'Road rage' victim, advice wanted

[Tick]

Someone ran a red robot behind me, then basically shot past me while running me off the road, and when I hooted at him, he hit brakes, pulled askew in front of me blocking my lane and car, threatened to beat me up while shoving a baton in my face and hurling racist slurs at me, then damaged my car by smashing it with the baton and drove off. I don't have any idea who he is, but I did get his numberplate.

Anyone have any advice of any sort, or been in similar situations? What are your recourses if someone threatened you and damaged your car (evidently for no other reason than the language I speak) and you only have their numberplate? Can I find out who he is - anyone have an idea how to get registration details from a plate? Is it best to try go via the police, and to try press charges?

I went to the police station to ask what I could do and see if I should report it, but the policeman there acted as if I was the bad guy in the situation, asking me things like 'was I drinking' (I don't even drink) and 'what did I do to cause him to do that'; that and various other unhelpful responses from him that suggested he had no intention of helping me led me to decide to tell him I'd prefer to 'come back tomorrow'.

 

[Tick]

Sorry, I posted this in the wrong thread, not sure how to move it.

 

[AnomalyNexus]

Only way to achieve anything would be a court case. And before going that route you'd have to make sure that you can make the charges stick. For that you would need some sort of proof, which you don't have by the sound of it. Like security cam footage or a witness.

Police can't do anything either without proof.

Totally unfair, but to be honest I don't think this is going anywhere.

You can report him to the arrive alive campaign thing maybe. Little consolation, I know.

 

[PeterCH]

Only way to achieve anything would be a court case. And before going that route you'd have to make sure that you can make the charges stick. For that you would need some sort of proof, which you don't have by the sound of it. Like security cam footage or a witness.

Police can't do anything either without proof.

Totally unfair, but to be honest I don't think this is going anywhere.

You can report him to the arrive alive campaign thing maybe. Little consolation, I know.

He'll have to report it to the cops irrespective because he'll obviously want insurance to pay for the damage.
He got the number plate, the insurance will be suing the bugger for damages. The cops should also trace him and prosecute him.
Chances are the guy has a previous record of assault or battery, which coupled with your testimony - after all why would he just make up some random guy up in a random car?

The big thing is not to be emotional in a car. Many drivers in SA are idiots and lose their cool quickly. Heck everyone thanks everyone else all the time and if they don't - it's a big deal.

 

[AnomalyNexus]

He'll have to report it to the cops irrespective because he'll obviously want insurance to pay for the damage.

True.

The cops should also trace him and prosecute him.

Haha. The cops can't even prosecute people when the evidence bites them in the ass let alone in this case.

Chances are the guy has a previous record of assault or battery, which coupled with your testimony - after all why would he just make up some random guy up in a random car?

Still won't make it stick. Testimony from the aggrieved party isn't exactly unbiased. And definitely isn't enough on its own...not unless you are a communist or live in Salem.

 

[Albereth]

Report it at the police station - tell them you are laying charge of crimenia injuria and malicious damage to property. You don't have to give a rat's ass about whether the charges stick or not. That's for the courts to deal with.

And why ask the cops for advice - lay the charge. The lazy plods will tell you not to bother. Tell them that you are laying the charges and that you want a case number. And when you have that number you can call them every day to get a progress report.

If nothing else they will have to track down the other guy and get a statement.

Whether you are biased or not is irrelevant. That's the court's job.

Go for it.

 

[Tick]

And before going that route you'd have to make sure that you can make the charges stick. For that you would need some sort of proof, which you don't have by the sound of it. Like security cam footage or a witness.

Unfortunately I don't; no witnesses, no security cam. I was alone, and this guy was alone.

Report it at the police station - tell them you are laying charge of crimenia injuria and malicious damage to property. You don't have to give a rat's ass about whether the charges stick or not. That's for the courts to deal with.

I have two worries about laying charges ... all this thug would have to do is get a buddy of his as a fake 'witness' to say he was there and they could come up with all sorts of of lies, even against me. Secondly, if I take him to court, he'll find out who I am, and could come after me (I mean, we already know he's a violent thug). Will give it more thought still.

 

[killadoob]

Dude laying charges is going to get you nowhere, your word against his. You can be very lucky you did not get beaten though, heard some horror stories in regards to this topic

Report and claim from your insurance and give them his number plate.

My leave it alone. You have no witness. Sounds like a crazy guy who could easily have given you a life threatening beating, just let it go as hard as that is to do rather just leave it.

 

[MrHands]

Unfortunately I don't; no witnesses, no security cam. I was alone, and this guy was alone.



I have two worries about laying charges ... all this thug would have to do is get a buddy of his as a fake 'witness' to say he was there and they could come up with all sorts of of lies, even against me. Secondly, if I take him to court, he'll find out who I am, and could come after me (I mean, we already know he's a violent thug). Will give it more thought still.

He has more to lose then you do. I would certainly take it to court. Hitting jerks like this in the wallet often hurts then more than a punch to the face.

Don't worry about a fake "witness" he might bring. He came out of his car and caused damage to your car. The racial slurs might not hold up, but the damages sure will.

If anything you can get his name from the court case and then create a blog describing the incident. Make sure it's search engine optimized so anyone Googling his name will find it!

