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Prosecutor bikes to work
September 11th, 2008 by FritzWhen you’re a bicyclist testifying in a road rage case, it’s good to have an attorney who knows the law.
The Car Whisperer in Chicago had a run in with a antisocial motorist last August. The motorist went nuts right in front of a police station. The driver was cited for violating the three foot law in Chicago.
Yesterday was the court hearing. The defendant ranted about how “crazy” cyclists need to stay out of the way of motorists during rush hour when, to the cyclist’s great dismay, the judge agreed with the defendant and lectured the bicyclist on where he should have been.
It turns out, however, that the prosecuting attorney is himself a bicyclist who bikes to work and is very well aware of traffic law and the rights of cyclists. I’ll let you read the whole cool story for yourself but it has a happy ending.
Via Frank in Illinois.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I feel like a precedent or something…thanks for the support! Cool site!
September 12th, 2008 at 10:48 am
“The issue is that [the defendant] can’t violate the right of way, or threaten the well being of a cyclist just because he is in the way. That is what the 3 foot passing ordinance was established for. [The defendant], rather than honking at him and passing dangerously close, should have slowed and yielded the right of way until it was safe to pass the cyclist - just as would be expected upon encountering any other other slower vehicle.”
That’s a frickin’ fantastic quote. This is the part about the driver’s mindset that drives me crazy. Just because I’m smaller, it’s okay to attempt to squeeze by and endanger me, when waiting 3 seconds would allow them to safely pass.
A great story all around.