Was I in error?

I seem to recall...Mustang had a strict policy on checking every male!

 

The original thread in the political forum is very entertaining.

 

When you are on a two lane road without a refuge lane you had better be prepared for anything cause anything can and will happen.

When I'm on a road like that I drive nerose as a ##### in church, it's just a matter of time to someone does somthing stupid and I get the blame.

 

There was no point in using stopping behind the white car, because I had time to move over into the right lane. The black car was behind me, not completely into the right lane yet. Even after my right tires were crossing the line (into the right lane)

What these other guys are missing (besides the word "approximately 30yrds. Which could've been more. But not less) was that if I had just stayed in the left lane, I could've stopped well before the white car. But as I said, there was no need. Because the right lane was clear to merge into.
Nothing became a danger until the black car sped up and attempted to cut me off.
When I started my merge, I didn't slow down. There was no need. I don't slow down during a lane change.

BTW, no one was speeding. Most of us (except the on duty, out of his jurisdiction deputy with unauthorized emergency lights mounted under his grill) was doing well under the speed limit. In fact, even as he sped up to cut me off, I doubt even he reached the speed limit.

What we have here is a road raged deputy, who's trying not to get caught out of his jurisdiction. He knew he was in the wrong, that's why he sped off when I asked for a supervisor.

BTW, if I'm not mistaken, it's illegal to deliberately attempt to cut someone off, isn't it.

Come on Rich. You guys that think every law should be complied with, aren't saying much about the deputy breaking the law and soooo many of his departments own rules.. You're big on that "you shouldn't have been there in the first place."... At least when it comes to drivers. I guess the same rules don't apply to cops. Do they?

 

Fact: as described; your driving was less than stellar.

Fact: the rent-a-cop was in the wrong as well; as described. His actions do not absolve you of your obligation to operate as a pro; nor should your actions have incited him to drive foolishly and then make a horses behind of himself.

There's blame all around.........no need to club just the cop.

 

It wasn't hard to judge the distance between the back of my trailer and the black car (dotted lines between the two lanes). The exact distance, sure, I get that. But I could see well enough to know that THE only way the black car could've caught me, was to gas on it. It was a newer small car, with probably a V6. But the distance between it and my truck, was plain to see was well behind me.

You gotta take into account, a person can't see in two different directions at a time. So seeing that he's moving into the right lane, and then looking back at the car in front of me (and still having time to stop, but no reason to) Then looking back that the black car, seeing I had time to merge. So I chose to merge. So that's what I decided to do. Without applying my breaks (again, no reason to) I started my lane change. Then looking forward again, make sure no other car is coming off the off ramp of the interestate, no one is going to make a turn into the truck stop on the other side of the overpass (that we're all going under). By now, my blinker is on and I'm coming over.
Then I looked back in my right mirror, and the black car is still behind me. That's when I noticed the front of his car raise up. He's gassing on it. After I'm already partially into the right lane.

Keep in mind, that during all of this, we're still moving. The white car is now breaking, as no one else is. All of these things take time. Seconds. No one is following too close. No one is speeding,

The deputies abrupt increase in speed changes the dynamics of everything.

Let's not forget, this incident occurred in an intersection where the west bound 2 lanes are for only a short span. Maybe 50 or so yards before the interstate underpass. And maybe 100 yards after. So it's not like we have 1/2 a mile of 2 west bound lanes to do all of this. And also, there are 10 places to turn with no actual turn lanes. Both service roads on each side are all two way service roads. (That's 8 ways to turn or come onto the road I'm on) and there's 2 entrances into the truck stop just after the intersection.) Which is why we were all going well below the 65 mph posted speed limit.

BTW, the white car in front of me, should've signaled long before it got to his turn.

 

I think I did pretty good. Considering that no one was hurt. No property damage occurred. The road raged deputy was forced to stop driving like a bat out of hatez.

Not to mention getting the deputy busted for all the violations he was guilty of. Apparenty, according to his boss (the constable) he's been in trouble a few times before. It would seem, this is the straw that broke the camels back for the deputy. I haven't heard anything from the constable in a couple of weeks. He said he had to review the 911 tapes first. But he said he'd get back with me.
Out of his jurisdiction, while on duty. Taking care of personal matters (on the tax payers dime) Using unauthorized emergency lights to pull me over. Cussing me. Not identifying himself after pulling me over. And then speeding off after I requested (numerous times) for his supervisor. Then ducking into a nursing home trying to hide from me.
I called 911 not only because his road rage nearly caused an accident. But also because I didn't know if it was a real cop or not. He wasn't wearing a uniform. That's why I followed him. Then called 911 again, when he tried to hide out in the nursing home parking lot.

 

Take it from a rookie...Even a rookie could manage not to kill anyone in that situation. As a 14 year vet, more is expected of you.

Indecisiveness is just as bad as a bad decision in hazardous situations.

The difference between you and the cop is the cop will more than likely be forgiven for his mistakes and you more than likely won't.

 

Was I in error?

YES