i still like my idea of kicking the door as she opened it, thereby throwing her into oncoming traffic, but that would get me nowhere but in trouble. she is lucky i wasn't the crazy one though.

whoever said it is right, i could have had a gun and if she threatened my safety, i could protect myself, and possibly not even be in trouble for shooting her. too many situations like this end up with the person in my position being shot, so i would have reason to protect myself.

Too bad she got away with what she did. She deservers jail time. So do many other assholes out there...

[Chip NoVaMac]

Too bad she got away with what she did. She deservers jail time. So do many other assholes out there...

Amen, we need fines that fit the crime. According to what you earn. Does it really make sense that some one pays $100 for a speeding ticket, when $100 means just a small over all portion o their wages?

[Doctor Q]

Amen, we need fines that fit the crime. According to what you earn. Does it really make sense that some one pays $100 for a speeding ticket, when $100 means just a small over all portion o their wages?"OK, buddy. You were speeding. Lemme see your driver's license, car registration, and last income tax return."

Fines serve multiple purposes:

1. They punish behavior that has been made illegal because it can harm others. In that sense, the fine should be proportional to the danger. Running a red light should therefore be a much bigger fine than, say, parking too long in a waiting zone.

2. Cover part of the cost of enforcement. In that sense, fines should be proportional to those costs, so a labor-intensive traffic stop should cost more than, say, a computerized system that asseses late fees on unpaid tickets.

3. Deterring the offender. Here's where letting the punishment fit the victim might seem justified, but I suspect would not hold up in court.

[Dros]

Amen, we need fines that fit the crime. According to what you earn. Does it really make sense that some one pays $100 for a speeding ticket, when $100 means just a small over all portion o their wages?

In Finland, speeding fines are proportional. The director of Nokia was fined $100,000 (equivalent) for speeding. It does make some sense for point #3 that Dr. Q so neatly enumerated for us. I think it would hold up in court. Lawsuits against large companies are huge amounts because that is the only way to get their attention. The travesty there is that the victim (and lawyers) should not receive the proportional fine.

[idkew]

In Finland, speeding fines are proportional. The director of Nokia was fined $100,000 (equivalent) for speeding. It does make some sense for point #3 that Dr. Q so neatly enumerated for us. I think it would hold up in court. Lawsuits against large companies are huge amounts because that is the only way to get their attention. The travesty there is that the victim (and lawyers) should not receive the proportional fine.


does he get his own lane to drive in, since he pays for it in taxes and fines? do lights turn green for him whenever he comes to one? you can't justifiably charge someone that type of fine, it goes beyond the crime.

using your thought process, if i am poor and i kill someone, i should only get a little time in jail, since that is all i can afford. rich, and i have a life sentence.

[mactastic]

using your thought process, if i am poor and i kill someone, i should only get a little time in jail, since that is all i can afford. rich, and i have a life sentence.

Not so, since the currency (time) is the same for all of us.

[idkew]

Not so, since the currency (time) is the same for all of us.

not so, my time may be worth much more than yours. time is money, as the saying goes.

but, now that i think about it, since my time is worth so much (hypothetically ;) ) i should only spend a few days in jail for murder, while a minimum wage earner should spend years.

[Dros]

does he get his own lane to drive in, since he pays for it in taxes and fines? do lights turn green for him whenever he comes to one? you can't justifiably charge someone that type of fine, it goes beyond the crime.

using your thought process, if i am poor and i kill someone, i should only get a little time in jail, since that is all i can afford. rich, and i have a life sentence.

Well, I thought I was pretty explicit that the proportionality was useful only for Dr. Q's #3, deterring the offender. Currently, rich people do pay more towards maintaining roads through their regular taxes, but I wasn't calling for special perks because of that. The difference, I guess, is that a small fine does not deter a rich person (I think that is demonstrable), so if behavior modification is the goal, then that is an appropriate means. I don't know if higher taxes are justifiable, and I think that is a different thread.

I am not sure how my thought processes would create a conclusion about poor people spending only a short amount of time in jail. It isn't a conclusion I would draw, so perhaps it is your thought process. If we are talking about deterring the offender, then life sentences would be required for both. Although the lost income may be different for both, it is spending "hard time" that tends to deter. I don't even quite follow the logic. If time is money, then the poor person would spend less time because a small amount of money would deter them? But they both lose money proportionally to their income, so even just looking at that aspect they would spend equal time in jail.

[Chip NoVaMac]

"OK, buddy. You were speeding. Lemme see your driver's license, car registration, and last income tax return."

Fines serve multiple purposes:

1. They punish behavior that has been made illegal because it can harm others. In that sense, the fine should be proportional to the danger. Running a red light should therefore be a much bigger fine than, say, parking too long in a waiting zone.

