Driver Intimidation - reported to cops

Doug Young

I live in the bayside aea of Brisbane, with wide shouldered roads etc. Safe supposedly for cycling. However, there is a neanderthal tribe in the area distinguished by low loud vehicles, woofers which cost more than the car, and who are incapable of having all 4 limbs in the car at one time. The suburb is Capalaba, and I have christenen them Capalaba man. (I live in the suburb too). They have something under their low foreheads which I think is a recollection that their recent forbears used to eat pteradactyls, cyclists look like those birds, and it is imposible to see one without an overpowering desire to kill, if not eat.

Out on my Air Friday one sunny Sunday arvo, in 80k zone, 4 lanes, divided road, Im on the shoulder, and a trhck goes past at the same time as I feel a refreshnf few drops of cold fluid on my neck. Followed by a loud bang as the full but just opened can of coke hit the bus shelter I was passing at the time. Was meant for my head. I was probably doing 25, truck 80, so speed of can was 55kph plus throwing speed. Unable to get number of truck or catch it.

Got can, which had concertined on impact, because of the mass with coke in it, and rang the cops. They were sympathetic, said bring it in for finger printing.

Next am I do so, and Sergeant Graham Hunt greeted me. Refused to take can withoout taking a statement, and said, we have different expectations here. I asked what he meant, said the guy could have killed me. He said, did you see him throw it. I said, no eyes in back of head, sorry. He said, well, no evidence, how do you knew he threw it at you. I sd, well, I was the only bike, and he was the only vehicle on the road, the can was just opened, and full, reasonable inference to draw. (Im a lawyer but didnt tell him this).

He said, "see, you think its attempted murder, while I think it is 'throw missile from moving vehicle, fine 6 dollars'. And then its up to me to decide if it is an appropriately serious matter to waste police resources on a prosecution." (Message: Im not going to do anything even if we identify the guy)

As I was leaving, he kind of yelled at me as I went through the front door of Capalaba Police Station the immortal parting shot

"You have to appreciate that cycling is dangerous, you know"

Conclusion: Its ok to throw stuff at the despised cyclists, and he's a Capalaba Man.

I have the can in my shed for posterity.

scotty72

I hear you man.

I know Capalaba quite well. I drove a yellow cab around Birzzy to ed-u-ma-kate myself at uni up there. lived around Mt Gravatt then Greenslopes.

I too have had a run in with Capalaba cops. Had a guy who tried to do a runner (not pay fare). Unfortunately for the runner, he was drunk and my heavy maglite torch accidently (I promise) came into contact with his head.

Drove him to Capalaba cop-shop.

They didn't seem to care, it was 2am and I figured they didn't really have a lot else on their plate other than fending of members of the tax-paying public in need. Decided to make an arsehole of myself as it would take more paperwork (and explaining) for them to arrest me for staging a sit in across the front doors of the police station than to process an on the spot fine for my new friend.

Eventually the duty manager (or whatever they call it this month) saw it my way. Guy fined and cheque eventually sent to me for fare by DOJ.


AS for my prob now.

Still haven't received so much as a phone call to say "we are pretending to give a shit". I am taking tomorrow off, so it might be time to

a) revisit Parramatta Police station and ask for "the officer in charge"

b) start calling the talk-back stations (they love this stuff)

Perhaps I can't prove my claim but I am now more pissed at the police than I am at the moron who ran me off the road.

ThatBiker

There's a woman in Sydney who for a while had a bit of a hobby of reporting stuff like this. She got quite good at it. Never got anywhere, but spent a lot of time on it, if you know what I mean. Basic thing is: get the incident number when you make the report (no IN, no report as far as the computer cares), if the desk wont help ask for a superior officer. If no joy when you ask a day or two later, ask for a superior. Repeat until you're talking to Commissioner of Police. The mantra is "I'm willing to go to court as a witness", so they know it's worth their time (no witness, no conviction).

ThatBiker

robalert

did you have any witnesses?

did anyone at blackman cycles see you?

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

scotty72

Unfortunately, no

It was outside the Korean grocery store near Blackmans, not directly outside it.

No motorist could be bothered stopping and there weren't any pedestrians around (that I saw)

robalert

here's a great little article relating to reporting stuff to police

http://www.massbug.org.au/twiki/pub...ingtopolice.pdf

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

geoffs

That's a great little article.
Thans for that

Cheers

Geoff

Peka

So, any update on this?

If you're not happy with the (lack of) action by the police, make a written complaint about the officer. These have to be followed up. However, there's no point in complaining if you haven't done everything required - ie. made the report, got the incident number etc....