# A misdemeanor for killing a bicyclist. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 3, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923 "2005-12-03T18:29:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923/81 "2005-12-05T14:44:04Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > The reality is that the vast, vast majority of drivers on the road today have, at some point, driven while distracted, and not accidentally. If you are without sin in this regard, cast your stone, but I will still think you’re full of it. I am without sin in this regard. **hurls stone** I have never driven in my life and thus have never put anyone’s life in danger by driving while distracted. On the other hand, my own life is put in danger daily, as a pedestrian and cyclist forced to dodge asshole drivers who are putting my life in danger by paying closer attention to their make-up or cell phone or the asshole driver in the next car who is threatening their manhood by not letting them merge, than to me. I find it very, very hard to work up sympathy for such people when they “accidentally” kill somebody. Very hard. If anyone has any suggestions about how I might do so, let’s hear 'em. Otherwise, I will carry on with my total contempt for drivers who do not value the lives of pedestrians and cyclists as much as they do their own convenience. Cars are **dangerous**. They kill more people than almost anything else you can think of. We are upset when a terrorist attack kills people, we launch massive and costly campaigns to prevent diseases that kill people, we implement extensive regulations to prevent people dying from small dangers. Yet our loved ones and fellow citizens are hurt, maimed and killed by automobiles every single day, and our attitude is that, well, they’re just “accidents” so there’s nothing we can do about it. This cavalier attitude towards driving scares the living shit out of me. Newsflash: Driving is dangerous. It is not a game. It is not a god-given right. In many parts of the world (and it sounds like Denver is one) it is not even _necessary_ to drive at all. It is certainly not necessary to text message, or put on make-up, or eat, while driving, but it is necessary (at least, in my opinion) to refrain from **killing** other users of the road while driving. In what other circumstances can the convenience of some surpass the safety and right to life of others? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923/82 "2005-12-05T15:36:40Z")
I think **cowgir** l really sums it up the best but I just want to respond to those who think the killer’s (supposed) lifetime of remorse is sufficient punishment. From the article– > [@](#): > > The victim has been identified as Jim R. Price, 63, of Highlands Ranch. His son-in-law says the retired geologist returned to the Denver area because he loved the outdoors life, and cycling in particular. Price leaves behind a wife, two daughters and three grandchildren. What crime did they commit that _they_ should be punished for the rest of their _lives_? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923/83 "2005-12-05T15:38:10Z")
Oops. Should read– > [@](#): > > What crime did they commit that _they_ should be punished for the rest of _their_ lives? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923/84 "2005-12-05T17:22:35Z")
Folks, I think the kid in question was an idiot, but some of you may be overestimating things. You see, a little over a year ago, I was subpoenaed to testify at the trial of a 21 year old who’d caused an accident because he wa high on alcohol, valium, and cocaine. He was two cars ahead of me when he crossed the center line of a 2-lane road and plowed into a minivan containing a family of five. No one was killed, but the mother of the family who looked like she was in her late 30’s had to have a hip replacement. Other family members were injured as well. The kid chose to have a plea bargain, perhaps because I wasn’t the only witness present. He was sentenced to less than 6 months in jail plus time at a rehab facility. The rehab facility is strict and tough, I’m told. If he screwed up, he would go to jail. Still, considering what some folks are asking for for text messaging here, I thought I’d throw that out for comparison. FYI CJ ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923/85 "2005-12-05T22:14:57Z")
Some more thought of this one. There is no reason to ruin this guy’s live for a ‘error in judgment’ but it does seem like he could use some form of punishment, but not any that would be disruptive to his overall life. I suggest he be sent to Gitmo to be tourchered for 1 week for his error, many on this board are convinced we have the personel there who could preform this there. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923/86 "2005-12-05T22:37:43Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Some more thought of this one. There is no reason to ruin this guy’s live for a ‘error in judgment’ but it does seem like he could use some form of punishment, but not any that would be disruptive to his overall life. I suggest he be sent to Gitmo to be tourchered for 1 week for his error, many on this board are convinced we have the personel there who could preform this there. What the fuck is this? Are you trying to be funny? Take your lame hijacks to your own thread. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923/87 "2005-12-05T23:52:55Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Some more **thought** of this one. There is no reason to ruin this guy’s live for a ‘error in judgment’ but it does seem like he could use some form of punishment, but not any that would be disruptive to his overall life. I suggest he be sent to Gitmo to be tourchered for 1 week for his error, many on this board are convinced we have the personel there who could preform this there. Bolding mine. You give yourself too much credit. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923/88 "2005-12-06T00:14:58Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > What the fuck is this? Are you trying to be funny? Take your lame hijacks to your own thread. Well only 1/2 trying to be funny, but then again ‘crule and unusual punishment’ may be benificial in these situation. When you have someone who is really not a bad person, and who can contrubute to society for a lifetime, it would be a shame to cut this short by imprisonment and a felony rap and place a burden on society for his lifetime. I’m saying let him pay, but let him pay taxes for the rest of his life too. My major beef with the OP is that you should not end a productive life for a mistake, this solves that issue. > [@mhendo](#): > > Bolding mine. > > You give yourself too much credit. Actaully, I didn’t give myself enough 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923/89 "2005-12-06T00:34:34Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > By sending the message to every other teen out there that if they kill someone by text messaging, they too will be punished severly. > > Whether something like that works or not is really asking a fundamental question about the penal system, but that basic argument seems to be lost on a lot of people in this thread. > > It’s not just about punishing this one kid. It’s about creating a sufficient deterrent for grossly negligent irresponsible brainless misuse of a vehicle. Regrettably, deterrence is ineffective in this scenario. The necessity of deterrence, in very simple terms, requires swfitness, certainty and severity. Albeit a tough sentence is severe, I doubt more than .001% of text messagers while driving will be picked up, henceforth, no deterrence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-misdemeanor-for-killing-a-bicyclist/333923.md?page=4)