2. Cover part of the cost of enforcement. In that sense, fines should be proportional to those costs, so a labor-intensive traffic stop should cost more than, say, a computerized system that asseses late fees on unpaid tickets.

3. Deterring the offender. Here's where letting the punishment fit the victim might seem justified, but I suspect would not hold up in court.

If it were a punishment, does a $50 fine mean as much as a $200 fine for someone earring $100 an hour?

[Chip NoVaMac]

not so, my time may be worth much more than yours. time is money, as the saying goes.

but, now that i think about it, since my time is worth so much (hypothetically ;) ) i should only spend a few days in jail for murder, while a minimum wage earner should spend years.

Hence the problem....

[Chip NoVaMac]

Well, I thought I was pretty explicit that the proportionality was useful only for Dr. Q's #3, deterring the offender. Currently, rich people do pay more towards maintaining roads through their regular taxes, but I wasn't calling for special perks because of that. The difference, I guess, is that a small fine does not deter a rich person (I think that is demonstrable), so if behavior modification is the goal, then that is an appropriate means. I don't know if higher taxes are justifiable, and I think that is a different thread.

I am not sure how my thought processes would create a conclusion about poor people spending only a short amount of time in jail. It isn't a conclusion I would draw, so perhaps it is your thought process. If we are talking about deterring the offender, then life sentences would be required for both. Although the lost income may be different for both, it is spending "hard time" that tends to deter. I don't even quite follow the logic. If time is money, then the poor person would spend less time because a small amount of money would deter them? But they both lose money proportionally to their income, so even just looking at that aspect they would spend equal time in jail.

For the most part the rich and poor pay their equal share.

[idkew]

For the most part the rich and poor pay their equal share.


depends on the definition of equal share.

but, regardless if you believe that some should pay 60% tax and another 0-15% tax (income), basing fines on income is just a bad idea.

[Dros]

depends on the definition of equal share.

but, regardless if you believe that some should pay 60% tax and other 0-15% tax (income), basing fines on income is just a bad idea.

I'll just disagree, for the reasons I've stated. And I'm rich! :D
I obey the law because I believe in the rule of law. But plenty of people would break it every chance they got. Much of our legal system is based not just on renumeration, but deterring offenders. Seems like you need to inflict equal pain on everyone, and that can take different amounts of punishment.

For the most part the rich and poor pay their equal share.

I have no idea how much anyone pays, I was guessing. So each person in the country pays $500 a year towards the roads, or they each pay 10% of income? I was guessing more the second. If it was just from gas taxes, then the first. Gas and car taxes, a little in between.

[mactastic]

:p not so, my time may be worth much more than yours. time is money, as the saying goes.

but, now that i think about it, since my time is worth so much (hypothetically ;) ) i should only spend a few days in jail for murder, while a minimum wage earner should spend years.

We're not talking about how many dollars a day is worth to you, more like a percentage of the time available to you. Statistically we all have approx. 75 years so a rich guy spending 10 years gives up the same proportion of his life as a poor guy with a 10 year sentence.

A rich man giving up $100 dollars isn't the same as a poor man giving that amount, because proportionally it is much more of a poor man's annual income.

I'm not saying I endorse proportional fines, but I think you are looking at it wrong when you equate time to money. Time may be money, but money is not time. Ask someone who has been wrongfully convicted if they would rather have money or the time back.

Besides, ask Drew Carey if a traffic fine means anything to him now as opposed to when he was poor.

[idkew]

We're not talking about how many dollars a day is worth to you, more like a percentage of the time available to you.


so committing a crime when you are 20 yields twice/whatever more the punishment then if you committed it at 40? after all, the person at 40 has less available time.

right now, i have a a lot of free time. should i be punished more than a busy person?

i just don't understand your logic. punishment is based on the crime, not on the person's income, age, race, gender or any other arbitrary characteristic.

if someone is constantly speeding and ignoring tickets b/c they "cost" them so little, their license will be taken away. plain and simple. you can't just buy a new license.

[carbonmotion]

Once i was driving home from college and this lady behind me in an f350 wasmade that i was only doing 55 in a 50 zone ...she kept on honking and **** for 10 miles and even tapped my bumper a few times. We finally got to a stop light... she got out and cussed me out... so at this point i decided that a lesson needed to me taught and pulled out my airsoft replica of a Glock 17 ... I said "Shut the **** up bitch" ...you should have seen her demeanor change... in under five seconds she went from a raving luniatic
to a scared whore.

[Backtothemac]

While I think this is hilarious, Road rage is real, and dangerous, and frankly, just stupid.

