Dropping a Dime, on your neighbor?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
161

We lent our truck to a friend (a smoker). A couple weeks later we received a letter from WSP saying that someone had witnessed a lighted cigarette being thrown from our truck on the day our friend was driving.
It wasn’t a ticket, just a letter saying it was illegal; a form of littering. They also included a litter bag.

So, yes, your calls are followed up, with a reminder to not do whatever they were doing.

Does it waste resources? Probably. Does it make a difference in someone’s poor driving practices? Probably not.

162

pulykamell: The following is the compleat thoght:Let me try a differnt perspective . A person is walking down the street, they see an out of control vehilcle headed toward a group of people being entertained by a sidewalk Buskar unaware of the danger thats approaching. Wouldn’t a responsible citizen try to warn those people anyway they can? Of course, you would,even though you don’t know for certain that the vehicle is actually going to hit the crowd, perhaps the driver will regain control Before an accident occurs. Perhaps the crowd is so enraptured by the performer they don’t hear the warning and they get creamed splatterd, at least someone made an effort at trying to help
I beleive that what I stated in the OP is that I was being followed by a commercial vehicle(a 6 wheel cube van) the driver was less than 2 car lengths behind me we were doing the speed limit (60 mph in that ares) and the driver was talking on the cell phone sans hands free. I could see the drivers face as clearly as I see my moniter. I feel that is reckless driving and should be reported, perhaps to the drivers dispatcer or employer if the oppertunity is present to do so, if not then 911.
From where I sit it appears as alot of What I have posted has been miisinterpreted or taken out of context.
I would like to thank all the posters for their input and their opinions

                                                       :) Nadahappycamper

PS “choosing the lesser of two evils, is still choosing evil.” Jerry Garcia

163

The complete thought doesn’t change a single thing about my reply. Not sure what extra context you see there. I was giving a more appropriate analogy for your behavior and how it’s perceived, since you seem to be so fond of these analogies.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. You haven’t exactly been clear with what offenses you report and which you don’t. The OP says you reported to the trucking company that a driver was tailgating and talking on his phone. That’s fine. I have no problem with that. But you start by saying you call the police for stuff like illegal lane changes, tailgating, talking on the cell phone, etc. If you do indeed do that–and you haven’t objected to this characterization of your actions in this thread, so far as I can see–that behavior is akin to my version of your crowd-watching-a-busker analogy, and is received in the same manner.

164

pulykamell- please re-read the op,what I said was as follows:
"For instance I called one delivery trucks company and reported the driver for following too close at a high rate of speed,…
The other driver, the one following too close and using the cell phone I wasn’t able to report as I wasn’t able to get the information to do so.
I don’t recall posting that I report drivers for illegal lane changes, by illeagal I mean not using their directionals, if I did give that impression my apologies. I do recall posting that I don’t drive around looking for drivers to report, and that I wouldn’t file a report for something as simple as an illegal lane change, because everyone does it at one time or another, also I wouldn’t file a report on a driver using a cell phone without handsfree.
I did also ask to hear from 911 employees as to how these reports were handled.
As to my Buskar analogy I feel that was spot on, concise and a darn good analogy.
Nadahappycamper

165

What makes you think I haven’t? Several times, in fact.

It’s in the first two sentences of the OP, which you wrote.

This is why I’ve asked you several times to clarify exactly what you call 911 on. You don’t seem to object to these characterizations (and least you didn’t clarify until this post that you don’t call people in on illegal lane changes), and your exact words in the OP give readers the impression that this is exactly what you call 911 for.

The busker analogy only works if you are calling in on an analogous threat to the police. If you’re calling in on somebody on their cellphone, that’s not an analogous situation; if you’re calling in on somebody drunkenly speeding along the freeway, then, yes, it’s a good analogy. Compare with the crowd watching the busker: you disturb them to inform them of a drunken maniac careening through the streets. This will give you a positive and thankful reaction. Disturb them to tell them about an idiot on his cell-phone or tailgating? You will probably not be met with the same appreciation.

166

Actually, I have sometimes wished there were a number I could call to report cars who were dangerously parked - dangerously, not just illegally - but I guess the reason such reporting isn’t easy is because it would be abused by people like the OP.

OP, regardless of whether you’re calling the correct number or whether what these drivers are doing is actually dangerous, the police wouldn’t do anything about the infractions you’re reporting even if they wanted to, because by the time they go to the scene, the offence would no longer be occurring, and they’re not going to take your word over the other driver’s.

167

Joke stolen from old comedy routine;

What we need is to arm all drivers with those guns that shoot suction cup ended darts, with little flags that say ‘Idiot’ attached. That way, when the guy in front of you makes an illegal lane change or some other boneheaded maneuver, you can lean out and fire a dart at his car, giving you great satisfaction. Also other people on the road will be alerted to avoid being near such an idiot driver. And, of course, it’s a blessing for law enforcement, they can just sit by the side of the road until they see a car go by with lots of darts stuck to it, at which point, they pull over the driver and give him a ticket for being an idiot! It’s the perfect system!