 

[Tick]

Report it at the police station - tell them you are laying charge of crimenia injuria

Thanks, didn't know what 'crimen injuria' was, but sounds like it might apply.

 

[grayston]

Thanks, didn't know what 'crimen injuria' was, but sounds like it might apply.

'Crimen injuria' basically means he used a racial slur against you.

I really wouldn't worry about that, though. Report the case to the cops as malicious damage to property. Then turn it over to your insurers. Make it clear that all damages - including the excess - are for the account of the person who caused the damage. If they refuse to follow up, take it up with the insurance ombudsman.

Or, you know. Accept that you live in a violent society, blah blah, and can't change anything. Sit on yo ass and cough up all the dough yourself.

It's your choice.

 

[zippy]

Post his registration on the interent......

 

[Lycanthrope]

'Crimen injuria' basically means he used a racial slur against you.

I really wouldn't worry about that, though. Report the case to the cops as malicious damage to property. Then turn it over to your insurers. Make it clear that all damages - including the excess - are for the account of the person who caused the damage. If they refuse to follow up, take it up with the insurance ombudsman.

Or, you know. Accept that you live in a violent society, blah blah, and can't change anything. Sit on yo ass and cough up all the dough yourself.

It's your choice.

Agreed. Apathy will get you nowhere and he'll continue to get away with it. Filing a case might also bring forward other cases against him.

Post his registration on the interent......

Agreed again - on the off chance it'll have people keep an eye open for this moron.

 

[Nerfherder]

I would track the dude down and kill him, but that is just me.

Actually I lie, I would have killed him on scene, I have a very sort temper and also carry weapons in the car.

 

[MrHands]

I would track the dude down and kill him, but that is just me.

Actually I lie, I would have killed him on scene, I have a very sort temper and also carry weapons in the car.

The problem is that if you did that YOU would be the one going to jail, not the guy you killed.

 

[Nerfherder]

Yes, that is true.

I suppose the world will be a better place with me in jail and him dead...

 

[ToxicBunny]

You will need to report it to the police to claim from your insurance regardless...

 

[Merlin]

Tick,

I had a similiar experience recently...

It was about 7pm (getting dark), and I was pulling up to a 3-way stop. I saw some guy approaching from the opposite direction on a Harley. I could see that he wasn't go to stop, and he didn't - he flew threw easily in excess of 100 km/h.

I hooted and then proceeded to follow him. He turned into my suburb. I followed up him up the entrance of a complex, leaned down my window and let rip about not stopping, querying him about wtF he got his license, etc.

Barely two sentences in this c*nt starts his bike and now starts chasing ME!

He's alongside me, threw blind corners, in the oncoming lane. We're hurtling through the suburb, and eventually open up onto this straight. Now he's alongside me (window open), and the next thing I know there's an almighty clunk on my car. I slam on anchors fully expecting him to come over the roof. Looking in the mirror I can see a helmet rolling around in the road, so I know now what's he thrown at me. I angle the car and lean out the window yelling at the @#$^er for throwing something at my car, etc. The helmet's still rolling around on the road, and he's striding towards me trying to look macho, all the while hurling verbal abuse at me and threatening me. The next I know he's got his grubby paws in my window.

I didn't stick around to see if he had a blade or a piece - I put foot and left the A'hole in a cloud of tyre smoke, heading for the cop shop. He was a good 20m from his bike and didn't - or couldn't - follow me.

I pulled into the cop shop parking lot and checked out my car in detail. Finding no damage I debated reporting the incident.

Assuming future intimidation, I left it and went Home. The car actually belongs to my folks, so I was obliged to tell them what happened. So far we haven't seen or heard of anything in 2 weeks, so we're chilling now.

...before you ask, I didn't report it because I knew we would then definately get sh*t from one or more angles, and because the last person I trust in ZA is a copper.

In this country colour takes precedence over everything and say what you want, but I don't Trust reporting assault from a black dude to a black cop. End of story.

If some c*nt pulls a stunt like that with me again, he better hope I'm in a car that can be IDed because I'll run the bastard over.

...don't give me sh*t if you drive like a Toss'.

 

[Albereth]

I have two worries about laying charges ... all this thug would have to do is get a buddy of his as a fake 'witness' to say he was there and they could come up with all sorts of of lies, even against me. Secondly, if I take him to court, he'll find out who I am, and could come after me (I mean, we already know he's a violent thug). Will give it more thought still.

The point is that you will have wasted plenty of his time before it gets anywhere near a court - assuming that it does. The point about all of this is that the only cost to you is just your time. You are not prosecuting him, the state is. You need to report it anyway - if you want your insurance to pay out. The damage may be below your excess in which case you may want to rethink that route anyway.

Me - I'd lay the abuse charges, the malicious damage to property one too. I'd also have my insurance company hunt down his sorry ass and get my excess back too.

And if he does track you down? Add that to the docket - tresspassing, interfering with a witness in a criminal case, etc etc. You don't have to confront him, you don't have to talk to him.

But look at the alternative. You can take it up the bum and smile and move on. And the next time? And how about the time after that? It won't be long until you end up going postal on one of us.

 

[Albereth]

Tick,

I had a similiar experience recently...

snip.

You must have been dealing with a loon - a bike loses to a car everytime.