Motorist rage: Should I file a police report?

[BigBrightGreen]

Hi All,

This morning I had an incident with a motorist that has left me pretty shaken. I’m wondering if its worth filing a police report or not. I would love to hear some second opinions.

Here’s what went down:

I was in the middle of my typical commute, traveling west on R Street NW. At Florida, which is right where the bike lane begins, there was construction going on that was blocking the entrance to the bike lane. In addition, there was a large hose stretched across R street. When I crossed Florida, I slowed down to ask the construction workers if it was ok for me to ride over the hose. Once I had, a car pulled up fast behind me and laid down on his horn. This is where I made my first mistake, which is that I gave the driver the finger. Not the high road, I know. However, in my defense, by pulling up fast behind me and laying down on his horn, he had totally scared the crap out of me. Essentially, I thought that I was about to be struck.

What followed was this: the driver (a very large man), pulled up along side me, rolled down his window and began to shout various things at me: a mix of admonishing me for riding in the middle of the road and asking me if I wanted to fight him. The phrase he kept repeating was, “Do you want to do this? You wanna do this?”

Like so many cyclists before me, I explained that not only was I on a designated bike route street, that I also had a legal right to ride in the middle of the street and that I had only done it in that instance because the bike lane was blocked at that particular point by construction.

Finally, I began to ride away, at which point he pulled the nose of his car diagonally into the bike lane, pinning me in. He then got out of his car and continued to challenge me to fight him. At one point he said, “Next time, I’m just going to hit you (with my car).”

At this point I pulled out my phone, made note of his license plate # and told him that if he didn’t leave I was calling the police. He called me a ‘fagot’ and got back in his car. I pulled away, but he continued to trail right next to me. Finally, I lost him in a series of red lights.

So, here’s my question:

Is it worth filing a police report? My feeling is that this is probably not the first or last time that this person will behave this and I feel like there should be some consequence or at least record of the incident. My main concern is that, since this is my typically morning commute, it’s likely that we will cross paths again. But on the other hand, this person seems volatile and I’m not particularly interested in entering into any situation where he might find out my name, address, etc.

Has anyone had a similar experiences and have any advice to offer?

-BBG

Topic

[Tim Kelley]

Personally I would have called 911 the minute he pulled into the bike lane.

Yes, please file a report!

Arlington has an “aggressive driver” program–not sure about DC.

[Crickey7]

I’m putting in a plug from running a video camera. More than once, I’ve defused somewhat similar situations by telling the driver they were being filmed. And, of course, if you did report the incident, you’d have some evidence.

[trailrunner]

I had a very similar thing happen to me in Fairfax County. I immediately called the police and waited for them at the scene. When they arrived, they tried to blame it on me several ways. I gently pushed back and convinced them that I was 100 percent legal and in the right, but they still didn’t care. I even tracked down were the driver lived (it was in my neighborhood, so it was easy), but they still didn’t care. I followed up with supervisor, but he also didn’t care. So at this point, I personally wouldn’t bother reporting it. We are on our own out there.

[consularrider]

@trailrunner 136723 wrote:

I had a very similar thing happen to me in Fairfax County. I immediately called the police and waited for them at the scene. When they arrived, they tried to blame it on me several ways. I gently pushed back and convinced them that I was 100 percent legal and in the right, but they still didn’t care. I even tracked down were the driver lived (it was in my neighborhood, so it was easy), but they still didn’t care. I followed up with supervisor, but he also didn’t care. So at this point, I personally wouldn’t bother reporting it. We are on our own out there.

I disagree, anytime someone uses such intimidating tactics and threatens to actually hit a cyclist it needs to be reported and pushed so that the law enforcement begins to take these actions seriously.

[Tania]

@trailrunner 136723 wrote:

I had a very similar thing happen to me in Fairfax County. I immediately called the police and waited for them at the scene. When they arrived, they tried to blame it on me several ways. I gently pushed back and convinced them that I was 100 percent legal and in the right, but they still didn’t care. I even tracked down were the driver lived (it was in my neighborhood, so it was easy), but they still didn’t care. I followed up with supervisor, but he also didn’t care. So at this point, I personally wouldn’t bother reporting it. We are on our own out there.

Ugh. I’d meant to buy a small camera and Crickey’s post reminded me I’d meant to get one. Now after reading this I’m ABSOLUTELY buying one. I hate that I have to ride with one.

[Steve O]

I’m with Tim. Please call and file. The more these kinds of things get reported, the more they may be paid attention to (hopefully).
Thanks, and good luck.

