TexasCHLforum.com

I recently had an encounter in city traffic that resulted in a some crazy guy jumping out of his truck at a redlight and banging on the passenger side window of my car scaring the bejeezus out of the wife.
After indicating that I took this much more seriously than his comical attempts at hand gestures through the windows, he ran in front of the car - presumably to gather my license plate number.

I was on the line waiting for 911 to answer, reported it then and the next day called dispatch to verify no other reports had been filed with the local PD.

In the event this guy has filed a report about me, what actions should I take? Who else other than the local PD should I contact?
I have documented the incident, called the local PD about it twice, second time they said they had no interest in talking to me unless I wanted to file a report.

Yes, there is a lot more to the story but it's long too long for here. Suffice it to say some redneck yahoo twice my size and half my age jumped out of his truck in traffic to beat at the glass on my car. What would you have done? I wish I had had the presence of mind to use the camera phone to record it.

911 and call and report the incident. Did you rely the tag number of the truck, if asked to to file charges, why you did not say yes?

It was a uhaul rental and I wasn't in a position to see his plates - he was beside me -- and as I drove off I was still on the phone with 911.
I gave them a description of him and the truck as best I could on the call.
They didn't ask me to file a report on the call, they just said they would alert officers in the area.
On the call the next day, they just told me no one wanted to talk to me and they had no record, other than my call to 911.

Other than that, it's embarrassing. I feel stupid enough not being "situationally-aware" that I let myself get stopped at a light beside the guy.
I'm not particularly proud of this, but I did what I felt was needed to defuse the situation and get him to back off.
I'm twice the guy's age, I should have seen the illiterate redneck coming before he did.

Lots of unanswered questions to your post. What started it? What was your part? And be honest with yourself.


I'm assuming that you either flashed/pulled or let it be known that you had a gun or you wouldn't be posting here. Depending on the circumstances would dictate whether you were justified or not.

Here is a recent thread where a "road rage" incident that was posted about didn't exactly go the way the poster thought it would, in terms of feedback from the forum.
http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=41664" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You did do the right thing by contacting the police.

Rebel wrote:Lots of unanswered questions to your post. What started it? What was your part? And be honest with yourself.


I'm assuming that you either flashed/pulled or let it be known that you had a gun or you wouldn't be posting here. Depending on the circumstances would dictate whether you were justified or not.

Here is a recent thread where a "road rage" incident that was posted about didn't exactly go the way the poster thought it would, in terms of feedback from the forum.
http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=41664" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It seems the OP drew his gun and pointed to the the guy banging or hand waveing on his car window (passenger side). Here is his quote:

After indicating that I took this much more seriously than his comical attempts at hand gestures through the windows

Just a reminder, call 911, describe exactly what happened, report that you are armed and if you presented your firearm, and you would like to file a report. If some the other party wants to press charges, do not talk to police and ask for a a lawyer.

Rebel wrote:Lots of unanswered questions to your post. What started it? What was your part? And be honest with yourself.


I'm assuming that you either flashed/pulled or let it be known that you had a gun or you wouldn't be posting here. Depending on the circumstances would dictate whether you were justified or not.

Here is a recent thread where a "road rage" incident that was posted about didn't exactly go the way the poster thought it would, in terms of feedback from the forum.
http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=41664" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You did do the right thing by contacting the police.

from what it looks like, he is only interested in what else he should be doing, and on that aspect, regardless of the reasons, you called 911 and reported what happened and thats pretty much where it ends.

What started it?
Even though my driving probably isn't the best in the world, it wasn't me that caused or started the issue, I can attest to that. My best guess is probably stimulants and/or alcohol.

And while I'm happy with the outcome of the incident (no one got hurt) I'm not happy I let myself get into that situation - that's biggest thing I took away from CHL classes was to be aware so that you don't get into that sort of thing.

I reported to 911 and followed up the next day with a call to the local PD and left contact information both times.