A lawyer was killed here in Tuscaloosa this week when a 17 year old decided to be an idiot. He had gotten into an arguement with another driver, and stopped in the middle of traffic, then was really speeding, and jumped the median killing himself and the lawyer.

[Dippo]

A lawyer was killed here in Tuscaloosa this week when a 17 year old decided to be an idiot. He had gotten into an arguement with another driver, and stopped in the middle of traffic, then was really speeding, and jumped the median killing himself and the lawyer.


Is it just me, or does that make no sense?

[Dippo]

Once i was driving home from college and this lady behind me in an f350 wasmade that i was only doing 55 in a 50 zone ...she kept on honking and **** for 10 miles and even tapped my bumper a few times. We finally got to a stop light... she got out and cussed me out... so at this point i decided that a lesson needed to me taught and pulled out my airsoft replica of a Glock 17 ... I said "Shut the **** up bitch" ...you should have seen her demeanor change... in under five seconds she went from a raving luniatic to a scared whore.


I don't understand why people get out of their cars...if it was me, I would be really tempted to run them over!

[Awimoway]

Once i was driving home from college and this lady behind me in an f350 wasmade that i was only doing 55 in a 50 zone ...she kept on honking and **** for 10 miles and even tapped my bumper a few times. We finally got to a stop light... she got out and cussed me out... so at this point i decided that a lesson needed to me taught and pulled out my airsoft replica of a Glock 17 ... I said "Shut the **** up bitch" ...you should have seen her demeanor change... in under five seconds she went from a raving luniatic
to a scared whore.

THAT is a great story. I just don't understand how people can get so upset. Sometimes when I'm in a hurry I get frustrated with slowpokes in front of me. I might even say something rude. But I do so with my windows up. I don't honk the horn. It's for my benefit, to let off a little steam. I can't imagine what that lady was thinking. But you were already going faster than you should have! How can anyone be upset?

What I hate is when people drive slow in the passing lane. Say it with me. “The passing lane.” But a lot of lazy drivers do this because they don't have to deal with as much merging traffic. My own brother-in-law, who is about the most self-righteous SOB you’ll ever meet, prides himself on going at or under the speed limit in middle or left lanes and stymying everyone behind him who wants to go faster. I was very pleased to see, when I took the driver's license written test recently, a question stating that it is WRONG to block faster traffic in the passing lanes, even if you are going the speed limit and everyone else is going over it. Take that, James. :rolleyes:

[Dros]

What I hate is when people drive slow in the passing lane. Say it with me. “The passing lane.” But a lot of lazy drivers do this because they don't have to deal with as much merging traffic. My own brother-in-law, who is about the most self-righteous SOB you’ll ever meet, prides himself on going at or under the speed limit in middle or left lanes and stymying everyone behind him who wants to go faster.

That really is insufferable. Especially when they get all self-righteous about it. Being a self-appointed law enforcer is bad enough, but when it results in a dangerous driving environment it is worse. Of course, equally bad (almost) are the people that decide to pass on the right when the passing lane is free. I always cringe when I see that and then see them merge back to the middle as the person on the left is merging to the middle as well. You know that is going to be an accident some percent of the time.

[TimDaddy]

Just glad she didn't have a gun or anything. All because she had to wait 5 extra seconds. This is Chicago, roads are busy.

In 1996, my girlfriend was driving her car for the first time as a licensed driver. We were at a stop sign trying to turn left onto a busy highway. My gf was nervous about pulling out, plus traffic was heavy and people tend to use the limit of 55 as a minimum. Some woman pulls up behind us in a Chevy Suburban. She waits a bit, and then gets out and comes up to the car yelling at my gf. My gf just kept looking straight ahead, as she likes to avoid confrontation. I, on the other hand, argued with her a bit to keep her there as long as possible while I found an old Eazy-E cd. I scanned to him saying "Bitch, shut the **** up!" and turned to volume all the way up. (Didn't she wonder why I was tuning the radio while arguing with her?) I then flipped her the bird with both hands and laughed as she returned to her vehicle. The next thing I knew, her Suburban was pulled up to our right, her window down, and a handgun was pointed right in my face! I didn't say a word, I sat quietly while she told me what piece of **** I was and how she should kill us both. She then left, and we went to the police. We gave our report and they ran her license number. Whoever she was, she had been reported for pointing her gun at people in her neighborhood in the past. They found her, still in the county, and pulled her over. They searched her vehicle and found the gun that I had described. She told them that she had pointed her cell phone at me. The lazy pig told me that it would be my word against hers, and if I wanted charges filed I'd have to talk to the county prosecutor on Monday morning! Anyway, my point is, be very careful! You live in Chicago, I live in a little town that averages about one murder every other year! It's fun laugh at adults who can't control their temper, but it can also be dangerous! Don't get yourself killed like I almost did.

