Topic: How would YOU have handled this?

[Shenanigans]

     So this weekend while eatting inside a local Mexican food restaurant with my girl my beautiful 76 CB750 was backed into and knocked over. The asshat took off just before I ran out. My stock pipes were saved at the expense of the heat shield and passenger foot peg which was luckily folded out. Unfortunately the car also hit my original left side cover pretty much demolishing it. (Any one have a red one they want to sell?) You know, its suprising how quick I manged to pick it back up while I was angry

   As is natural, I started wondering if I had got out there any sooner what I would have done.
I would think getting the license plate would have been the best bet but if I did what could be done? Since I doubt there would be any way to prove that they did do it, since I highly doubt the cameras at the place even worked. I guess also if I was quicker I could have followed them but then what? Besides trying memorize their plate.

   Has anyone had a similar experience where the out come actually favored them? If so how was it reached?




                     _{Breaking windows counts}                       

[eldar]

Aside from finding the perp yourself and applying vigilante justice, I doubt there is much you can do. Even the law will not bother since it was a bike. They only care about cars. So I doubt there is much you can do. However I would be tempted to find the person and smash a couple windows and leave a note saying "next time you hit a persons bike, have the balls to own up to it".
What are they going to do? They do not know you, they do not know what model of bike they hit or anything about it.

But that is just me. If a person damages my bike and runs, they deserve what they got coming.

[ekim98]

I agree, paybacks can be a #$%* sometimes(to bad for him), it won't fix your bike but it might help relieve your anger. But I'm sure the dip would say he didn't even know that he hit the bike.

[matchanu]

Monkey stomp the son of a #$%*.


If you're not the violent type, get a licence plate, (remember, unless it's a vanity plate, it's always 3 letters, 3 numbers). A partial is fine and car make and model.

Unfortunatly, cops rarely give a rats ass about a hit and run on your ride and will take the info, but not really follow up on it.

I was hit and run by a car, (in a car), the other car took off so fast it killed a dog in it's get away. Cops eventually showed up and took down the info, but did not seem very interested or optimistic.

Justice is what you make of it. If you can live with being a victem, then good on you, blow it off and move on.

If you can't, johnny law ain't going to make it happen for you, you want justice, you need to make it happen, just be prepared for the reprecussions (legal and otherwise).

If you are crafty, you can up the percentages of you extracting justice without screwing yourself in the process. It helps to have friends in that work in law enforcement, wink wink.

In any case, I believe in Karma, it'll come around to your asshat eventually.

[edbikerii]

It happened to me once.  Turned out a doorman witnessed it and got the plate number (I gave him a $20 tip).  I went to the police station and filled out a police report.  Had a friendly police officer look up the name and address from the plate #, and began writing a letter advising them that I'd contacted my insurance company, and that they should expect to hear from my lawyer, the police, the insurance co., etc.

However, the guy must have felt guilty or afraid that the police would get him, so when I got home from work that night he was there offering to pay for the damages.  I had bought the parts on my lunch hour, so showed him the receipts, and he handed me the cash.

We then went to the police station together, and the police officer pulled the report.

Wasn't there anyone standing nearby (in a crowded[?] parking lot) who bothered to take down the plate number?  Restaurant have a hostess or a greeter or doorman?  Something like that usually is noticed.

[cleveland]

On the brighter side, the weather is getting colder and you'll have garage work for the winter now.

I would be pissed, cussing, and have a strong desire to hunt the SOB down, but in the end I would just let it go and move on.  It's a shame to say, but I bet more people in todays society would just drive away instead of owning up.  Sorry to hear it happed.

[TwoTired]

If you didn't get a license number, or are able to track him down, somehow, ask yourself if you would still care about this incident 5 or 10 years from now, or if it happened 5 or 10 years ago.  If the answer is no, then simply fix it and move on to much more important things in your life.

It is hard to be passionate about your bike and dispassionate about irresponsible people.  But, crimes of passion are not condoned by society or law enforcement.  Property is less important than peoples well being.

I'm pretty sure that if you were on the bike when it happened, a whole new veiwpoint and accepted reaction from police and society would be expected.

Sorry about the incident.  Hope you get it repaired good as new.

Cheers,

[matchanu]

If you didn't get a license number, or are able to track him down, somehow, ask yourself if you would still care about this incident 5 or 10 years from now, or if it happened 5 or 10 years ago.  If the answer is no, then simply fix it and move on to much more important things in your life.

It is hard to be passionate about your bike and dispassionate about irresponsible people.  But, crimes of passion are not condoned by society or law enforcement.  Property is less important than peoples well being.

I'm pretty sure that if you were on the bike when it happened, a whole new veiwpoint and accepted reaction from police and society would be expected.

Sorry about the incident.  Hope you get it repaired good as new.

Cheers,

Excellent advice.

[eldar]

I dont know. I think something should be done. Reason being is that if the person gets away with it once, they will continue to do it then without ever owning up to their screw ups.

