# No, you can't just drive through people who are inconveniencing you **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 27, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945 "2017-10-27T03:49:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/1 "2017-10-27T03:49:39Z")
[Car drives into immigration protest; motorist arrested](https://apnews.com/72c82460ed7e4e5f95130548a6f9aded/Car-drives-into-immigration-protest;-motorist-arrested). > [@](#): > > A man drove his car through marchers Thursday at an immigrant rights rally, with one demonstrator jumping on the hood as the car lurched forward and then stopped. Police quickly surrounded it and arrested the man. > [@](#): > > “I think he was trying to get through the crowd,” Lt. Adam Hawley said. “We don’t have any indication he was trying to harm somebody.” 😕 He was moving a vehicle into pedestrians; of course he knew that he was likely to harm someone. Swinging your first wildly with your eyes closed doesn’t mean you can say you didn’t intend to hit anyone, ffs. > [@](#): > > A video released by Cohen showed the car pushing through a line of demonstrators marching in a crosswalk. Several protesters pounded on the hood and one was pushed as the car inched ahead. “After I plowed into the first few, they were swarming my car and I was afraid for my life; that’s why I had to drive thru the rest of them, your honor!” > [@](#): > > Wenzek was arrested for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, Hawley said. Well good. > [@](#): > > He was later released pending results of the investigation. Hopefully they impounded his car as evidence; this guy doesn’t need to be driving. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/2 "2017-10-27T04:32:24Z")
**No, you can’t just drive through people who are inconveniencing you.** Glad we cleared that up; it had been confusing me for some time. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/3 "2017-10-27T05:26:08Z")
You can actually do that. In New York, a bus driver who hit a cyclist got charged with a misdemeanor. Crimes committed in cars tend to be punished lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/4 "2017-10-27T06:42:18Z")
They should throw him in the quarry. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/5 "2017-10-27T12:12:19Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > confused: He was moving a vehicle into pedestrians; of course he knew that he was likely to harm someone. Did you watch the video? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/6 "2017-10-27T12:51:03Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Did you watch the video? Did you? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/7 "2017-10-27T13:15:04Z")
He drove on through the people. Of course that could harm them. The idea that there was no evidence he was trying to harm people is clearly false, since his actions were one that any reasonable person would know could cause harm. It is also true that one person jumped on the video afterwards. However, given the aggressive act of driving through people, this makes sense. It’s like if you saw someone shoving around a bunch of people so you jumped in. You cannot drive through pedestrians crossing a road in general. To do it while cops are closing off the road to allow them through is so stupidly reckless that I want to see the book thrown at this guy. Normally I’m not a big fan of punishments for disrespecting cops, but this one is just so blatant, and the action so clearly potentially harmful, that I want that thrown on top of this charge as well. He disobeyed a lawful order to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/8 "2017-10-27T13:17:31Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Did you? Yup. Blindly obvious the driver wasn’t trying to harm anyone. Very stupid, but to claim he was plowing through people is just a lie. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/9 "2017-10-27T13:26:59Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > He drove on through the people. Of course that could harm them. The idea that there was no evidence he was trying to harm people is clearly false, since his actions were one that any reasonable person would know could cause harm. It depends on whether you think there’s a useful distinction between doing something _because_ it could harm people vs. doing something _in spite of the fact that_ it could harm people. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/10 "2017-10-27T14:07:43Z")
Yep, it appears the asshole in the car did a criminal action. It also appears that the people he was trying to get through weren’t “crossing” they were “standing” and could have very easily “stepped aside” and let him through. What is especially interesting is that the guy jumped on his hood “after” he had pretty much cleared through the crowd that remained unharmed. I know I’ll catch shit for this here but it’s obvious to me that an asshole in a car met up with another bunch of assholes on the street. I would have trouble taking sides on this since no one was harmed in the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/11 "2017-10-27T14:16:25Z")
An alarmingly large percentage of the population seems to become completely detached from reality, and entitlement goes through the roof, the moment they get behind the wheel of a car. It is mind boggling. Transgressions go from minor (refusing to tap the break to allow someone into **YOUR** lane) to more egregious (rushing through crosswalks as if in a race with pedestrians). ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/12 "2017-10-27T14:32:11Z")