[TimDaddy]

Some police cars are now equipped with videocameras. Maybe all of us should be too!I have wanted to put video cameras in my car for a long time. Just in case. I once saw a show about a man who did this. He had seven video cameras, so he could record inside and outside his car on all sides. He also had a micropone attached to the setup. He was a black man, and he would drive late at night in white areas. Usually, he was doing nothing wrong, but occasionally he would speed about five miles over the limit. His goal was to expose racist cops. Whenever he was stopped, he was totally cooperative. He had video of himself being yelled at, cursed, slapped, punched, and roughed up while in handcuffs. One stop was in a urban/downtown retail area. He was told to stand back, so he backed up against the store. The cop shoved him back further, causing his head to hit the window so hard that it broke it. He was then arrested and charged with resisting arrest, and, I think, criminal mischeif for breaking the window!
You know, of course, that anyone driving an SUV has the right to do anything they want. :rolleyes:
We had to go to Cincinatti in January. Our Corolla was in the shop, and they were expecting a lot of snow, so we rented a 4Runner for the trip. I kept telling my wife "I'm not doing this right. I'm supposed to be tailgating people! We're in an SUV for God's sake!" :rolleyes:
okay... so are you a guy or a girl? and would you only be doing this to a person of the opposite gender?
Nah... I do this all the time. If some big redneck type guy gets all pissed off over nothing. I'll make him a couple of kissy's and say "It'll be ok, sweetheart." Plus my lisp probably makes them wonder if I am really gay, so they don't pursue it any further. You know, gay guys go around raping straight guys and stuff. :rolleyes:
Did toss my cherry slurpee in to a white leather convertible once
OK, this was bad of me. A couple of years ago, I was driving into Louisville. Traffic was bumper to bumper. There were three lanes in this area. I was in the center. I was going with the flow of traffic, which was already significantly over the speed limit, and we were passing the right lane. Some old dude in new Acura complete with window-sticker still in place starts riding my butt. (Remember, I'm in the center. He could pass me in the left lane, which was going a bit faster.) He gets so close that he can't get any closer, so he starts weaving back and forth in his lane. He had to have been doing this for miles. I was really getting annoyed. I was finishing up an iced tea from Wendy's. I sucked the last bit into my mouth, removed the straw from my cup and stuck it out the window, then blew. I checked my rear view, and he was way back with his wipers on! Jackass! He eventually passed me. He looked over and flipped me off. I responded by winking and licking my lips at him. I like this thread!
I once was driving about 60 on a through-town highway, and gramps pulled right out in front of me from the center median. Oh crap. He got the horn. Luckily, the SUV that was on my right side sped past and I swerved before my car met his.
I was once driving to work on a four lane highway. In the town where I work, everyone works for Toyota or one of a few suppliers that run on the same schedule. So, a lot of people are running late, going to a Japanese company that is pretty strict regarding attendance. So, it seems that EVERYONE in this town drives like they own the road. Anyway, I was driving right around the speed limit in the left lane. A car enters the highway from an intersection on the right, skips the left lane straight into my lane, and then drives slowly in front of my. I blew my horn about five times while getting into the right lane to pass. I look over to see who the jerk is. It is a white-haired old lady, waving at me and looking genuinley sorry. I felt like the biggest dick-head ever. I waved back and mouthed "I'm sorry" to her. Man, I felt bad for that. I actually considered pulling in to the hotel where she went to tell her how sorry I was and that I shouldn't have gotten so mad over a little accident. But, knowing my luck, she would have either had a heart attack thinking I was coming to kill her, or had a big linebacker grandson waiting for her, who would then beat the living hell out of me for making his grandmother cry! I have made it a point not to honk at people who cut me off after that. If you tailgate me, I'm probably gonnna slow you down. But, if you cut me off, it's cool. Stuff happens.Amen, we need fines that fit the crime. According to what you earn. Does it really make sense that some one pays $100 for a speeding ticket, when $100 means just a small over all portion o their wages?
I have mixed feeling on this. If I get a speeding ticket, I'm gonna be pissed if some other working class guy who happens to make less than I do gets a smaller fine. But, some rich people don't care about the rules or safety of other people if the punishment is only money. Around here, we have the Dawahare family. They own a big chain of clothing stores, race horses, real estate, and other investments. We see some of them at Keeneland every year, so drunk they can barley stand up. After the last race, we then see them get into there Mercedes and drive away. Of course, after a few dui's they will lose their license. I guess its more than the fact that the fines mean nothing to them. Their name alone gets them out of a lot of trouble. About six years ago, one of the sons was drunk, and ran over a coworker of mine who was on a motorcycle and killed him. He was charged with whatever the crime is when you are drunk and accidentally kill someone with a car. He was sentenced to several years...probation! That makes me sick. I'm pretty sure if I were the drunk driver, I'd still be in jail. Or on parole working some crappy job because Toyota fired me.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I have mixed feeling on this. If I get a speeding ticket, I'm gonna be pissed if some other working class guy who happens to make less than I do gets a smaller fine.



