Switching off someone else's ignition

sinizterguy

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

So why do police bother to fit cameras in their car?

To show the perspective from their car.

Note: Not to show perspective from some other car in front of them.

colino

Unfortunately Spicy is, in mentioning Police in-car evidence gathering, moving us to our true status in the TV camera-clip society. Once upon a time a Policeman saw you breaking the law, he charged you, you could go to court and the bench would find you guilty. Nowadays we seem to think that every offence needs incorruptible, time/geo stamped video evidence to get a conviction. Thankfully we are not quite there yet, but it is creeping in with whole juries being bussed around to muddy fields at huge cost to add to their imagination when on major cases.
I blame the lycra and the jaunty caps.

mcpitman

Joe_Horner wrote: »

No high horse involved.

Clearly, whatever the incident was, it didn't leave the cyclist maimed at the side of the road because he was able to follow, catch, and confront the driver.

So, regardless of how impressive it was, the correct course would have been to control the urge for "retribution" (your word, not mine), take the number plate in case the video didn't show it, and report - with the video evidence - to the police. Not only is that the safer option for everyone involved, it's the one most likely to have the miscreant driver facig any repercussions for his driving.

By allowing emotions to get the better of him, the cyclist inflames the situation, creates danger for himself, the driver, and possibly other road users, and helps the driver to get away with it.

As I said before, needs to get a grip or find another way to travel - preferably something like public transport, where his own inability to control his emotions won't risk problems for others.

Pretty much agree with the above.

OP - if someone reached into my car to grab at the ignition keys and I wasn't expecting it, I would defend my property and myself accordingly.

If they opened the door to do it, they would be removed from the vicinity of the door using appropriate force and the door would be closed.

If the window was open, they may find there hand in my grip until the I had control of the vehicle and situation and the window closed.

At which point they would be ignored and if any aggression (be that hammering on windows or gesticulating aggressively) again these would be teated as intimiditaion and if possible i would drive off, if not possible I would address the situation again with appropriate force.

DKLS

I would suggest being very careful whose door the cyclist opens, there are some very volatile people on the road and invading space like that is asking for trouble.

ilikewatch

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

So why do police bother to fit cameras in their car?

So that they can collect evidence to aid prosecution? I'm sure if cyclists all rode along smoothly, looking straight ahead, 50 yards behind the car in front they could gather lots of useful evidence to aid police prosecutions..

In reality what most cyclists want to do is gather evidence of a vehicle a few feet away as it turns into them or cuts them up etc. In these situations it is unusual that the footage shows the incident with enough perspective for it to be useful in the absence of any other evidence - it can often still be useful alongside witness statements though.

Spicy_McHaggis

ilikewatch wrote: »

So that they can collect evidence to aid prosecution? I'm sure if cyclists all rode along smoothly, looking straight ahead, 50 yards behind the car in front they could gather lots of useful evidence to aid police prosecutions..

In reality what most cyclists want to do is gather evidence of a vehicle a few feet away as it turns into them or cuts them up etc. In these situations it is unusual that the footage shows the incident with enough perspective for it to be useful in the absence of any other evidence - it can often still be useful alongside witness statements though.

So in the hypothetical case or not of the OP, his video and statement could be used to prosecute the driver.

ilikewatch

colino wrote: »

Unfortunately Spicy is, in mentioning Police in-car evidence gathering, moving us to our true status in the TV camera-clip society. Once upon a time a Policeman saw you breaking the law, he charged you, you could go to court and the bench would find you guilty. Nowadays we seem to think that every offence needs incorruptible, time/geo stamped video evidence to get a conviction. Thankfully we are not quite there yet, but it is creeping in with whole juries being bussed around to muddy fields at huge cost to add to their imagination when on major cases.
I blame the lycra and the jaunty caps.

Once upon a time, when a police force was investigating a serious crime, under pressure and with no leads they could bring in a local "loner" beat a confession out of him and leave him to rot in jail...

ilikewatch

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

So in the hypothetical case or not of the OP, his video and statement could be used to prosecute the driver.

Quite possibly, and the driver might even put his hands up and freely admit fault. However, if the driver puts forward his side and says that there was a reasonable explanation for his dangerous action then the prosecution may well fail. Either way, the authorities may well decide that a prosecution isn't worthwhile anyway.

My own experience would suggest that in the absence of any injuries, damage or independent witnesses the police won't give two hoots.

Spicy_McHaggis

ilikewatch wrote: »

Quite possibly, and the driver might even put his hands up and freely admit fault. However, if the driver puts forward his side and says that there was a reasonable explanation for his dangerous action then the prosecution may well fail. Either way, the authorities may well decide that a prosecution isn't worthwhile anyway.

My own experience would suggest that in the absence of any injuries, damage or independent witnesses the police won't give two hoots.

Well that speaks volumes, you're bitter because your own attempts to prosecute an innocent person failed.

ilikewatch

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

Well that speaks volumes, you're bitter because your own attempts to prosecute an innocent person failed.

Not bitter at all, it was actually the exact opposite - it was a cyclists attempts to "grass me up" me that have given me some insight! Thankfully the police were less than interested and saved everyone involved considerable time and expense.