What would you do: Guy the car behind me made gun hand gestures at me repeatedly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a f#cking loser. I'd probably memorize the license plate and report it to 911 later in the day.

He needs a visit from the cops to straighten him out.

This would not be an appropriate response. The appropriate response would be to ignore. But if you really felt like you MUST call the police, use the non-emergency number. I'd want you arrested if you called 911 for this.

You're a lunatic.

This is exactly what 911 is used for in most major localities. In DC, 911 is the general government services number for ANYTHING that may involve the police, fire department, and paramedics. This would include noise complaints, getting an illegal parked car towed, etc. It goes through 911 because that's where the city can track and keep records of all requests.

No, the man did not commit a crime. But he did make a threatening gesture to a mother and a child. Most cops I know would be happy to drop by and give the man a stern lecture on his front porch about appropriate behavior while driving.

That's not a 911 situation...but I'm sure you're one of those people who consider anything that upsets you an emergency.

You're wrong. DC merged 311 services into the 911 system back in 2008. The Office of Unified Communications handles all requests, including non-emergencies. This is how it works in DC.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jan/20/dcs-911-311-lines-to-merge/

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Let it go. When somebody makes a gesture at you (no matter how bad) just look away or briefly acknowledge him without any emotion. It's over.


+1. The police have to see the action take place. Even if you call in and say you saw a county truck with a foot of snow on its top that was being driven erratically they'll say the cops have to see it actually happen. they don't make housecalls even if you have the license plate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a f#cking loser. I'd probably memorize the license plate and report it to 911 later in the day.

He needs a visit from the cops to straighten him out.

This would not be an appropriate response. The appropriate response would be to ignore. But if you really felt like you MUST call the police, use the non-emergency number. I'd want you arrested if you called 911 for this.

You're a lunatic.

This is exactly what 911 is used for in most major localities. In DC, 911 is the general government services number for ANYTHING that may involve the police, fire department, and paramedics. This would include noise complaints, getting an illegal parked car towed, etc. It goes through 911 because that's where the city can track and keep records of all requests.

No, the man did not commit a crime. But he did make a threatening gesture to a mother and a child. Most cops I know would be happy to drop by and give the man a stern lecture on his front porch about appropriate behavior while driving.

That's not a 911 situation...but I'm sure you're one of those people who consider anything that upsets you an emergency.

You're wrong. DC merged 311 services into the 911 system back in 2008. The Office of Unified Communications handles all requests, including non-emergencies. This is how it works in DC.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jan/20/dcs-911-311-lines-to-merge/

It depends on where OP lives. Either way, I wouldn't recommend calling either 911 or 311. Just let it go.

[Anonymous]

For anyone recommending calling 911/311, what is the outcome that you hope to achieve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was driving with my two kids in a 25 mph zone and took a turn slowly because I had a big plant in the back of the car and I didn't want it to tip over. It wasn't super slow, but apparently it was slow enough to piss off the guy behind me, because right after the turn we were stopped at a light and he made a gun shape with his hands and fired at me twice. Then, when the light turned green, he pulled around me and pointed his finger gun at my 9-year-old (who was in the passenger seat). That was the end of it, but I'm still thinking about it, and wondering if I should have taken down his license plate and called the cops. Thoughts?

OP, if you're still thinking about it, then he wins this round. There will always be shitty drivers and people upset with them. It happens...let it go.

[Anonymous]

It would be silly to call 911 over a hand gesture. C'mon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a f#cking loser. I'd probably memorize the license plate and report it to 911 later in the day.

He needs a visit from the cops to straighten him out.

This would not be an appropriate response. The appropriate response would be to ignore. But if you really felt like you MUST call the police, use the non-emergency number. I'd want you arrested if you called 911 for this.

Just an FYI re: 911 vs. non-emergency...I parked my car in my work parking garage one time for a quick weekend trip and while I was gone someone smashed into my bumper and side of car. When I got back days later and spoke to insurance, they said I had to file a police report, so I called the non-emergency number. Non-emergency would not take down any information and required me to call 911 to report the hit and run. From there, the cops had to come out and go through the motions to file the police report. I was pretty embarrassed/sheepish when they arrived since I had to call 911 for a hit-and-run that probably happened days before. I was in no imminent danger, but that was the process that I was told to follow. The cops were also rude and annoyed (understandably annoyed, IMO as I'm sure they had more pressing things to do).

Long story short, if OP felt threatened, she has every right to call 911. There will likely be no recourse, but saying you want her arrested for making the call is absurd. That's not for you to decide, it's for the police. Also, every neighborhood listserv I've ever been on has had messages from local police telling residents to call 911 at the sight of anything suspicious or out of place (even if it's just someone walking down the street that doesn't seem quite right). From there, the police decide what's an emergency or what isn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For anyone recommending calling 911/311, what is the outcome that you hope to achieve?

Police may already be watching/aware of this guy if he has a criminal record. This adds an another data point.
Police can approach the individual and said they have received a complaint about his threatening behavior. Even if he denies everything to the police, the individual may modify his future behavior after knowing that he's been "put on notice."

Will he get arrested? No. Will he change his anti-social behavior? Potentially.

[Anonymous]

You should have made "I have a grenade" motions towards him. Hold up your hand, pretend to pull the clip out with your teeth, then LOB it in his general direction.

Always one up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a f#cking loser. I'd probably memorize the license plate and report it to 911 later in the day.

He needs a visit from the cops to straighten him out.

This would not be an appropriate response. The appropriate response would be to ignore. But if you really felt like you MUST call the police, use the non-emergency number. I'd want you arrested if you called 911 for this.