The point being is that the fines for traffic infractions are to be a deterrent from doing the crime. But now that we have such diversity in incomes in the country, it is hard to have one fine structure. Why should a working stiff pay a half days pay for running a stop sign; when someone of means it may be just an hour or two of work? And raising the fines to a level that it punishes those with money would financially destroy the working poor.

It is like the HOV violators here in the DC area. They point blank say that the $75 fine is just a part of their doing business.

So sad that we have become of a nation of "I've gotten mine, now you try to get yours...".

[idkew]

The point being is that the fines for traffic infractions are to be a deterrent from doing the crime. But now that we have such diversity in incomes in the country, it is hard to have one fine structure. Why should a working stiff pay a half days pay for running a stop sign; when someone of means it may be just an hour or two of work? And raising the fines to a level that it punishes those with money would financially destroy the working poor.

It is like the HOV violators here in the DC area. They point blank say that the $75 fine is just a part of their doing business.

So sad that we have become of a nation of "I've gotten mine, now you try to get yours...".



its costs me $50 in chicago if i forget to move my car according to signs/times. i repeat, a parking ticket is $50.

[jywv8]

its costs me $50 in chicago if i forget to move my car according to signs/times. i repeat, a parking ticket is $50.

Yah, don't you just love those 'street cleaning' days?

Here's a road rage story:

A friend, J, was driving in Evanston (just north of Chicago). The guy in front of him was driving like grandma, so at the next stop light J pulls up next to him on the right, and when the light changes he guns it and pulls in front of the guy. People do this all the time in Chicago. No big deal.

But this guy goes ballistic -- honking, swearing, tailgaiting. After a while, J realizes that this crazy, balding yuppie in a silver BMW is following him. So he tries to lose him, but the guy keeps following him. Somehow, J gets himself cornered in an alley/parking lot. The guy gets out, tries to open J's door, and, finding it locked, promptly kicks in the side of the door.

To make a long story short, eventually J found upon a cop, and when the crazy guy saw this he took off. But J had gotten his license plate and filed a complaint against the guy. They ended up going to court, and J won the case, but to get any money out of the guy for his door he would have had to have gone to small claims court, which, J decided, wasn't worth the trouble.

[TimDaddy]

They ended up going to court, and J won the case, but to get any money out of the guy for his door he would have had to have gone to small claims court, which, J decided, wasn't worth the trouble.
Couldn't he have asked the court to order restitutuion? My car was stolen by a crack head, and sold to crack dealers. When I finally got it back, it was beat up pretty bad. I filed a claim with my insurance. It ended up costing me the $500 deductable and about $100 in car rental expenses. Instead of suing, I simply asked to prosecutor to ask the judge for restitution. Upon the crack head changing her plea to guilty, the judge gave her time served, which was several weeks, probation, but I'm not sure how long, and ordered her to pay me back my $600. Granted, I lost a lot more via higher insurance rates for two years. That would have required small claims court, and I'd have a hard time proving exactly what she cost me in insurance premiums. Anyway, I haven't gotten a dime from her, but the judgement is there. If she ever gets any assets, I can request that the sherriff's dept. seize and auction things until they get my money. Problem is, she's not likely to ever own anything of value.

[jywv8]

Couldn't he have asked the court to order restitutuion?

Hmm, he probably didn't know he could do that. I'll file that away for future reference...

[idkew]

this is why i wanted to run the woman over (http://www.click2houston.com/news/3205068/detail.html)

[Chip NoVaMac]

this is why i wanted to run the woman over (http://www.click2houston.com/news/3205068/detail.html)

Got to love Texas and the NRA.

[CAM]

My road rage story is pretty tame, but here it is...

I'm going down a two-lane, country highway toward my hometown. Some guy in a pickup pulls out in front of me and my mighty Metro. I have to slam on breaks, and I just shake my head. Apparently, he sees this in his mirror and starts flailing and shaking like a lunatic, mocking me I guess. He then pulls over in the turn lane a bit further down and flips me off. :confused:

As far as what angers me most, I'd have to say it's the folks who pull out or pass on a two-lane road and then make an immediate turn. I just don't understand that. They're taking an extra risk, and the time they gain is negligible at best. Oh well, I guess if they were actually thinking, they wouldn't be doing it in the first place.