I suppose something like this could be argued both ways. I would try to hunt the person down. Heck to add a little poetic justice, at least for myself, I would take the damaged heat shield and use that.

[vames]

you might have asked a friendly waitress for the name of the person from a credit card receipt, or if they see the person there regularly.

[mark]

.. I would try to hunt the person down. Heck to add a little poetic justice, at least for myself, I would take the damaged heat shield and use that.

That sounds kinda kinky, but fun. Heat it up red hot and brand his a** with it - after you duck tape him to a fire hydrant in a dog park.

[Uncle Ernie]

One time I came out and my bike was on it's side.  It was the law that an offeding driver must leave a note, and they did.  It said, "you shouldn't have parked there."  I'm sure they wrote it with a flourish to satisfy witnesses.

The last time was a hit and run.  I wore a cast for 9 months.  The police just threw away the front bumper...
Some friends combed the area and found a piece of turn signal lens with a number on it.  From that they found out the make and model of car, printed up some leaflets and offered a reward.  The guys neighbor turned him in for the money.  The court fined him in addition to his insurance (yeah- he had it!) and that's what I lived on and had my bike repaired while I was out of commision.

Did you check to see if the restaurant had cameras and if they worked?  Check with witnesses?  

I had a guy run over my bike on purpose (OK- I was going for him) and the cops didn't care.  I posted his license #, make and model and passed it out to all the bike messengers in the area.  He found out and left threats on my message machine...
Sometimes you just have to take another bite.  Try to swallow without chewing too much.  Otherwise, IT will eat YOU from the inside.

[cleveland]

Sometimes you just have to take another bite.  Try to swallow without chewing too much.  Otherwise, IT will eat YOU from the inside.

Ahhh, my favorite flavor. 

[matchanu]

I dont know. I think something should be done. Reason being is that if the person gets away with it once, they will continue to do it then without ever owning up to their screw ups.

I suppose something like this could be argued both ways. I would try to hunt the person down. Heck to add a little poetic justice, at least for myself, I would take the damaged heat shield and use that.

It's a matter of degrees I guess.

Do you risk destroying your carrer by pounding some asshat for scratching your fender?

Or do you turn a blind eye when the neigbor next door is being raped?


Everyone is going to have a different perspective based on life experience, skill, temperment, and ability.

Not to mention your situation.

If I'm employed at The Weinnie Hut, making minimum wage, no family to support and young, I may beat some crab for being stupid.

If I'm making 6 figures, wife and kids, TS security clearence, etc.. I may want to be a lot more forgiving and let Johney Law take the riegns.


I'm dealing with a situation now were the home I was having built (400K) turned out to be a colosal turd of a home. The company is not giving my deposit back and it's looking like we never will. I'm out 20K! 10 years ago I would have gotten my money back without a lawer, if not money then in blood. These days, I simply cannot indulge in these liberties anymore, there is too much to loose.

However, that does not mean I have forgoten nor forgiven. I just have to be more patient these days.

[ekim98]

I can agree with matchanu that getting your money back out of this guy's hide may get you in more trouble than just fixing the bike and going on with your life, but that has become the way of life just about everywhere now. And that is why people don't take responsibility for there actions. At what point do the victum's rights ever get taken into consideration. I personally think eldar is right, make them pay for there actions.

[matchanu]

I'm not disagreeing with you at all. I think, however, there are many ways of doing so without comprimising yourself.

Just saying something is a start. How many times have you seen somone throw trash on the ground a a groupd of people around that person say nothing?

Or someone cutting into a line and the sheeple just mutter to themselves?


How about the jackass in the movie theater talking on his cell phone?


I take a stand on all of these. Suprizingly, afterwards, everyone around me says "good job" or some such crap, yet are seemingly unable to contribute at all durring the actual confrontation.

Is esculating a confrontation to a physical altercation worth it? sometimes yes, most of the time, probably not.

The more you take a stand, the easier it becomes.

That being said, someone knocks your bike over and drives off. The damage is minimul, you have a wife and kids, good paying job, do you drive off, find the guy, and pound him into dog food?

The gratification you will feel is very short lived, unemployment and possible divorce is not.

Now, drive off, stop the guy, hold him for the police? Better idea. The guy gets uppy, you are within your rights at that time to defend yourself, and to hold him untill police arrive.

The guy pulls a gun, knife, whatever. It ain't worth a ding on your ride. Get the info and report it.

Ever see two guys get into a fist fight over a parking space? That is retarded. Prinicle yes, but so not worth it.

The more responsibility you have, the more crap you have to eat, thems the facts.

All bets are off if your kids are involved, them the facts as well.

I can agree with matchanu that getting your money back out of this guy's hide may get you in more trouble than just fixing the bike and going on with your life, but that has become the way of life just about everywhere now. And that is why people don't take responsibility for there actions. At what point do the victum's rights ever get taken into consideration. I personally think eldar is right, make them pay for there actions.

[Shenanigans]

The place were this occurred  at is not so much a restaurant as it is a "hole in the wall" place that has had the fortune of really good business. They have a nice sit in area but no attendants or anything like that unfortunately.