Just an FYI re: 911 vs. non-emergency...I parked my car in my work parking garage one time for a quick weekend trip and while I was gone someone smashed into my bumper and side of car. When I got back days later and spoke to insurance, they said I had to file a police report, so I called the non-emergency number. Non-emergency would not take down any information and required me to call 911 to report the hit and run. From there, the cops had to come out and go through the motions to file the police report. I was pretty embarrassed/sheepish when they arrived since I had to call 911 for a hit-and-run that probably happened days before. I was in no imminent danger, but that was the process that I was told to follow. The cops were also rude and annoyed (understandably annoyed, IMO as I'm sure they had more pressing things to do).

Long story short, if OP felt threatened, she has every right to call 911. There will likely be no recourse, but saying you want her arrested for making the call is absurd. That's not for you to decide, it's for the police. Also, every neighborhood listserv I've ever been on has had messages from local police telling residents to call 911 at the sight of anything suspicious or out of place (even if it's just someone walking down the street that doesn't seem quite right). From there, the police decide what's an emergency or what isn't.

Where was this? I am a 911 Dispatcher and we take turns ans 911 and non emergency lines. This is bizarre.
Where I work we dont even do reports for hit and runs with no suspect info. We tell you that on the phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For anyone recommending calling 911/311, what is the outcome that you hope to achieve?

Exactly! Without physical proof, it's hearsay. He could say he was rocking out to the beat of a song. Just pointing E with his fingers. He could say he never even left his house this AM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a f#cking loser. I'd probably memorize the license plate and report it to 911 later in the day.

He needs a visit from the cops to straighten him out.

This would not be an appropriate response. The appropriate response would be to ignore. But if you really felt like you MUST call the police, use the non-emergency number. I'd want you arrested if you called 911 for this.

Just an FYI re: 911 vs. non-emergency...I parked my car in my work parking garage one time for a quick weekend trip and while I was gone someone smashed into my bumper and side of car. When I got back days later and spoke to insurance, they said I had to file a police report, so I called the non-emergency number. Non-emergency would not take down any information and required me to call 911 to report the hit and run. From there, the cops had to come out and go through the motions to file the police report. I was pretty embarrassed/sheepish when they arrived since I had to call 911 for a hit-and-run that probably happened days before. I was in no imminent danger, but that was the process that I was told to follow. The cops were also rude and annoyed (understandably annoyed, IMO as I'm sure they had more pressing things to do).

Long story short, if OP felt threatened, she has every right to call 911. There will likely be no recourse, but saying you want her arrested for making the call is absurd. That's not for you to decide, it's for the police. Also, every neighborhood listserv I've ever been on has had messages from local police telling residents to call 911 at the sight of anything suspicious or out of place (even if it's just someone walking down the street that doesn't seem quite right). From there, the police decide what's an emergency or what isn't.

Honestly, this is what police spend 70% of their time doing: providing non-controversial services to citizens, filing reports, handing out tickets. Not much is spent with serious crime. The police were probably annoyed because you were the 8th boring report that had to deal with that day. Par for the course and entirely within their job description.

And yes, the police ALWAYS ask us to report anything that is suspicious. They will then make the determination if it's an emergency. Better safe than sorry. This is why we pay the police.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should have made "I have a grenade" motions towards him. Hold up your hand, pretend to pull the clip out with your teeth, then LOB it in his general direction.

Always one up.

This is awesome!

[Anonymous]

Uh, that was a threat. Against your 9yo. I would have snapped a picture and found a public place to pull over and call the police.

Yeah, he is probably just be an asshole, but he might not. anyone who goes around threatening children is not really in the realm of the sane. and you don't know whether he got your picture and is looking you up.

Since you didn't get the picture, don't sweat it. he is probably just an asshole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a f#cking loser. I'd probably memorize the license plate and report it to 911 later in the day.

He needs a visit from the cops to straighten him out.

This would not be an appropriate response. The appropriate response would be to ignore. But if you really felt like you MUST call the police, use the non-emergency number. I'd want you arrested if you called 911 for this.

Just an FYI re: 911 vs. non-emergency...I parked my car in my work parking garage one time for a quick weekend trip and while I was gone someone smashed into my bumper and side of car. When I got back days later and spoke to insurance, they said I had to file a police report, so I called the non-emergency number. Non-emergency would not take down any information and required me to call 911 to report the hit and run. From there, the cops had to come out and go through the motions to file the police report. I was pretty embarrassed/sheepish when they arrived since I had to call 911 for a hit-and-run that probably happened days before. I was in no imminent danger, but that was the process that I was told to follow. The cops were also rude and annoyed (understandably annoyed, IMO as I'm sure they had more pressing things to do).

Long story short, if OP felt threatened, she has every right to call 911. There will likely be no recourse, but saying you want her arrested for making the call is absurd. That's not for you to decide, it's for the police. Also, every neighborhood listserv I've ever been on has had messages from local police telling residents to call 911 at the sight of anything suspicious or out of place (even if it's just someone walking down the street that doesn't seem quite right). From there, the police decide what's an emergency or what isn't.

Where was this? I am a 911 Dispatcher and we take turns ans 911 and non emergency lines. This is bizarre.
Where I work we dont even do reports for hit and runs with no suspect info. We tell you that on the phone.

Sounds like you're offering crappy service to your taxpayers.
I had to call 911 last year because someone did a hit and run on my parked vehicle in DC on Christmas night. Obviously there was no witness, but I needed to file with my insurance for the damage. This required a police to inspect and issue a report. How else do expect people to file insurance claims?