I apologize for going off...Having dealt w/ the situation first hand seeing someone basically attempting to run me off of an exit ramp (luckily in a very small car) and then having an armchair police officer say "you deserved what you get" ... kind of rubbed me the wrong way.

My point was simply...this

I live in Orlando, obviously and deal w/ tourist from EVERYWHERE (As I'm sure you do too in NY) including people who are used to driving on the left side etc...so I have dodged MANY MANY MANY maplighters, and no headlighters...including one time when someone stopped in a left turn lane looking at a map waited until I was passing to turn RIGHT across 2 lanes square in front of me at about 45mph...I swerved right and hit a median - avoiding an accident...they drive off and I didn't get a plate number. I'm left to pay for someone else's stupidity.

In this case, he could have gone left - right back onto I-4 (there was room) and also I never said (and never did) speed up. I let off the gas but didn't make a knee jerk reaction off the road or slam the brakes.

reasonable reply, right? I know you're probably calous to this stuff, but to me when it just happened and someone says "you deserved it, and I would've fined you too" - kinda irritating.

 

So you think because we're not police officers we haven't studied law? Wow, i guess since I'm not a cop, J.D. is a joke

 

I simply meant studying the law first hand where you are there issuing citations and going to court for appearances. I didn't intend to come across that you must be a PO to have studied law. I'm certainly not a lawyer by anymeans, but do have my Bachelor's.


snidehockey, No prob. I was just stating your were lucky because most instances both are to blame even though the guy was clearly a dousche. Kind of like parking lot accidents are hard to prove. Your case, the guy admitted, but then had no insurance so the luck was drawn there I suppose. Small claims sucks. Takes time away from your schedule and causes hardships. I would suggest getting a judgement against him for the damages regardless if he tells you he will pay you or not. The judgement will allow you to put a lien against his SS# so he will have to pay if he ever wants to buy a car, get a credit card, buy a house....etc.
If you have a copy of the report, just keep it on hand if the guy promises to pay within a few months. I just wouldn't let it go over 6 months. people move and are hard to find and such.

 

I just don't understand how that follows the law, it certainly doesn't seem to follow the intent of it. I know it can happen (my dad had his dream car totalled when a guy ran a red light and hit him while he was turning left, the state of CA decided it was his fault!?) but it certainly doesn't seem right.

Pepper spray is really illegal in NY? I'm glad I'm moving soon, coming from someone who grew up in Maine you guys have some crazy laws here (nothing against you personally, more referring to the state in general).

As far as the accident, it's nice of you to want to help the guy out but considering that he ran from the scene that's already enough to say stick it to the guy in my book. Add in that he has a CDL and he definitely needs to learn a lesson here, you don't want someone who drives like that behind the wheel of a big rig

 

good thing people blocked him in up the road..i would be pissed if someone tried to hit and run on me

 

Anotherthing, just because he has a CDL doesn't mean he will lose it. if he gets an aggrevated driving or similar ticket, then he may have to face the judge in regards to a 6month suspension since that would make it more than a misdemeanor or unless he has some sort of ACOD already on the books would he then lose the CDL.

 

to be honest, when i become a cop, if I see a reasonable sized knife in someones car and they have a clean record or a couple small dings on it, I won't even care. But if they have a good record going I may have to ask what its for but only if its a relatively large knife..if i see a bat in a car i won't even care to be honest there is no point in trying to pin someone for a freakin bat lol

 

Exactly, but the problem is that there is a much more pwobability of a fight arising from someone who has a mini bat or something similar in their car, where as if they didn't they would usually flee the scene to avoid hostile situations.
It's one of those "It's up to the officer" kinda things. Sorta like "mods have final say" sorta thing...lol

 

yeah that's true but you don't have control over what someone has in their car, I'm trying to say they can really put whatever they want in their car without you knowing about it until they decide to use it whatever it is..if its a bat or if he's an a**hole and decides to shoot you on the side of the road..if the guy has a knife or a bat and decides to pull that on me i'll point a taser at his chest and hopefully he won't get some shock treatment lol

 

Well, if I was caught driving a Miata (girls car just like a new Bug) I would run and hide too