"Why Didn't You Do Anything...?"

[JudasGoat]

I'll try to keep this as succinct as possible.
I was almost home and came to an intersection to stop for a red light. While waiting, I look in my rearview mirror and see a guy that looks like a friend of mine from childhood. He's driving and has a female passenger. He looks too young to be my friend but as I'm watching I notice it looks like she upset with him about something. He seems to be taking it in stride. Light turns green, we go. But- we're behind a school bus. As I'm waiting for it to drop the kids off (by the pool, hahahaha) I notice he seems a little more animated now. Soap opera live; goody.
As we go down this road behind the school bus I continue to watch this argument escalate. Out of nowhere though the dude reaches across and starts hammering the windshield in front of her face/head with open handed smacks. He lets loose with 3 or 4 of them. Then it looks like he calmed down some. A minute later he does it again and doesn't stop until it's got a web in it. Clearly, he's agitated. At this point, I'm wondering what, if anything, I should do. He has not hit her but he sure is mad. Then he starts hammering the windshield in the top left with his fist until it's busted up. He didn't go completely through. I decide to get my cell phone out but I'm wondering, what would I say? Can you call the police on a guy for destroying his windhshield? He hadn't hit her, but I didn't want him to. I wondered about getting out and asking if they were ok but thought that might just upset him even more. By the time I was wrapping up my useless, internal debate it looked like they had both calmed down alot.
So I was curious, what would any of you done? You hear about people getting killed in crowds with people just standing by and watching and I hate those stories. I definitely don't want to be one of them. At the same time, discretion is the better part of valor. If I had seen him hit her I would have taken action for sure. But given what he did, should I still have done more?

[SFC(R)L]

You should have used your Onstar hands free or other hands free cell phone and dialed 911 immediately.

Anyone who can punch a windshield and break it and keep driving is high on drugs. Probably broke several bones in the hand and he's not feeling it.

Further, the female in the vehicle is in obvious danger enclosed in there with this deranged man.

And this was in full view of a school bus.

[JudasGoat]

You should have used your Onstar hands free or other hands free cell phone and dialed 911 immediately.

Anyone who can punch a windshield and break it and keep driving is high on drugs. Probably broke several bones in the hand and he's not feeling it.

Further, the female in the vehicle is in obvious danger enclosed in there with this deranged man.

And this was in full view of a school bus.

all I've got is a 4 year old motorola 2 way flip phone so no hands free for me. He didn't punch through it, he just webbed it. I've actually done the same thing (just hit it once) and it didn't even leave a bruise on my knuckles. I think from the inside out is easier than going from outside in.

But you are probably right. I'm just so used to people being treated like crap from 911 operators when they call to try and help (this also has happened to me) that I wondered if it would even do any good. PLus what I mentioned before regarding 'has he broken any laws?'.

[bella-day]

You should have used your Onstar hands free or other hands free cell phone and dialed 911 immediately.

Anyone who can punch a windshield and break it and keep driving is high on drugs. Probably broke several bones in the hand and he's not feeling it.

Further, the female in the vehicle is in obvious danger enclosed in there with this deranged man.

And this was in full view of a school bus.


Agreed. If you had described what you were seeing to the 911 operator a police officer would have been dispatched to check it out.

With the guy acting in such a way not only was he putting his life in danger but the lives of all on the road with him in danger as well. It's impossible to pitch a violent hissy fit and drive carefully at the same time.

[SFC(R)L]

all I've got is a 4 year old motorola 2 way flip phone so no hands free for me. He didn't punch through it, he just webbed it. I've actually done the same thing (just hit it once) and it didn't even leave a bruise on my knuckles. I think from the inside out is easier than going from outside in.

But you are probably right. I'm just so used to people being treated like crap from 911 operators when they call to try and help (this also has happened to me) that I wondered if it would even do any good. PLus what I mentioned before regarding 'has he broken any laws?'.

Dude

upgrade, dude.

Laws broken? That would probably be amatter of judgment. Reckless driving?

[JudasGoat]

Dude

upgrade, dude.

Laws broken? That would probably be amatter of judgment. Reckless driving?

I don't have the duckets for a new phone, or my own phone plan. this is the work cell. I have a home phone but I can't swing 50 bones a month for a cell. I would like a newer one though, if for no other reason than to have a cool ring tone.

[Dr. Funkenstein]

Dude

upgrade, dude.

Laws broken? That would probably be amatter of judgment. Reckless driving?
Could also be construed as terroristic threatening.