[Chip NoVaMac]

My road rage story is pretty tame, but here it is...

I'm going down a two-lane, country highway toward my hometown. Some guy in a pickup pulls out in front of me and my mighty Metro. I have to slam on breaks, and I just shake my head. Apparently, he sees this in his mirror and starts flailing and shaking like a lunatic, mocking me I guess. He then pulls over in the turn lane a bit further down and flips me off. :confused:

As far as what angers me most, I'd have to say it's the folks who pull out or pass on a two-lane road and then make an immediate turn. I just don't understand that. They're taking an extra risk, and the time they gain is negligible at best. Oh well, I guess if they were actually thinking, they wouldn't be doing it in the first place.

Never fails to amaze me seeing people risk everyone else's life, only to come up on them at at toll booth or further down the road. I generally wave at them....

[idkew]

Never fails to amaze me seeing people risk everyone else's life, only to come up on them at at toll booth or further down the road. I generally wave at them....

whoever suggested it, i am going to begin winking and blowing kisses at people who get mad.



also- i have seen too many people pull onto the road in front of me, only to make me slow down. half the time this person takes an immediate turn, causing me to slow down even more, and most of the time there is no one behind me to have made them jump in front of me. if there are 50 cars on my rear bumper, that is one thing, but if i am alone, those people just need to learn to wait.

[robbieduncan]

its costs me $50 in chicago if i forget to move my car according to signs/times. i repeat, a parking ticket is $50.

Is that all? In Central London a parking ticket is £80 in some streets and £100 in others (that's right over $150). Prices are for Camden as they have a well earned reputation for very strict enforcement. Other charges may apply in addition. You can find out about it here: http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/transport-and-streets/parking/penalty-charge-notices/current-penalty-charges.en

[idkew]

Is that all? In Central London a parking ticket is £80 in some streets and £100 in others (that's right over $150). Prices are for Camden as they have a well earned reputation for very strict enforcement. Other charges may apply in addition. You can find out about it here: http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/transport-and-streets/parking/penalty-charge-notices/current-penalty-charges.en


well, at least you get a 50% discount if paid within 2 weeks. nothing like that in chicago. they only go up in price.


but- my astonishment with chicago, and now london tickets is b/c where i grew up, a parking ticket was $5.

[sushi]

you had to see her face. :)

but- when she returned to her vehicle, i decided it was time to leave. who knows what weapon she had in there.
You never know!

Sushi

[jeremy.king]

In Wisconsin, its actually illegal (in so many words) to drive slower than the speed of traffic in the left-most lane unless you are in the process of passing someone in a lane to the right. If you are in the left most lane and you see someone approaching from behind, the law states you must move to the right, if possible.

This reason is why I get most upset when I drive and why I think many accidents happen.

Now with that in mind, I must share my morning commute story of a few months ago....

I was driving in my left lane on I-94 (3 lanes each way) with the cruise set at my usual 72. I come up on a guy on a cell, eating something and driving 60, so with the cruise still set, I go in the middle lane and start passing this guy. After I got about a car length ahead of him in the middle lane, this guy decides to not let me pass. Well, his 4 banger was no match for my V6 so I easily passed him and pulled into the left lane. He then decided that he was going to ride my tail and flail aimlessly at what a d**k I was for passing him, when he was the one doing 60 (in a 65 mind you). So macho man passes me when the time was right and I still have my cruise set at 72. After trying to freak me out by slamming his brakes every once and a while, he realized that I was just going to work and wasn't going to play his game and he finally conceeds and pulls into the middle lane and slows back down to 60, giving me the "glare" whilst I passed by.

The best part was I just waived hello (no one finger salute here) and passed him with my cruise STILL set at 72.

This stretch of 94 (between Ryan Road and the 894 bypass for those who care) was notorious for slow drivers, so the state actually RAISED the speed limit to reduce traffic accidents.

[idkew]

In Wisconsin, its actually illegal (in so many words) to drive slower than the speed of traffic in the left-most lane unless you are in the process of passing someone in a lane to the right. If you are in the left most lane and you see someone approaching from behind, the law states you must move to the right, if possible.


illinois just passed a similar law i believe. i still pass morons driving in the left most lane all the time. they figure that they will eventually pass someone, so why keep changing lanes.

i cured my GF of this very quickly.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Maybe the answer is more police to ticket those doing 72mph in a 65mph zone.

[idkew]

Maybe the answer is more police to ticket those doing 72mph in a 65mph zone.

then 75% of people would be ticketed.

[Awimoway]

Maybe the answer is more police to ticket those doing 72mph in a 65mph zone.

