Because we aren't all cops.
2011-08-22 13:08:30
14
Think Twice Before You Mess With a Cyclist!
Taken from Virginia Bicycling Federation:
Back in February, a driver decided to have some fun bumping a bike at a stop light. Much to his surprise, the rider was an off duty DC police officer who was riding a Capital Bikeshare bike home.
Long story short, the driver was charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (vehicle), Assault on a Police Officer, Fleeing and Eluding, and Reckless Driving.
Full story on the cop's blog.
Why won't western pa cops charge motorists who assault or kill cyclists?
2011-08-22 13:05:58
random violence vs. cop on bike = swift justice
random violence vs. anyone else on bike = not so much
2011-08-22 13:43:03
"assault on a police officer" counts for off-duty cops? I thought the whole point of that charge was to protect cops in the line of duty.
2011-08-22 14:44:45
We expect cops to deal with criminals on duty or off, so it makes some sense the law gives them extra protection all the time. If a private citizen encounters some crazy guy waving a gun around, or a road rager, or a robbery in progress, we tell him to back away, don't engage, and call 911. But we expect a cop to step in and protect people, on duty or not.
Anyway, I think whether we charge motorists who go after cyclists may have more to do with the DA's office than cops.
2011-08-22 16:12:53
You expect a cop to, they are not required to.
I can see things in that area being better for a month before people go back to normal and forget that other vehicles have rights too.
2011-08-22 16:36:33
@orionz06 ... better for a month before people go back to normal
IMO, you are an optimist.
2011-08-22 16:47:07
Probably so.
2011-08-22 16:54:04
i imagine that once an off-duty police officer flashes a badge and announces (s)he is a police officer that any assault on his or her person from then on is rightly considered assault on a police officer.
2011-08-22 17:12:14
my greatest hope is that this can set precedent for other riders in that area.
2011-08-22 18:30:59
"If anything, my "advantage" is my training. I was able to give the vehicle's tag number, description, as well as the description of the occupants of the vehicle and which direction they were headed in. I've taken plenty of hit & run reports and unfortunately many victims simply don't know what to look for or what's important. It's great that you memorized the license plate number--but we don't arrest cars, we arrest drivers. Also, license plates get stolen, typically by the sorts of people that do hit & runs. Most of the time, victims cannot positively identify the driver, let alone the car. But that's just my experience)"
I think that's the part of the story I'm going to try to remember the most. Well, that, and I just get this feeling like she's a pretty awesome person living a totally normal life, and I like when I discover them wandering around, living life and doing their thing.
2011-08-22 20:09:38
Now only if we were all cops....
2011-08-22 22:42:13
This just in, CPollack wants to be a cop.
2011-08-23 00:51:36
CoPllack
2011-08-23 00:57:55