People could hold their protest on the sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/13 "2017-10-27T14:53:05Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Yup. > > Blindly obvious the driver wasn’t trying to harm anyone. > > Very stupid, but to claim he was plowing through people is just a lie. Not so much plowing, but shoving. Until he got frightened or angry because people started banging on this car. Then he panicked somewhat and advanced to the middle of the intersection. Only reason he stopped was the cops rushing him. Nobody got hurt but no question he was being a dick about the entire thing. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/14 "2017-10-27T14:54:33Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > People could hold their protest on the sidewalk. Or just stay home and post angry comments on youtube. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/15 "2017-10-27T14:57:46Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > An alarmingly large percentage of the population seems to become completely detached from reality, and entitlement goes through the roof, the moment they get behind the wheel of a car. It is mind boggling. > > Transgressions go from minor (refusing to tap the break to allow someone into **YOUR** lane) to more egregious (rushing through crosswalks as if in a race with pedestrians). I’d say instead “an alarmingly large percentage of the population seems to become completely detached from reality, and their entitlement goes through the roof” period. There are simply some number of people who are jerks. I’ve seen too many pedestrians enter crosswalks when it’s flashing a small digit and then slowly cross the street. It’s especially bad when it’s a turn arrow they’re violating. I don’t know if they’re clueless, looking for a pay-out, or simply suicidal. Of course there’s always the bicyclist who runs the stop light or stop sign, hoping the cross traffic reacts enough to avoid a collision. There’s no way I’m tapping my brake to let someone cut in front of me, when there’s plenty of space behind me. On the other hand, I’ve had drivers pass around me while I’m waiting for pedestrians to clear out of a crosswalk. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/16 "2017-10-27T14:59:04Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Not so much plowing, but shoving. Until he got frightened or angry because people started banging on this car. Then he panicked somewhat and advanced to the middle of the intersection. Only reason he stopped was the cops rushing him. Nobody got hurt but no question he was being a dick about the entire thing. Yes, he was being a dick, but that’s an altogether different thing than claiming he intended to injure people. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/17 "2017-10-27T15:02:49Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > An alarmingly large percentage of the population seems to become completely detached from reality, and entitlement goes through the roof, the moment they get behind the wheel of a car. The same goes for people with the sense of entitlement that they have the right to block other people’s ability to drive on public roads in order to display their particular political agenda. I can’t condone plowing through a crowd blocking a road–but I can sympathize with fantasizing about it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/18 "2017-10-27T15:11:33Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > The same goes for people with the sense of entitlement that they have the right to block other people’s ability to drive on public roads in order to display their particular political agenda. I can’t condone plowing through a crowd blocking a road–but I can sympathize with fantasizing about it. You know who else fantasized about plowing through a crowd of protestors? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/19 "2017-10-27T15:31:55Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > The same goes for people with the sense of entitlement that they have the right to block other people’s ability to drive on public roads in order to display their particular political agenda. I can’t condone plowing through a crowd blocking a road–but I can sympathize with fantasizing about it. Regardless, protestors on a public road are _inconveniencing_ the drivers on that road. That’s all. It may be infuriating, but that’s all they’re doing. Retaliation that rises to the level of actions that could cause death or injury to those causing the inconvenience is totally out of proportion to the offense, and regardless of one’s fantasies, is completely immoral. (Fantasize about whatever you like.) > [@John\_Mace](#): > > You know who else fantasized about plowing through a crowd of protestors? Too many people, these days. That wouldn’t bother me if some state legislators hadn’t taken the fantasy to the point of legalizing driving through protesters, and indemnifying the drivers from any bodily harm caused. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945/20 "2017-10-27T15:34:26Z")
Weirdly edited article. The driver’s full name nowhere appears; he’s only referred to as “Wenzek.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-you-cant-just-drive-through-people-who-are-inconveniencing-you/799945.md?page=2)