:rolleyes:

I refer you to a preceding post:

I was very pleased to see, when I took the driver's license written test recently, a question stating that it is WRONG to block faster traffic in the passing lanes, even if you are going the speed limit and everyone else is going over it.

I can't speak for Herndon, VA, but I know here in SoCal that a lot more accidents would be caused by cops pulling over every driver who sped. The freeways here are typically narrow-shouldered and often congested. The safest course of action is to pull over only the most egregious offenders. And this is largely what happens.

[parrothead]

The lady in the cherokee was actually the stupid one in the original story. How did SHE know that the driver she was mad at didnt have a gun.

[parrothead]

Just once, I'd like to see the guy who cuts around me and everyone else, going well over the speed limit and weaving from lane to lane, get stopped by a traffic cop right before my eyes. Just once.

I was driving a friends Porsche boxter for a few days and you cant even imagine the numbers of people that tried to get me to race them. Finally one day on the interstate this guy comes up and starts honking and trying to get me to race. I nodded and acted like I was going to speed up, but never did. Well, he took off and a minute later I passed him on the side of the road, with a cop giving him a ticket. As I passed I honked and waved at him. That was way more fun than racing someone could ever be!

[powerbook4me]

I was driving a friends Porsche boxter for a few days and you cant even imagine the numbers of people that tried to get me to race them.

Those things are slow as hell, I wonder why anyone would want to race one :confused:

[parrothead]

Those things are slow as hell, I wonder why anyone would want to race one :confused:

I am no expert, but that boxter was a lot faster than any car I have driven. My question is why would anyone want to race any kind of car? Who really cares if you can drive your POS car faster than mine?

[powerbook4me]

I am no expert, but that boxter was a lot faster than any car I have driven.


You haven't had a fast car before then :p

My question is why would anyone want to race any kind of car? Who really cares if you can drive your POS car faster than mine?

Some people like to have fun with their cars /shrug.

Edit: I guess you just can't have fun in something thats usually called "a poor man's Porsche" ;)

[Chip NoVaMac]

:rolleyes:

I refer you to a preceding post:



I can't speak for Herndon, VA, but I know here in SoCal that a lot more accidents would be caused by cops pulling over every driver who sped. The freeways here are typically narrow-shouldered and often congested. The safest course of action is to pull over only the most egregious offenders. And this is largely what happens.

We have the same law. It does get to a point of who is passing and not. In the one example of the guy doing 60 in the left lane in a 65, You may have a point. The issue is that if I am in the left lane, and I am passing traffic to my right, then your insistence on doing even better is the problem.

Herndon, VA is in the DC area. The AVERAGE speed on our 55mph highways is 70+mph. Speeders themselves are not always in accidents, but their behavior leads others to have accidents.

Speed limits are there for a reason. The road may not safely handle higher speeds because of turns and such. Or the traffic is too heavy to safely handle greater speeds. Or there may be people to watch out for in residential sections.

I resent that I have to go 65+mph in a 55mph zone because of speeding idiots to avoid being run over. If I am in the left lane doing above the posted limit, I am passing the slower traffic. Whether it fast enough for you or not does not matter. As long as I am passing the other traffic.

A word for speeders, slow down you'll live longer. Or maybe the rest of us will.

[jeremy.king]

A word for speeders, slow down you'll live longer. Or maybe the rest of us will.

Keep pace and we wouldn't have to go around you :D

[Chip NoVaMac]

<Originally Posted by Doctor Q

Just once, I'd like to see the guy who cuts around me and everyone else, going well over the speed limit and weaving from lane to lane, get stopped by a traffic cop right before my eyes. Just once.>

Had two times that justice was sweet. Once i was on I-66 and i saw an unmarked car in the right lane. I kept pace with him. I had an idiot on my tail that flashed and tailgated me for a couple of miles. There was finally a break that allowed me to move over. At that point the idiot punched his gas and blew by the cop. Must have been a nice ticket <g>.

Another time traffic on I-95 in Springfield VA was at a standstill. Another idiot decided that the shoulder would be fine for him. Unfortunately for him he didn't see the cop car stopped in the shoulder. Looked like both were totaled. Lucky for the cop he was not in the car at the time. Though i guess some lawyer probably got him off with nothing to speak of.

[idkew]

I resent that I have to go 65+mph in a 55mph zone because of speeding idiots to avoid being run over. If I am in the left lane doing above the posted limit, I am passing the slower traffic. Whether it fast enough for you or not does not matter. As long as I am passing the other traffic.

A word for speeders, slow down you'll live longer. Or maybe the rest of us will.


afaik, the problem is with people continually driving in the left lane. it is for passing, not continual driving. when i drive, i am always in the right lane, and I only am in the left lane while passing. and i speed.

