Re: recent incident with stupid motorist . . .

Depending on what exactly happened, how willing you are to pursuit it,
and how empathetic a supervising officer may be, you may have some
options if an officer refuses to investigate.  Without overreaching my
notorious email volume, I will simply recommend everyone read and pass
around Bob Mionske's _Bicycling and the Law_.  He delves deep into
case law, legal history of cycling and cars, and varying bicycle-legal
cultures in different regions and cities.

Personally, I have twice been able to fenagle a warning out of a
reluctant officer where I thought my cause was lost (no witnesses, no
damage to self or bike).  This at least puts out a record of the
driver's behavior, while letting the officer off the hook for not
having any witnesses.  Once I did it by appealing to the officer's
decency (never a bad idea), the other time I politely threatened to
create a headache by requesting his supervisor come to the scene (a
little more adventurous).  Whatever you do, remember to be polite but
insistent and always address them formally as professionals--Officer
so-and-so, yes sir, yes ma'am, etc . . . (Mionske's advice).

Perhaps more than anything, Mionske tells us, accept the likelihood of
disappointment even if you're armed with knowledge, good manners, and
being right.  When that happens, say a prayer to the Lord of Flat Car
Tires requesting safe retribution to the idiot in question (not
Mionske's advice).

Cheers,

James T.

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