alienator said:I don't think any cycling rights are on trial. This case is a pretty clear cut example of road rage.
64Paramount said:And if the facts as reported by the media about the trial are anywhere close to accurate, I don't see how a jury wouldn't find that doctor guilty.
alienator said:I don't think any cycling rights are on trial.
alienator said:This case does resonate with cyclists as most all cyclists have had an encounter or two with road rage but that's not the same as defining some state of cycling based on a jury outcome.
Thompson, 60, is battling serious criminal charges, including mayhem, reckless driving causing injury and assault with a deadly weapon -- his car.
frenchyge said:The outcomes of cases like this also communicate to other motorists, and other future jurors, what is and is not acceptable behavior when it comes to motorist/cyclist interactions. So... yes, it not only reflects, but will also influence the status of cyclists on the roadways going forward.
According to the article:
At least the assault charge is going to require a clear intent to harm, and it will be telling whether the jury sympathizes with his frustration from years of having to deal with cyclists in his neighborhood and his attempt to intimidate or run off the cyclists, or whether they see his actions as an intent to harm.
jhuskey said:The problem is that even if the driver is convicted it will not make the roads safer. I lobbied and got a 3 foot passing law in Tennessee knowing that by simply passing a law nothing would change.
Education and understanding is the only way to make things better. Some of these "share the road" laws are being integrated into drivers training manuals now and we can only hope that the crop of new drivers may eventually evolve into better drivers.
Old habits die hard, with no pun intended.
64Paramount said:I think it will depend on the Prosecution to make the point that you can't assault someone just because they are doing something you don't like or are causing you an inconvenience.
64Paramount said:I'm sure getting that 3 foot law passed in your state didn't have any immediate effect, but it's a good step in the right direction.
Yep - the news about the conviction was Tweeted by RoadID about an hour ago...alienator said:Ol' Doc Thompson was found guilty on all counts. The judge remanded him until sentencing.
Now it's gonna be doubly tough for the doc to defend himself in the soon to come civil cases.
Thompson.... was found guilty of 6 felonies and one misdemeanor and could face as much as 5 years in prison.
frenchyge said:"As much as 5 years" for 6 felonies?
I figured assault with a deadly weapon would go a little steeper than that. He should have just accidentally shot at them as he drove by and not banged up his Infinity.
64Paramount said:I agree that doesn't seem like much for what he did, does it?
64Paramount said:I guess people blocking the aisles in grocery stores is a universal problem!
64Paramount said:I agree that doesn't seem like much for what he did, does it?
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.