Road rage is apparently a legitimate defence

[chasio]

So it seems from this story that you can attack someone with your car and it is just fine 'coz it was just a touch of the old road rage, ay.

Mental Muppet Gets Wet Bus Ticket Slap

I do wonder if anyone in the judiciary has ever ridden a bike of any kind. Anyway, open season on treadlies is not good news for motorbikes, either.

OTOH I suppose it may be a useful defence for some of you: you could just tell them the lycra-louts intimidated you into getting your retaliation in first...

[munster]

I sense only half a story there. What punishment did the cyclist get for inciting said road rage in the first place?

After Glubb closely drove past a group of cyclists, one grew "dismayed'' with how close the car was and showed his disproval.

[Hoon]

Whoopy so he got the finger. Certainly no excuse to try run him down in your car.

[DR650gary]

I'm not too sure $1500 plus 150 hours is a "slap with a wet bus ticket".

Even the prosecutor was suggesting leniency so we probably need the full story.

[munster]

Whoopy so he got the finger. Certainly no excuse to try run him down in your car.

Like I said, I sense we're only getting half the story i.e what the media are allowing us to see, want us to see and with it bent the way they want.

What's the whole story?

I no longer trust the media since seeing first hand how they skew stories to suit their own agenda's

[oneofsix]

I don't think the road rage was the legit defense, I reckon they gave him a lesser sentence because he had medical problems, an IT worker.

[Maha]

To be fair...some (not all) cyclists can get a bit....titchy within thier lycra.

This bit reminds an incident I had with one..
''After Glubb closely drove past a group of cyclists, one grew "dismayed'' with how close the car was and showed his disproval''.

I was stopped on a straight bit road (outside a customers house) while she moved her car out of the way.
I saw a cyclists heading in my direction some distance behind me..
While was talking to the customer out of the drivers window..the cyclist rode up to the rear of my van and slapped the rear window asking..
''Do you always park in the way of other road users''?...

Really? you got upset about that? Go around me dickhead...

[awa355]

Compare this sentence with the 'Convicted and Discharged' sentence for the American student pleading guilty to killing three lives. No consistancy at all

[FJRider]

I'm not too sure $1500 plus 150 hours is a "slap with a wet bus ticket".

Even the prosecutor was suggesting leniency so we probably need the full story.

A fairly hard slap that would be ... considering what the fine for a ticket for 20 kms/hr over any posted speed limit is. And the number of complaints of severity they are known for ...

[FJRider]

To be fair...some (not all) cyclists can get a bit....titchy within thier lycra.

The twitchyness I put down to a reaction between the lycra and sweat. It brings nerve endings closer to the surface ...

[chasio]

A fairly hard slap that would be ... considering what the fine for a ticket for 20 kms/hr over any posted speed limit is. And the number of complaints of severity they are known for ...

True, that.

I suppose what I am interested in is that while motor vehicles are deadly weapons, it seems OK to use them in an aggressive way.

The questions that interest me are along the lines of... Would he have got the same penalty for lightly pistol-whipping the cyclist? Or for lovingly removing the lacquer on the carbon fibre with a chainsaw? I suspect not.

[chasio]

To be fair...some (not all) cyclists can get a bit....titchy within thier lycra.

This bit reminds an incident I had with one..
''After Glubb closely drove past a group of cyclists, one grew "dismayed'' with how close the car was and showed his disproval''.

I was stopped on a straight bit road (outside a customers house) while she moved her car out of the way.
I saw a cyclists heading in my direction some distance behind me..
While was talking to the customer out of the drivers window..the cyclist rode up to the rear of my van and slapped the rear window asking..
''Do you always park in the way of other road users''?...

Really? you got upset about that? Go around me dickhead...

Sounds like you may have been "intimidated" by their behaviour. Next time you could "suffer" from road-rage and run him off the road, and it won't cost you a conviction, just some cash and time doing good works for a deserving cause. Just flash the judge those puppy eyes...

I know you weren't and wouldn't, but a precedent* of sorts exists for avoiding a criminal record.

*probably not legally relevant in NZ...

[DR650gary]

Compare this sentence with the 'Convicted and Discharged' sentence for the American student pleading guilty to killing three lives. No consistancy at all

Probably need the full story but it certainly seems unrealistic.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay court costs of $132, that's 2 months and $44 per death.

[FJRider]

Compare this sentence with the 'Convicted and Discharged' sentence for the American student pleading guilty to killing three lives. No consistancy at all

Those three lives he killed ... died because they were not wearing seat-belts. And as those three lives were of adult age ... and responsible for their own lives ... thus ... were responsible for not taking that simple step to protect themselves.

The driver did fuck up ... but dont be in a rush to blame the deaths totally on HIM ..

[Virago]

Those three lives he killed ... died because they were not wearing seat-belts. And as those three lives were of adult age ... and responsible for their own lives ... thus ... were responsible for not taking that simple step to protect themselves.

The driver did fuck up ... but dont be in a rush to blame the deaths totally on HIM ..

Bingo.

The driver repeatedly asked the passengers to put their seatbelts on. He deserves a medal for trying to prevent three suicides.