What the FUCK are you talking about, asshole?
I’m talking about this, my dear.
You do know that different states have different laws concerning driving, right?
And believe it or not, there are laws concering driving too slowly.
Driving too slowly in the absence of soemone driving a foot behind your bumper. The tailgater will get a ticket; the likelihood of getting a ticket for slowing down to a speed necessary for safe driving after being tailgated by someone with his brights on are nearly nonexistent. Those laws have little bearing in this case.
Yep, but your additional info changes my perspective. While I still think its downright stupid to mess with tailgaters no matter what their motivation, your second post states that you had little choice while your first post looks like you were intentionally inflaming the loser/desperate driver.
I won’t grovel, but I WILL retract the Fuckhead remark.
Bubba
Can I re=direct the Fuckhead remark to Ilsa? 
Oh, I garbled that middle sentence. :o
I am rubber and you are glue.:rolleyes:
Ilsa, I’ll give you one example. If you keep insisting, I’ll give you a few more.
Now, will you kindly apologise for all the stupid, unnecessary nastiness?
Yes, but I still maintain that that law is not applicable in this case. I already said that when traffic begins backing up, you should do something. But when a single car is riding one foot from your bumper with it’s brights on, slowing down is the appropriate response, unless another solution is immediately obvious.
Look, I agree with you that the guy was a jerk and shouldn’t have driven up WindWalker’s ass with his high beams on. And yes, I imagine that most states have laws against tailgating.
But the point is, different states have different laws. And you couldn’t possibly know them all.
For example, you said, “Unless the speed limit is 65 or over, there is no minimum speed.”
Ok, you aren’t listening to me.
I have conceded that twice. In the case of a single car tailgating you, you will be hard pressed to find prohibitions against slowing down as a reaction. In 99.99% of those cases, the tailgater will be ticketed, not you. I should have qualified my minimum speed statement, yes.
So if you are driving below the minimum speed limit, and there is only one car behind you, you believe you are not breaking the law?
Frankly, I think they both broke the law, depending on the state.
leander I noticed you used a link from the Missouri Department of Revenue drivers guide, to make your point. I’ve done Law Enfocement in MO for a short time, and the drivers guide is basically your “cliff notes” for the law. It’s good for quickies, but for shades of the law, it’s best to go by the actual laws themselves.
Here in MO, he probably would not have been ticketed, I say probably, as i’m not too sure about slowing down to 15 mph. But depending on the vehicle, and other things, all he would have to show would be that he was driving in a prudent manner, because the talgater was preventing him from seeing. If he could resonably show that going at 15 mph was the only way that he could safely drive upon the road, due to the blinding effect of the tailgaters high beams, the point would be moot, and no citation would be written.
The relevant Missouri Statutes would be as follows, (Bolding is mine):
RSMo 304-010
Slow speed, regulation of–agricultural implements, slower speeds, when, special permits required–penalties.
304.011. 1. No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law. Peace officers may enforce the provisions of this section by directions to drivers, and in the event of apparent willful disobedience to this provision and refusal to comply with direction of an officer in accordance herewith, the continued slow operation by a driver is a misdemeanor.
- No vehicle shall be operated at a speed of less than forty miles per hour on any highway which is part of the interstate system of highways, unless:
(1) A slower speed is required for the safe operation of the vehicle because of weather or other special conditions; or
(2) Agricultural implements, self-propelled hay-hauling equipment, implements of husbandry and vehicles transporting such vehicles or equipment may be operated occasionally on interstate highways for short distances at a speed of less than forty miles per hour if such vehicle or equipment is operated pursuant to a special permit issued by the chief engineer of the state department of transportation pursuant to section 304.200 and the regulations established pursuant to such section.
- Any person who violates subsection 2 of this section is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
(L. 1957 p. 631, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1047)
Effective 3-13-96
RSMo 304-012
Motorists to exercise highest degree of care–violation, penalty.
304.012. 1. Every person operating a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of this state shall drive the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the property of another or the life or limb of any person and shall exercise the highest degree of care.
- Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a class B misdemeanor, unless an accident is involved then it shall be a class A misdemeanor.
(L. 1996 H.B. 1047)
Effective 3-13-96
*No continuity with § 304.012 as repealed by L. 1987 S.B. 83.
(2002) Riding lawn mower is considered a motor vehicle under section. Stonger ex rel. Stonger v. Riggs, 85 S.W.3d 703 (Mo.App. W.D.).
In this situation, and in this state, I can think of several places where what h describes can in fact happen, And for all intents and purposes, he hasn’t broken the law, as he was stating that the tailgaters position and high beams were preventing his operation of the vehicle in a safe and prudent manner, and that driving faster would have proven a danger to himself or others.
Now, having said all that, I do think that slowing down to 15mph is pushing it, BUT at the same time I know of people who would HAVE to slow down to that speed, due to sensitive night vision, so to me, the speed he slowed down to is subjective at best.
Can we at least agree, regardless of laws varying from state to state, that the tailgater is the MAJOR asshole whilst the victim is the MINOR asshole?
Oh, and on more thing, so he got a kick out of the person not passing. I would have also under the circumstances, although, I probably wouldn’t have slowed down as severly as he did.
Unless it was a 4x4 pickup which would have caused me to stop and wave the bastard around me while using my middle finger, as they’re set so PEFECTLY in hight as to utterly blind my poor ass.
Quite frankly, I believe that you’re rationalizing your jerkish behaviour; that when you slowed down to 15, your primary purpose was punishment and retaliation, and that you could have safely pulled aside and let the person pass – certainly at the beginning of the encounter, and very likely before you slowed down to 15. But only you know the exact circumstances and why it is you did what you did.
Tailgating, it seems, to be a never ending subject here at the sdmb.
Grimace, fair enough, and thanks for the Straight Dope. It’s good to see someone around here who knows what they’re talking about. 
I don’t recall him saying he was impeding the guys ability to pass at all. Perhaps idiot was enjoying being in the throes of road rage and didn’t think to go around. Dangerous, but doable.
The only thing worse than a tailgaiter, is someone driving too slow in front of me.