168

You’ve continued to ignore the unfortunate truth that your calls do nothing.

169

I gotta say it. You’ve continued to ignore the unfortunate truth that your posts do nothing.

170

pulykamell-I went back to the op,yes I can see that what I posted could be misinterpreted. That happens quite often whenever I try to communicate. Let be assure you I don’t call for every single infraction I see being committed. There are far too many thoughtless inconsiderate motorists out there. I don’t concern myself with the driver who is exceeding the posted speed limit, if I am on a multi lane road, and said driver is in the far left lane and staying there, or if traffic is moving along smoothly albeit above the speed limit, that doesn’t concern me either. When I see a driver go from the # 1 lane to the #3 or 4 lane and back at a rate of speed that exceeds the majority of other vehicles on the roadway, and not even using directionals, I try to get a description of the vehicle and make a report. I don’t compound an already bad situation by chasing the motorist, I use a hands free device and if traffic is heavy I will pull over in the breakdown lane and call. Here ,in our neck of the woods, 911 is the number to call, they transfer the call to the proper jurisdiction, they know who is calling, their phone number and location, I don’t know the technical terms it has something to do with a computer chip in the cell phone. I learned that much when I took the EMD class at the Votec.To be more exact when the call is made on a state or interstate freeway the calls are handed off to the State Trooper or sometimes the County Sheriff. In towns the calls are routed to the local P.D. I too realize what so many members posted, that the Trooper or Deputy or Police Officer has to actually witness an incident to ticket a driver for breaking the law. That being said, now at least there is a description, something to look for. In noway do I believe that when I make a report that a huge posse forms and with sirens blaring and lights flashing hundreds of officers ride out looking for one vehicle. More likely, the Officers take the report read it put it in mind, and perhaps, while they on patrol they may spot the vehicle in question. If gets down to it I am more then willing to go to court and testify.

Now,about my analogy, It probably is a load, I simply meant that I do what I do, to try and help, not to try and get anyone in "Dutch." It would over joy me if the following scenario played out. Report made, report received, car spotted, car pulled over.Officer,"sir,we received a report that you were driving very aggressively." and goes on to read the report. Driver," Thats the biggest load of &*$! I've ever heard.Who the @(&% told you that?"" The Officer laughs, and cuts the driver loose without so much as a warning.

In the fifteen or so minutes that the driver was on the side of the road maybe 100 or 250 vehicles passed by and in one of them was some poor schmuck that would have been rear ended or cutoff and swerved into a car full of kids, gets by with out incident.
I must say that I do intend to get some kind of recording device, as the one member said it is unsafe to drive and try to write a license number down, also Its good to have back-up in the event I do get called to witness.
I know that my grammar,punctuation, syntax(?) are terrible, and my apologies go to those readers who find that offensive.
To the readers who feel that I am tying up the 911 system,and are being a nuisance, I apologise.

         Nadahappycamper

" When it gets down to it, and you just can’t do it,thats jolly well right where your at." (someone a long time ago)

171

Just like arguing with a conspiracy theorist or a racist.

172

OMG. Unsubscribing.

173

Ok… you have been explaining a few of your positions (some may say backpeddling) how about a question that was asked very early on to which you responded that you had no idea.

How often have you called 911 for this? You don’t have to give us an exact number… once a year… once a month… weekly… daily… multiple times a day? This could greatly change our responses.

For me it is roughly once every 18 years.

174

Ok spud- I don’t know how many times, I don’t keep count. Whats the point in counting?

175

Ever more than once a day?

176

Why so evasive? The question is simple:

You don’t have to “keep count” to give us a general answer.

177

I’m not asking your to give an exact count… just an estimate. How often do you pick up your cell phone (or use hands free) and call 911? I don’t keep count of how often I pee each day, but I could give an estimate. Is it once a year, or several times a day, or (hopefully you will expand on it) somewhere in between.

And yes, to save you some time if you answer “somewhere in between.” I’ll next ask you if it is closer to twice a year and once per day. Save your self some time and just answer the question.

And the point is… I don’t actively keep track, but I can vividly remember the two times I felt it necessary to call 911.

178

“Why so evasive? The question is simple:”
Not evasive,the answer is simpler," I don’t know. I don’t keep count."
If I were to give a “general” answer, my tendency would be to get flip, and I want to avoid that. Ok heres a general answer, Sir, I dont know Sir.":smack: I hate it when that happens.

179

I’ll try to make it easier… in the last year have you called 911:

1-5 times
6-10 times
11-20 times
more?

The fact that you won’t answer such a simple question make me think you are embarrassed to admit how often you do this.

180

Since you are so fond of analogies… If you go to a Doctor and complain of headaches, and he asks you how often do you experience them… could you not give an estimate at least to if they are weekly or daily?