Marvelous Marv

Cliffs:

Today, my son was driving in traffic that stopped suddenly. Therefore, he stopped suddenly.

The guy behind him took it quite personally--pulling up beside him, screaming at him to pull over, finally cutting him off on an exit ramp.

My son is smarter than his father--there have been two or three incidents in my past in which someone did that, and I got out of the car and convinced the other party to leave me alone. Twice just because of my appearance and general attitude, once physically. That's ancient history, and the world is different now.

My son didn't get out of the car. When the other guy did, my son dialed the police on his cell phone. That was sufficient to get rid of the other guy. However, had the other person done any damage to my son's three-week-old car, it could have gotten really ugly.

The situation right now is that the other person's license number has been given to the police. I'd like some input on how far we should continue the case--try to have the other party locked up, actively try to get his license revoked, sue him, whatever? I have the feeling I'd be protecting the public if I did so. I'm also wondering, as many parents would, exactly how much I'd like to get involved in the situation.

I've always despised bullies, and I'm very tempted to go as far as legally possible. And that's because it was my son, who's trained to defend himself. Had it been my daughter, I'm not sure I would be limiting myself to only the legal options.

Someone provide me with some rational advice.

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Siege

Well, if he hasn't really done anything, I don't see just how far you COULD push this. "Officer, I demand you arrest him for yelling at me!" sounds a little silly.

As far as road rage goes, I used to care about little things like that (never to the point where i'd flip off the "offender" or anything). Now I just don't care. And I tend to ignore those who think that i've wronged them. What good can possibly come from me arguing with the driver beside me?

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Cynthetiq

He can yell all he wants, until the person actually connects his body to body or property of another person... nothing can be, nor should be done.

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Ustwo

If you have any "friends" who can trace the plate, you could send him a nice note that you know who he is and would recomend he control his temper in the future lest someone come looking for him while he sleeps.

Also your son should have taken some pictures provided he had a camera phone. I'm sure forcing someone off the road is not legal.

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Smooth23

I had one asshole on a harly that I pulled out infront of one day pull up next to me and start screaming... I got out of my car, he took off..

Ch'i

Ah, bad drivers and road rage.

When it comes time for the morning commute I put some nice, relaxing music on and pretend I'm about to drive an obstacle course (extra points for stopping someone from cutting me off ). Assuming no one else is going to obey the rules of the road has made my drives much more enjoyable, and safer.
I've had my share of incidents like your son's Marv, and it always pays to ignor them. Unless they follow your son, damage him and/or the car, there's no reason to really do anything. As much as I know we'd all like to knock the guy out, burn his driver's license, and remove their steering wheel, it would just make us sink to their level. Unless there's damage, rise above it.

Marvelous Marv

I think I didn't make it clear that the other driver forced him off the road, but you picked up on it. Had it been just yelling, it would have been no big deal.

It didn't happen until a celebrity got stalked and killed, but now, in California, it's much more difficult to track someone down via their license plate.

However, I know a couple of cops, and I like your idea. I think a note, sufficiently ambiguously worded, might accomplish some attitudinal adjustment.

__________________
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

Ch'i

Ohhhhhhhh. Makes all the difference.