[Crickey7]

Just having the camera makes me feel in control of the situation. I’m doing something, something that generally works to defuse the situation. It reminds me not to escalate–the tape will not lie–and it kicks in a little prepared script that I have developed for dealing with those kinds of people. It’s all tremendously reassuring.

[elbows]

I’ll just add to the chorus and say that I hope you reported it. Please let us know how it went.

[OneEighth]

My two cents.
Yes, I think you should report it and create a record. You may even want to post the photos here so other folks are forewarned.
But—and this is not meant as a criticism—I think the best thing one can do when faced with this type of aggression is 1) take a photo of the offender, vehicle, and plate and 2) immediately dial 911 and report the attempted assault in progress. After the fact more than likely just gets filed away.

[dbb]

@Crickey7 136730 wrote:

and it kicks in a little prepared script that I have developed for dealing with those kinds of people.

Please share.

Thanks

[Mario20136]

I feel for you. A couple years ago I got hit from behind by a driver texting on a country road. Luckily I landed on the ditch. I was bruised alright and required emergency visit to the hospital. I filed a police report and since no one witnessed the accident, the police couldn’t do anything.

The lessons learned:

1. Wear a helmet and a bright colored jersey.

2. Purchase a camera/rear light combination. See https://www.cycliq.com. They make really good products. Spend extra money for your personal safety. Remember your bike and your weight does not equate to 2500 lbs. of steel.

3. Remind the driver there 3 feet law in affect. I believe DC has adopted the law. See http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/safely-passing-bicyclists.aspx

District of Columbia Rule 18-2202.10 Exercise due care by leaving a safe distance, but in no case less than three (3) feet, when overtaking and passing a bicycle.

4. I know based on conversation with a lawyer, the man who threatened you at least in VA is a verbal assault. I’m not sure if there is a fine or jail time involved.

You are not alone! Again, I suggest continue commuting via bicycle.

Mario20136

[Tbobx]

Please file this report with the closecalldatabase.com too. They track harassment of bicyclists by drivers. With some luck and determination we can catch repeat offenders and get them in front of the judge. Thanks!

I also recommend you sign up with the closecalldatabase.com. Once you provide your email address and location you will get an email any time there is a report filed within 50 miles of your location.

[notinthe18]

Agreed, definitely report to closecalldatabase.com

The problem you’ll run into in DC — or at least the one I had a couple of weeks ago where a driver was bizarrely aggressive to me — is that if you don’t report on the scene, you’ll be told you have to go to a police station in person. (If you call later to report, they will tell you that they can’t take a police report over the phone and you can be transferred to 911 to send an officer, or you can go to the police station.) Or at least that was my experience.

Arlington, unlike DC, allows online post facto reporting, which, in my view, makes more sense.

[cvcalhoun]

@Mario20136 136872 wrote:

3. Remind the driver there is a 3 feet law in effect. I believe DC has adopted the law. See http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/safely-passing-bicyclists.aspx

District of Columbia Rule 18-2202.10 Exercise due care by leaving a safe distance, but in no case less than three (3) feet, when overtaking and passing a bicycle.

That rule is now in effect in all three local jurisdictions. The impact it has on drivers is, however, open to question. I’d say the vast majority of them are unaware of it. One of my pet peeves is that while we work hard on getting bicyclists to know the rules of the road, it seems to me that neither driver’s ed classes nor driver’s tests are focusing on teaching rules regarding bicycles to motorists. I can’t count the number of times that a motorist has honked at me for taking the lane, for example, even though that is allowed in all local jurisdictions if the lane is too narrow for a motor vehicle to pass in the lane while honoring the three-foot rule. (And virtually all of the lanes in DC and its suburbs are in fact narrow enough for that rule to apply.)

As for trying to educate drivers, I’m unconvinced that many of them will actually listen. But perhaps I’m just biased by the one who recently decided to turn right, moved into the bike lane without looking, and nearly hit me. When I pointed out that what she was in was a bike lane, I was told with the use of many expletives that she didn’t care.

[creadinger]

@cvcalhoun 137271 wrote:

I can’t count the number of times that a motorist has honked at me for taking the lane, for example, even though that is allowed in all local jurisdictions if the lane is too narrow for a motor vehicle to pass in the lane while honoring the three-foot rule. (And virtually all of the lanes in DC and its suburbs are in fact narrow enough for that rule to apply.)

Unfortunately I bet these drivers probably do know the rule. They just don’t frickin care. They’re automatons in a hurry and you’re in the way. It’s legal for you to take the lane, it’s also legal for them to honk at you and act like bratty children.

[Author]

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