[VCaddy05]

You should have used your Onstar hands free or other hands free cell phone and dialed 911 immediately.

Anyone who can punch a windshield and break it and keep driving is high on drugs. Probably broke several bones in the hand and he's not feeling it.

Further, the female in the vehicle is in obvious danger enclosed in there with this deranged man.

And this was in full view of a school bus.

thats not true! LOL, I broke my driver window once just joking around, and my friend punched his windshield as a joke and broke his badly. However I think it was good to have the phone ready, and watch and wait.

[PeterGriffin]

Destroying property, even your own, to show anger at someone is considered intimidation and can be actionable depending on the state.

[SFC(R)L]

thats not true! LOL, I broke my driver window once just joking around, and my friend punched his windshield as a joke and broke his badly. However I think it was good to have the phone ready, and watch and wait.

I guess we disagree.

Never met anyone who had punched a windshield and didn't regret it later.

[jeepers]

Wow, scary stuff.

Yeah, that's one of those situations that are so unexpected that you could probably just sit there going WTH and being paralyzed with uncertainty.

When in doubt, dial 911.

[supreme_war_Pig]

I'll try to keep this as succinct as possible.
I was almost home and came to an intersection to stop for a red light. While waiting, I look in my rearview mirror and see a guy that looks like a friend of mine from childhood. He's driving and has a female passenger. He looks too young to be my friend but as I'm watching I notice it looks like she upset with him about something. He seems to be taking it in stride. Light turns green, we go. But- we're behind a school bus. As I'm waiting for it to drop the kids off (by the pool, hahahaha) I notice he seems a little more animated now. Soap opera live; goody.
As we go down this road behind the school bus I continue to watch this argument escalate. Out of nowhere though the dude reaches across and starts hammering the windshield in front of her face/head with open handed smacks. He lets loose with 3 or 4 of them. Then it looks like he calmed down some. A minute later he does it again and doesn't stop until it's got a web in it. Clearly, he's agitated. At this point, I'm wondering what, if anything, I should do. He has not hit her but he sure is mad. Then he starts hammering the windshield in the top left with his fist until it's busted up. He didn't go completely through. I decide to get my cell phone out but I'm wondering, what would I say? Can you call the police on a guy for destroying his windhshield? He hadn't hit her, but I didn't want him to. I wondered about getting out and asking if they were ok but thought that might just upset him even more. By the time I was wrapping up my useless, internal debate it looked like they had both calmed down alot.
So I was curious, what would any of you done? You hear about people getting killed in crowds with people just standing by and watching and I hate those stories. I definitely don't want to be one of them. At the same time, discretion is the better part of valor. If I had seen him hit her I would have taken action for sure. But given what he did, should I still have done more?

I think you shoulda called the cops. Better safe than sorry.

[VCaddy05]

I guess we disagree.

Never met anyone who had punched a windshield and didn't regret it later.

nothing to disagree on i wasnt high on drugs, and my hand didnt hurt, but trust me sure did regret it! I didnt think it would do that, i was just joking with a friend and BAM! then proceeded with a dumbfounded look on my face and a lot of laugher.:wall:

[SFC(R)L]

nothing to disagree on i wasnt high on drugs, and my hand didnt hurt, but trust me sure did regret it! I didnt think it would do that, i was just joking with a friend and BAM! then proceeded with a dumbfounded look on my face and a lot of laugher.:wall:

Very well

Maybe you're actually hulk

[JudasGoat]

I guess we disagree.

Never met anyone who had punched a windshield and didn't regret it later.

oh I regretted it,

when the bill came for the new winshield...

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

Tough spot to be in Judas..very tough spot. My advice? You should have listened too your 'internal' dialog. You obviously were reacting to something you were viewing...and that something put your radar on high alert. Nothing wrong with calling 911..letting them know about a possible road rage incident and or domestic violence was occurring in the car behind you...and you fearing that far worse was going to happen to the passengers in that car...and possibly the motorist surrounding this car. Perfectly understandable and clear...they would have sent a car out to ensure everything was ok.

911 isn't going to judge you on what is and what is not a violent situation. They can't see what your seeing. So..better safe then sorry I always say.

Next time...(and lets pray there isn't a next time) don't second guess those natural alerts you have. It can mean the difference between someone's life or their death.

Shake this one off Judas. Some people barely have the patience of a gnat and do really stupid things. Better to keep them safe as well as your fellow populace then worry later on about if someone should have called the police.

~Mysty

[VCaddy05]

Very well

Maybe you're actually hulk

LOL, pretty sure it was dumb luck, like i said i didnt intend to crack it, just joking around. Pretty sure they will flex from the inside a little bit, i guess thats why id did, doubt i could just walk up to my windshield from the outside, and give it a little punch and it would crack.

[pattyk]

sounds like both were flyin' on meth. good you didn't get involved on that one.

[angelicmadrigal]

Anyone who can punch a windshield and break it and keep driving is high on drugs. Probably broke several bones in the hand and he's not feeling it.
.

That's actually not necessarily true. I've done something similiar, and was not definitely not on drugs at the time. There are certain conditions other than "being on drugs" that can cause people to be able to do something like this. You can also break bones and still keep going. For instance I have dozens of small fractures in the long bones on my legs, makes walking super painful, but I can still force myself to do it. It also depends on the type of fracture you're talking about too. If you break a bone to the point where it's no longer functionable that's different than only damaging part of it.

Also another note, people in a rage can be undert he effects of adrenaline, which can give you the ability not to notice pain, or notice it an keep on going.

Either way, you don't know with any degree of certainty the person was on drugs.

[SFC(R)L]

That's actually not necessarily true. I've done something similiar, and was not definitely not on drugs at the time. There are certain conditions other than "being on drugs" that can cause people to be able to do something like this. You can also break bones and still keep going. For instance I have dozens of small fractures in the long bones on my legs, makes walking super painful, but I can still force myself to do it. It also depends on the type of fracture you're talking about too. If you break a bone to the point where it's no longer functionable that's different than only damaging part of it.

Also another note, people in a rage can be undert he effects of adrenaline, which can give you the ability not to notice pain, or notice it an keep on going.

Either way, you don't know with any degree of certainty the person was on drugs.

We covered this, and my opinion is unchanged.

[Samm]

I'll try to keep this as succinct as possible.
I was almost home and came to an intersection to stop for a red light. While waiting, I look in my rearview mirror and see a guy that looks like a friend of mine from childhood. He's driving and has a female passenger. He looks too young to be my friend but as I'm watching I notice it looks like she upset with him about something. He seems to be taking it in stride. Light turns green, we go. But- we're behind a school bus. As I'm waiting for it to drop the kids off (by the pool, hahahaha) I notice he seems a little more animated now. Soap opera live; goody.
As we go down this road behind the school bus I continue to watch this argument escalate. Out of nowhere though the dude reaches across and starts hammering the windshield in front of her face/head with open handed smacks. He lets loose with 3 or 4 of them. Then it looks like he calmed down some. A minute later he does it again and doesn't stop until it's got a web in it. Clearly, he's agitated. At this point, I'm wondering what, if anything, I should do. He has not hit her but he sure is mad. Then he starts hammering the windshield in the top left with his fist until it's busted up. He didn't go completely through. I decide to get my cell phone out but I'm wondering, what would I say? Can you call the police on a guy for destroying his windhshield? He hadn't hit her, but I didn't want him to. I wondered about getting out and asking if they were ok but thought that might just upset him even more. By the time I was wrapping up my useless, internal debate it looked like they had both calmed down alot.
So I was curious, what would any of you done? You hear about people getting killed in crowds with people just standing by and watching and I hate those stories. I definitely don't want to be one of them. At the same time, discretion is the better part of valor. If I had seen him hit her I would have taken action for sure. But given what he did, should I still have done more?

Sounds to me as though he had a bee in his car... ;)

[angelicmadrigal]

We covered this, and my opinion is unchanged.

Then your opinion is wrong.

[Samm]

We covered this, and my opinion is unchanged.

Then your opinion is wrong.

Unstoppable force meets immovable object. :D

[smyrna]

I'll try to keep this as succinct as possible.
I was almost home and came to an intersection to stop for a red light. While waiting, I look in my rearview mirror and see a guy that looks like a friend of mine from childhood. He's driving and has a female passenger. He looks too young to be my friend but as I'm watching I notice it looks like she upset with him about something. He seems to be taking it in stride. Light turns green, we go. But- we're behind a school bus. As I'm waiting for it to drop the kids off (by the pool, hahahaha) I notice he seems a little more animated now. Soap opera live; goody.
As we go down this road behind the school bus I continue to watch this argument escalate. Out of nowhere though the dude reaches across and starts hammering the windshield in front of her face/head with open handed smacks. He lets loose with 3 or 4 of them. Then it looks like he calmed down some. A minute later he does it again and doesn't stop until it's got a web in it. Clearly, he's agitated. At this point, I'm wondering what, if anything, I should do. He has not hit her but he sure is mad. Then he starts hammering the windshield in the top left with his fist until it's busted up. He didn't go completely through. I decide to get my cell phone out but I'm wondering, what would I say? Can you call the police on a guy for destroying his windhshield? He hadn't hit her, but I didn't want him to. I wondered about getting out and asking if they were ok but thought that might just upset him even more. By the time I was wrapping up my useless, internal debate it looked like they had both calmed down alot.
So I was curious, what would any of you done? You hear about people getting killed in crowds with people just standing by and watching and I hate those stories. I definitely don't want to be one of them. At the same time, discretion is the better part of valor. If I had seen him hit her I would have taken action for sure. But given what he did, should I still have done more?

What could you have done...maybe beep your horn and let him be aware that his actions are being observed by others. The good news is that the tantrum will cost himself several hunderd dollars for the windshield replacement. I used to drive too fast...after paying much higher premiums for three years until the ticket are off your record...let's just say some of my best lessons come from my wallet.

[traditional_woman]

Maybe he was trying to kill a fly.

[FidelisAdMortem]

I have a temper, Ive broken things, but I would never commit to physical violence towards another, ie loved one.

To automatically equate the two I disagree it.

[traditional_woman]

I have a temper, Ive broken things, but I would never commit to physical violence towards another, ie loved one.

To automatically equate the two I disagree it.

That's b/c all these new wave psycologist tout that if a man hits objects, he will eventually hit you. However i don't believe that to be true even the majority of time.

[Ballygrl]

I don't have the duckets for a new phone, or my own phone plan. this is the work cell. I have a home phone but I can't swing 50 bones a month for a cell. I would like a newer one though, if for no other reason than to have a cool ring tone.

You don't need to pay $50 per month for a cellphone, hubby and I aren't big cell phone users and we were paying almost $80 per month through Verizon, it was a waste, so about 8 years ago we went with Tracfone and we love it. I also pay for my Mothers cellphone and we got her a tracfone a few years ago.

This is the phone we have:

http://www.tracfone.com/phone_details.jsp?lang=en&model=PCTFMTW370P_EN

We do the yearly plan, it costs $100 for each phone and we get 350 free minutes, and we also got a special deal that when we upgraded to the phone above, we get double minutes for the life of the phone, so when it's time to renew I'll get 700 minutes and that would probably last us the year, or we may have to add minutes 1 time.

As for your question? that's a tough 1, I was raised where people pretty much minded their own business and didn't get involved in domestic disputes, but I think if I felt the passenger or other drivers were in danger I would probably dial 911.

[FidelisAdMortem]

That's b/c all these new wave psycologist tout that if a man hits objects, he will eventually hit you. However i don't believe that to be true even the majority of time.

I agree, almost every guy I know Ive seen mad more than once and get nuts and break stuff, but they dont hit chicks.........so from my personal experience I agree with you.

[Gabby]

Yep, you should have dialed 911.

The message of his outburst to the women with him is that she could be next, so she better do whatever it is he wants her to do. You better believe that she was scared at that point. I've been in a similar situation.. I divorced the creep. It's basically domestic violence.

Plus, driving and punshing out the windshiled at the same time is wreckless driving that endangers everyone on the road around him.

[FidelisAdMortem]

Yea I gotta agree, what that individual did cross the line considering the proximity of the other individual in the vehicle.

However, in general simply acting out for a guy on property doesnt equate to domestic violence.

[Samm]

Yep, you should have dialed 911.

He would have felt pretty silly if all they found was a squashed bee on his smashed windshield. ;)

Everything is not always what it appears to be. Accusations of domestic assault are extremely serious and should never be made based solely on perception. Because in a valid incident, emotional anger makes the situation very dangerous for everybody involved, the policy of law enforcement is to apprehend regardless of the denial by both the alleged aggressor and the alleged victim. One has to be extremely cautious about calling in the cops; even a false allegation can follow a person indefinitely and cause them all sorts of ongoing problems.

It is a fine line between negligent indifference and doing you civic duty and being wrong can have dire consequences regardless of which way you err. I don't have an answer to the OP; one would have to be there... :neutral:

[CaptainPike]

You should have put it in reverse and slammed in to him and made his airbag explode. Maybe that would have knocked him out.