Looking for input on traffic laws

fiundagner · Nov 4, 2012

I ride a motorcycle to work to and from work 5-6 days a week. Saturday was a high point for me when it came to riding. Not once, not twice, but three times (Dorchester road construction area, Ashley phosphate road, and I-26 as a bonus round) i had a car pass me in, effectively, the same lane. After the first two incidents that morning i tried to call in a complaint to the sheriffs office. I was told by the person who answered the phone that since an officer didn't witness the incident i couldn't file a complaint (i had the plates from the first two incidents). The person on I-26 that afternoon almost ran me into the cars lined up for exit 203. I didn't bother to try and file a complaint for that one. I know we have some LEO's and retired LEO's on the forum, and was wondering what remedies do i have for this issue? Because after the I-26 incident I'm past the point of 'bad drivers are going to be bad drivers". I'm pretty sure 5000lb car vs 500lb bike at 60mph constitutes assault with a deadly weapon, and the police basically told me sucks to be you, drive a car. Any suggestions?

Tigerstripe · Nov 4, 2012

doesnt answer your question, i know, but it only took one car pulling in front of me from where i was going to turn left into, then stop like that would help, seeing that road block fender get closer, rear tire sliding, to make the decision that i wasnt going to be killed for gas milage. they will just say "didnt see him" and you are maimed or dead.

i stopped in time, later sold the 700 NightHawk. the F250 i drive now gets 10 mpg and hauls a lot more stuff. i decided i wasnt going to be killed by a train or parts of also. i was told that the doors or a freight car weigh over 600 lbs and they have come off and cartwheeled through railroad crossings killing people in cars. i stop about 50 yards from a crossing with a train going through.

when my brother was alive and a (Tucson AZ) Pima County Sherriff Officer he told me a big rig started moving in on him when he was on a bike. he raised his coat to expose his handgun and had no more problem, but i guess for a civillian that would be brandishing a firearm.

John Canuck · Nov 4, 2012

I can't help with your delema, but daily, I'm amazed at the low skill level I see in drivers here. For some reason, red lights appear to be only a suggestion in SC (maybe its just around Greenville?) Riding a motorcycle in this state seems to me to be like russian roulette. Good luck and stay safe.

PCShogun · Nov 4, 2012

Maybe you need more lights on your bike?

urbancommandox · Nov 6, 2012

I've taken a few rear view mirrors to the elbow from people who 'didn't see me'.

The General · Nov 8, 2012

Where in the lane are you riding? You should be in the left-tire 'groove'. That puts you in line with other drivers. If you're on the right half of the road, maybe they think you're pulling off.

Also, what lane were you in when this happened? You riding the left lane and going slow??

Bottom line - We bikers have to drive defensively and be aware that we simply are not 'seen' by cars. Its a mental thing but its real.

-Mike

fiundagner · Nov 8, 2012

right side. on dorchester road i was doing 35 (construction zone) i was doing about 45 on ashley phospahte (the stretch between frankies fun park and the bowling alley). i was doing about 60 on I-26. Ive found i prefer the right side of the road (right tire groove, aka about halfway between cener line and right shoulder) to the left, since when i am on the left or in the center they tend to ride my ass (in an effort to hurry me up i suppose). It also gives me a little leway when i'm dealing with half asleep drivers in the opposite lane at 5am.

LiveFreeorDie · Nov 9, 2012

This reply won't help you much, but as a retired LEO AND an active motorcyclist I'll at least chime in here. I'm sorry the LEO said "sucks to be you" in so many words but truth is: misdemeanor traffic charges cannot be brought against someone based only on the report of an individual if an officer doesn't observe the offense. The obvious exception would be in the event of a traffic accident where there is multiple witness testimony AND physical corroborating evidence, such as skid marks (which can tell a trained person an incredible amount about the vehicle's behavior before and after collision), vehicle damage, etcetera. Particularly knowing how very poorly the vast majority of everyone drives, not just in this State by the way, being able to make a case for assault would be nearly impossible. If your spouse you had just been caught cheating on or your business partner from whom you just embezzled a million dollars tried to hit you with a car, then THAT would be an assault. Bad driving is not an assault. Perhaps it should be, but it isn't.

Riding a motorcycle is an inherently dangerous sport and we as riders bear the responsibility for looking out for all the other a**holes who can't drive in the first place but try to do it while talking/texting, eating their drive-thru meals in the car, putting on make-up or picking their noses and who have no clue motorcyclists are even around. They're idiots, what more can I say? What I do is, ride ATGATT (all the gear, all the time) meaning helmet, armored jacket, armored pants, boots, and gloves and assume that any idiot in a cage around me is about to do something incredibly stupid. I know I can out brake them, out accelerate and out maneuver them. I do agree with The General; generally ride in the left tire groove portion of the lane. You're a little easier to see and have room to maneuver if you have to. Ride safe!

fiundagner · Nov 12, 2012

That is the input i was looking for, and the answer i was afraid i would get. Would it make any difference if i could get the offense on video? i can get a decent helmet cam / handlebar cam set up for about 200-300$. I hate invensting the money in it, but at the same time I'm tired of getting run over. It wouldn't violate wiretapping laws since it would be used on public streets, but is it even worth the effort? At best i'd get one or two people to pay some attention, and most likely just piss them off for reporting and recording their bad driving. Of course Youtube is an option...

LiveFreeorDie · Nov 12, 2012

I feel your frustration, but I'm not about to suggest you spend the money on a helment cam in the hopes that your local LEO would pursue a charge. If you're that intent on doing something, might I recommend asking your local LE, to include by the way Highway Patrol and maybe even the Solicitor's Office if they would purse charges if you brought them video footage. If you have them in your part of the State, even try to ask a motorcycle cop. You'd probably get more sympathy from one of them! I ride the same bike (Honda ST1300) as the SCHP do and they seem to be pretty decent guys, especially when it comes to bikes. Just a thought.

PCShogun · Nov 12, 2012

I think the big sign on the back of your bike saying "This Area Under Surveillance" would do more to get their attention than anything else. :lol: