Hit a motorcyclist, go to jail?

[Moto]

Perhaps the justice system is not all out to get us. From the La Crosse (WI) Tribune:

Police: La Crosse motorist intentionally hit motorcyclist passing in no-passing zone

A La Crosse man was charged Tuesday with hitting a motorcycle with his vehicle last month.

Matthew M. Sallander, 37, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine after he was charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety in La Crosse County Circuit Court.

According to the criminal complaint, Sallander was driving his blue 2002 Jeep Liberty up Bliss Road in La Crosse on July 10 when a motorcycle driven by Nicholas McCollough came up behind him and began passing him on the left in a no-passing zone.

Sallander told police he deliberately swerved left; however, he didn’t intend to hit McCollough, only scare him. His vehicle hit the motorcycle, causing it to fall and skid about 10 to 20 feet, according to the report.

McCollough told police he was driving at about 25 to 30 mph when he passed Sallander and said it was a “dumb decision” to pass in the no-passing zone.

Sallander also was cited for operating left of center, and McCollough was cited for reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle without a motorcycle license and operating a motor vehicle without insurance, according to the report.

Sallander is free on a $1,000 signature bond.

[Lannis]

Sallander told police he deliberately swerved left; however, he didn’t intend to hit McCollough, only scare him.

"Your honor, I know I emptied the magazine at him, but honest to God I only wanted to scare him, I didn't mean to hit him."

Yeah, that'll work.

Lannis

[bigbikerrick]

You hit the nail on the head Lannis ! A 4000 b vehicle in the wrong hands can be a weapon, just like a firearm. Most people I know that ride, also "carry", some concealed, but many open. It is Arizona ,after all!
Hopefully it works as a deterrent to dangerous, stupid, childish behavior like that .
  "An armed society is a polite society"
Rick.

[LowRyter]

I suppose that's happened to several of us. 

I remember being cut off and squeezed by a fellow in pick up in construction zone merge lane.  I made my displeasure know and found a quick spot to pass him (but in no pass striped lane), he blocked me on 3 occasions.  I made a motion that I was taking his tag number, got around him and he followed me home.  Had a little confrontation until the neighbors started taking photos and he took off. 

I reported him and later the local sheriff's office contacted him.  The deputy came by my house and said that the driver was pretty startled about the visit and I admitted that I was attempting to pass on a no pass zone.   He agreed that guy shouldn't use his car as a weapon and felt confident the driver wouldn't be any more trouble. 

Never saw him again even though he lived a couple blocks away.

[wyno]

Here in Australia in the Australian Capital Territory a driver has been let off with a good behaviour bond after twice deliberately swerving at 2 different motorcycles that were legally filtering through very slow moving traffic. Filtering is legal at 30kmh or under in slow moving or stationary traffic. The sentence was appealed but there was no change. Using a car as a weapon is the same as sing a knife or a gun. It can kill a person. Now, because this person has got off so lightly, others will think they can do the same without consequences.

[twowheeladdict]

Quite a comedy of errors on both parts. 

Good thing they were not going very fast. 

The guy could face 10 years in jail but was let out on a $1000 bond?  I'll wager he only gets probation if convicted. 

[drdwb]

I read an article in one of the cycle mags many years ago that said in Japan to have a license you are considered a professional and the if a car driver hits a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and it is determined that the car driver was at fault, his or her license is taken their driving privileges revoked and they are fined for unprofessional conduct.  Perhaps someone on the list familiar with Japanese laws might comment. Seems like laws like this might help people take their responsibilities more serious. In Mn they just put in place a hands free law, supposedly this will stop texting and web surfing. What is sad though is last week I was riding through St.Joe Mn on the main drag and was passed by a deputy sheriff who had a phone stuck to his ear.
 

[Huzo]

Hopefully it works as a deterrent to dangerous, stupid, childish behavior like that .
  "An armed society is a polite society"
Rick.

If that gets answered, will the thread get nuked ?
I haven’t used the “G” word...(yet)

[TodkaVonic]

Wow this is in my neighborhood. Bliss road is a curvy two-lane road leading up to "Grandad Bluff" which overlooks La Crosse. The curves are 10 and 15mph affairs. I've ridden up and down it countless times. It's pretty much all double yellow line/no passing but there are a couple brief straight-aways. Total conjecture, but, if I had to guess, I bet that the motorcyclist, wanting to make the most out of the switchbacks, was following too closely and annoying the driver. The bike passed and the driver swerved, just as he says, to scare him. Not excusing anything. It's a good lesson, actually. Got the bird from a guy in a van for just the same reason a few months ago. Guess I should be happy that he didn't try to scare me.

Nate

[MMRanch]

so , someone doing 25/30 in a 45 zone ... I pass them all the time regardless of the yellow lines ... Heck what do you think is going to happen if you run more than 15 mph UNDER-the Speed limit ??? 

treat them like a piece of farm equipment

[twowheeladdict]

so , someone doing 25/30 in a 45 zone ... I pass them all the time regardless of the yellow lines ... Heck what do you think is going to happen if you run more than 15 mph UNDER-the Speed limit ??? 

treat them like a piece of farm equipment

...and people that are actually aware I am behind them will pull to the side to let me run the curves.  It is the people who go 65 mph in the passing zones and 25 mph in the curves that get on my nerves.  LOL!

[Sasquatch Jim]

 Hang'm, it prevents recidivism.

[MMRanch]

You know ... sometimes ya just have to pass on a double yellow , ... , so ... , Make it Quick !   

[John A]

Hang'm, it prevents recidivism.

Hangins too good for em

[Lannis]

Three of us on old BSAs yesterday on a British motorway on our way to the International Rally,our British host in the lead.

Traffic suddenly just jammed up and came to a stop; our leader just kept rolling about 30 mph right on the white line. Us two Yank lanesplitting virgins took a deep breath and said a little prayer and followed him.

Pretty amazing. You think you're going to be sitting in traffic, motor getting hot, clutch getting upset, and instead you're rolling along, and you can see the cars in the lines ahead actually moving aside a bit to make a lane for you, including the big trucks. It's like they're happy to help you along instead of being jealous that you're "beating" them.

The Brits here tell me "What's the point of owning a bloody motorbike if you can't filter through traffic?", and I'm starting to agree. Lots of things to like about England....

Lannis