[Chip NoVaMac]

afaik, the problem is with people continually driving in the left lane. it is for passing, not continual driving. when i drive, i am always in the right lane, and I only am in the left lane while passing. and i speed.

In my area if everyone stayed out of the left lane except for passing you would have 24 hours a day of rush hour style traffic. Not enough roadway.

Probably due to those that order online to avoid sales taxes....

[idkew]

In my area if everyone stayed out of the left lane except for passing you would have 24 hours a day of rush hour style traffic. Not enough roadway.

Probably due to those that order online to avoid sales taxes....

please move your eyes left of these words. notice where i live.

now, obviously this law is for when traffic is low enough to allow a lane to be clear.

[Chip NoVaMac]

please move your eyes left of these words. notice where i live.

now, obviously this law is for when traffic is low enough to allow a lane to be clear.

I congratulate you if you are ever able to move to the right on the roadways there. Here in the DC area that would be hard to do right now.

This differs from my experience back in the 70's and 80's. First was the fines were a real determent. Back then you could not sneeze without getting a ticket. Also back then it was the exception, not the norm to do more than 5mph over the speed limits. Thanks the the GOP tax cuts, the basic social services like police and fire have been cut.

Due to the dedication of these individuals, we still have decent protection. but we have allowed the quality of life as defined by acceptance of the law to fall behind. Back in the late 70's we were allowed about 5mph over the limit before we go a ticket. Now it seems that it takes better than 10+mph to get a ticket. And that ticket dies not act as a real determent to obey the law. Same way for red-light runners and stop sign violators.
\
We have become a nation of me first, to hell with anyone else....

No wonder we have the problems we do...

[idkew]

We have become a nation of me first, to hell with anyone else....

No wonder we have the problems we do...


when the speed limit on 90/94 (8+ lane artery) in chicago is 45, and there is little traffic (i find it impossible to believe that all lanes are completely full at 10pm in va), you can feel free to go 45. i will be the one passing you going 60, along with every other rational driver, and most irrational ones also.


just because at one time/situation a speed limit is justified, does not mean at all times it is justified. i can safely go 80mph on a straight road with few other cars, on a bright sunny day. i can't do this in bumper to bumper traffic. i can't do this in a blizzard.


oh- i forgot to mention. the overwhelming majority of speed related accidents are cause by the people on the extremes, i.e. people going 20 over or under. NOT by the people going 5-15 over. this is why cops "ticket less". it is not because they are under funded, it is because those tickets do little but act as a tax. they do not save lives.

[MrMacMan]

The worst story of the town that I live in is this person side swipes a pedestrian rushing somewhere instead of stopping and checking on the person she quickly opens her wallet, throws $600 dollars out the window ontop of this person and speeds away, she was caught, thrown in jail for her senseless act.


In my town its 'lets hit all the people we can in 5 minutes' instead of 'lets keep inside the lines'.


They are thinking of adding an additional fine for people who run other people over... :eek:


People don't seem to care!

What the hell!

[_pb_boi]

My uncle was in a car with his wife and two daughters when one guy pulled up beside them, got out and tried to pull his door open. My uncles window was down, and he said the guy stank of drink - makes you wonder, really. The guy eventually went back to his car, which was probably just as well for him, to be honest.

Most of the problem over here is with people in small cars wanting to race, because of an inferiority complex, immaturity, and road rage; I drive my parents bmw 318ESI, and as soon as people see the R-plates (which are displayed until one year after passing the practical driving test) they'll pull up at the lights and gun their engines. Which is frankly rediculous, when they're in a 1.2L Clio or something. So I laugh and let them get on with it. Last week I had a Chrysler Crossfire come up beside me at the lights and ask about running a 1320 with me though, that was a bit different!

I remember my cousin, who's now 23, relating a situation that happened with his friend. My cousins friend, and HIS friend (confusing huh) were in a car, and got cut off by a really ignorant guy. My cousins friends friend was a big, big fella - well built and everything - and so they thought they'd chase the guy up, since he was a total twat about it, being seriously stupid about the situation (though chasing him probably was too!). Anyways, they follow him, and said car pulls up and the driver gets out. My cousins friend also gets out, but his big mate stays in the car - turns out the driver of the car they followed was huge too. So be careful!

The best deterrent is usually driving with a car full of people though; if you've got 3 or 4 guys in the car, it should make a lot of more sensible people think twice, since at the very least they'll be outnumbered. Over here, the chances of getting a gun pulled on you is pretty small as it stands, and so that's something. And I always lock my doors; carjacking is crap, especially if its your parents car :s

Just my thoughts.

andy.