The odd thing about places of this style is they appeal more to people who frequent the place as its rather hard to find something you like there. So people that do go there tend to go there often, as is the case with myself. So I'm pretty sure that I will eventually see that car there again. When that happens we will see..... 

Since I'm not exactly capably of being intimidating even if I tried. Which is too bad cause I don't have anything to weight me down if I wanted to preform a, how do they say it "beat down "  I will simply just ask him to pay for it after getting his plate. If he just leaves well good thing his tires have no air for some reason. I will replace that air when you replace all my broken parts.... In all realism I hope that is solved peacefilly and easily cause if I found out where he lives I might had to initiate some of my user name on his house

Thanks for the advice, which also confirmed my suspicion that the police would have better things to do.

 

[m00ntan]

Very sorry to hear your troubles.

I have a question.

Is it possible to insure vintage bikes for actual or replacement costs?

[Gordon]

I have a question.

Is it possible to insure vintage bikes for actual or replacement costs?

Absolutely, but in my opinion, there are very few vintage sohc4's that are worth paying the premiums the insurance companies would charge for full, realistic, coverage.  In most cases, you'd be better off putting the monthly payments you'd spend for insurance into a savings account, in case anything ever happened. 

[eldar]

Match, I am not talking about beating the guy. I am saying to get his attention by playing his own game so to speak. It will mess with his mind. Also, if you do it that way, he is not likely to say anything to anyone otherwise he would have to admit his guilt in leaving the scene. Also it would be unlikely the douche even knows what type of bike he hit or even remembers the color.

[matchanu]

Match, I am not talking about beating the guy. I am saying to get his attention by playing his own game so to speak. It will mess with his mind. Also, if you do it that way, he is not likely to say anything to anyone otherwise he would have to admit his guilt in leaving the scene. Also it would be unlikely the douche even knows what type of bike he hit or even remembers the color.

I tried knocking some dumb #$%*'s mirror off yesterday after she changed lanes right into me without looking.

Trust me, I hear what you are saying.

[TwoTired]

Since when did "two wrongs make a right" become true?

[matchanu]

Since when did "two wrongs make a right" become true?

Depends on you view of "wrong" and "right".

Guy smacks his ol lady around, that to me is wrong.

You smack the guy who is smacking his ol lady around, that to me is right.

If you allow yourself to become a victim, or allow wrongs to be done to you without reprisal, these action will continue, and get worse.

We all have our views on this, and were we all draw the line about the appropriate action taken and the amount of force exerted depending on the situation.

Doing nothing all the time is simply unacceptable. Apathy is equal to acceptance, which make you just as guilty as the offender.

What do people lock the doors to their homes? To keep honest people honest.

When there is no repercussion for your actions, the action continues.

Ever live in a place were traffic laws are not enforced? What is the result?

DUI where I live is epidemic, only recently has there been a major crackdown on DUI, it's too little too late.


If you see someone spray painting graffiti in your neighborhood, what is your reaction? Do you take action or do you simply turn a blind eye to it?

[my78k]

Had a similar situation happen to me...parked my car at the liquor store and some dink backed into it (not a huge prob but did gouge the bumper with his hitch). Luckily the clerk saw the whole thing and wrote down the plate number for me. She didn't want to get involved with the police in terms of an investigation but did give me her name and number but said she would rather stay out of it...I respected her wishes. I went to the cop shop and gave them the plate and explained what happened. He ran the plate and contacted the driver. The guy denied anything happened and the cop told me there was nothing he could do but did give me the guys name number and address! Guess he didn't believe him and figured I could deal with him directly. I am shocked he would give it to me due to privacy issues etc...but he did.

I contact the guy and same story...claims he wasn't there blah blah blah...kind of funny that a clerk would magically pick a plate number of someone who lived less that 4 kilometers from that liquor store! I tried to deal with him man to man etc but the dude was ignorant and I guess he figured that if he denied it enough I would go away. Well I did...for about a month...then I took a bottle of muriatic acid (left over from acid washing a tank) and drove to his place at 2:30 in the morning with thoughts of dumping it on the hood of his 92 pickup that he hit me with...and then I saw he had a brand new Impala in the drive and figured I would assist him by removing the paint from the hood of the car instead of a POS mazda truck. I am assuming he got the point but I guess I will never know for sure because I won't be contacting him again...

First and only time I have ever done something like that...I'm a big believer in Karma and had some bad luck for a while after that...coincidence I am sure but why risk it for something like that. Truly 2 wrongs don't make a right but it did make me feel better (briefly!)

Dennis

[Aaron J Williams]

Rule #1 - Don't get in a p*ssing match with a psycho. Do we know if the perp is a psycho?
Rule #2 - Don't sweat the small stuff.  Yeah it sucks to have to buy a heat shield and a side cover but it's not like you got injured.
Rule #3 - What goes around comes around. One day this idiot will back into a psycho's bike and he will get his due. Justice will be served and your hands will be clean.