My main concern at this point is that since I truly believed that we were in imminent danger.
I used as little force as possible to defuse the situation and get away.

I'm just asking now if there is anything further I need to do, or should have done with the PD to ensure that I don't need to lawyer up?

MakOwner wrote:What started it?
Even though my driving probably isn't the best in the world, it wasn't me that caused or started the issue, I can attest to that. My best guess is probably stimulants and/or alcohol.

And while I'm happy with the outcome of the incident (no one got hurt) I'm not happy I let myself get into that situation - that's biggest thing I took away from CHL classes was to be aware so that you don't get into that sort of thing.

I reported to 911 and followed up the next day with a call to the local PD and left contact information both times.

My main concern at this point is that since I truly believed that we were in imminent danger.
I used as little force as possible to defuse the situation and get away.

I'm just asking now if there is anything further I need to do, or should have done with the PD to ensure that I don't need to lawyer up?

Good you are doing the right thing, Also, It is good you are NOT disclosing more on public forums.
I would say you did your best so far, sleep at ease you did you the right thing.

you have no idea what caused someone to get out of their car and come beat on your window? maybe you need to take some driving lessons.

alvins wrote:you have no idea what caused someone to get out of their car and come beat on your window? maybe you need to take some driving lessons.

Why should he? Do they teach window beater avoidance in traffic school? Maybe the guy was high or drunk. There's nothing OP or anyone else needs to do about their driving to avoid someone jumping out in traffic and beating on their window. It's (window beating) a really bad idea and could result in getting (justifiably) shot.

I'm not sure what else you expect the police to do. You called and reported the guy and, unless something else happens, there is nothing for the police to do. The fact that you're being so secretive about the event leads me to believe that you participated in the escalation of the event. If you carry a gun, you have to be willing to take some abuse without retaliating. Hopefully, this event was a learning experience for you.

unless you have the guy's license plate number i don't see that there's really much the police can do at this point. you did the right thing by calling the police and reporting it right away, your 911 call will be on file if the other guy does decide to press charges. i understand why you're being a bit cryptic on the details, the last thing you want to do is divulge every detail on an open internet forum. if you feel you were justified in using force (assuming you did draw on the man), and explained the situation fully to the police, then i don't see any reason for you to worry or do anything else. if the other guy files a report, what could you be charged with? HE got out of his vehicle and approached YOU, so i'd say you were justified in drawing on him if that is what you did.

and if he's as illiterate as you believe, then he probably wrote your license plate number down wrong anyway

ScottDLS wrote:

alvins wrote:you have no idea what caused someone to get out of their car and come beat on your window? maybe you need to take some driving lessons.

Why should he? Do they teach window beater avoidance in traffic school? Maybe the guy was high or drunk. There's nothing OP or anyone else needs to do about their driving to avoid someone jumping out in traffic and beating on their window. It's (window beating) a really bad idea and could result in getting (justifiably) shot.

I've found that meth heads will go off at the slightest or no provocation. Just being near them has caused tweakers to flip out. On top of that there are completely insane drivers on the road who seem to go out of their way to create incidents. I don't think the OP, or much of anyone for that matter, can or could do anything to keep someone who is prone to jumping out of cars to yell at people from doing so. Sometimes through no fault of your own you find yourself in a bad situation, thats why I carry in my car and everywhere else I can. I always see comments that the driver must've done something wrong and my personal experiences say other wise. Crazy people are crazy and will do anything no matter what you do.

alvins wrote:you have no idea what caused someone to get out of their car and come beat on your window? maybe you need to take some driving lessons.

You're kidding, right? Even if the OP made a mistake in traffic (IE, cutting someone off), the attacker has NO RIGHT to attempt to assault the OP and his family. NO FREAKING RIGHT.

You indicated he went infront of your car, so presumably there was space in front of you. I think I would have just pressed the pedal on the right and gone about my day.