Anonymous wrote:Who should get the longer sentence:
1) This young man who was driving recklessly and killed 3 people?
2) The Wootton kid who was driving drunk and killed 2 people and injured a third?
3) The individual who was driving drunk on the Rockville pike and killed a policeman?
4) The kid who was driving drunk, crashed the car, killed three of his friends and ran off and left them while they died?

I don't understand sentencing guidelines but if drunk drivers don't get substantial jail time, what will this young man get?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Do we know whether the speeder even had his lights on or not? He doesn't sound responsible enough for even that.

That model of BMW has automatic headlights, and daytime running lights. Some illumination would have been on. The crash report also states he flashed his high beams at the Volt (not clear if before it started to cross or not).

Okay, but usually, doesn't "flashing your lights" tell the other person to proceed (not a warning, but a "go ahead")? This kid isn't very smart.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

The article says he was frantically trying to avoid the crash once he saw the volt. I think accidentally hitting the flashers while frantically trying to avoid the crash is more likely than having the control to try to flash your high beams at the other driver as a warning.
In Turkey, you flash your lights to make the other driver or pedestrian aware of you. It doesn't mean go ahead, and it also doesn't mean I want to pass. It's kind of like a lower-key version of honking your horn. I mention this because the driver is Turkish.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Post article says the plea is not binding and he could back out on August 8. Hopefully he will not go to trial and hopefully the judge gives him at least the 30 years. And hopefully his family's attorney doesn't somehow get this overturned or reduced to 2 days or something.

Could he get a jury trial? Sorry if this was already covered.

Assuming he backs out of his guilty plea, of course. A defendant is entitled to a trial by jury. In his case, however, I would waive that right and ask for a bench trial.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do we know whether the speeder even had his lights on or not? He doesn't sound responsible enough for even that.

That model of BMW has automatic headlights, and daytime running lights. Some illumination would have been on. The crash report also states he flashed his high beams at the Volt (not clear if before it started to cross or not).

Okay, but usually, doesn't "flashing your lights" tell the other person to proceed (not a warning, but a "go ahead")? This kid isn't very smart.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do we know whether the speeder even had his lights on or not? He doesn't sound responsible enough for even that.

That model of BMW has automatic headlights, and daytime running lights. Some illumination would have been on. The crash report also states he flashed his high beams at the Volt (not clear if before it started to cross or not).

Okay, but usually, doesn't "flashing your lights" tell the other person to proceed (not a warning, but a "go ahead")? This kid isn't very smart.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Post article says the plea is not binding and he could back out on August 8. Hopefully he will not go to trial and hopefully the judge gives him at least the 30 years. And hopefully his family's attorney doesn't somehow get this overturned or reduced to 2 days or something.

Could he get a jury trial? Sorry if this was already covered.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who should get the longer sentence:
This young man who was driving recklessly and killed 3 people?
The Wootton kid who was driving drunk and killed 2 people and injured a third?
The individual who was driving drunk on the Rockville pike and killed a policeman?
The kid who was driving drunk, crashed the car, killed three of his friends and ran off and left them while they died?

I don't understand sentencing guidelines but if drunk drivers don't get substantial jail time, what will this young man get?

Its hard to know what the Judge will deem appropriate. I was curious if there were any Virginia offenses - 1 speeding and 2 possession. It's all bad.

Anonymous wrote:Who should get the longer sentence:
This young man who was driving recklessly and killed 3 people?
The Wootton kid who was driving drunk and killed 2 people and injured a third?
The individual who was driving drunk on the Rockville pike and killed a policeman?
The kid who was driving drunk, crashed the car, killed three of his friends and ran off and left them while they died?

I don't understand sentencing guidelines but if drunk drivers don't get substantial jail time, what will this young man get?

Anonymous wrote:Ellis got 2 years for each of the boys who died. This is what concerns me about Atakoglu being able to get a light sentence. Different judge for Ellis, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do we know whether the speeder even had his lights on or not? He doesn't sound responsible enough for even that.

That model of BMW has automatic headlights, and daytime running lights. Some illumination would have been on. The crash report also states he flashed his high beams at the Volt (not clear if before it started to cross or not).

Okay, but usually, doesn't "flashing your lights" tell the other person to proceed (not a warning, but a "go ahead")? This kid isn't very smart.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

No, flashing your lights at oncoming traffic does mean go ahead. If you are on a highway BEHIND someone and flash your lights, it is a (rude) signal for them to get into the righthand, slower lane so you can pass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do we know whether the speeder even had his lights on or not? He doesn't sound responsible enough for even that.

That model of BMW has automatic headlights, and daytime running lights. Some illumination would have been on. The crash report also states he flashed his high beams at the Volt (not clear if before it started to cross or not).

Okay, but usually, doesn't "flashing your lights" tell the other person to proceed (not a warning, but a "go ahead")? This kid isn't very smart.

Flashing your lights at someone on the highway means "get out of my way"....normally the car in front is going too slow for the car behind. I assume he was flashing the volt so it would stay out of the way...

Anonymous wrote:

His first incident listed is from 2013. The fact that he had so many priors at ages 17-18-19, which all were reduced or dropped thanks to the attorney, make me ill. This guy should not only serve a LONG sentence, he should lose his license forever. And that his parents continued to enable him with a hell of a fancy car. I hope the surviving daughter sues them. I am not a litigious person, either.