Comments on: The tipping point in justice for cyclists? http://austinontwowheels.org/2010/01/08/the-tipping-point-in-justice-for-cyclists/ The Online Magazine of Austin Cycling Culture Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:04:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Doug http://austinontwowheels.org/2010/01/08/the-tipping-point-in-justice-for-cyclists/comment-page-1/#comment-6528 Doug Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:03:41 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8295#comment-6528 er, wouldn't avail himself of his fifth amendment rights. er, wouldn’t avail himself of his fifth amendment rights.

]]> By: Doug http://austinontwowheels.org/2010/01/08/the-tipping-point-in-justice-for-cyclists/comment-page-1/#comment-6527 Doug Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:03:15 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8295#comment-6527 I doubt it's a tipping point in anything. Mostly, it happened because he couldn't keep his mouth shut, wouldn't exercise his fifth amendment rights. Had he not been so forthcoming with the police (wanted to teach them a lesson), it's entirely possible that none of this would have happened. The case probably would have gone to the DA, but the DA probably wouldn't have prosecuted due to lack of evidence, they never would have found the other related case, etc. It's just a case where the evidence (much of it came out of his own mouth!) was strongly against the defendant, so it went to court, got a guilty verdict and a decent sentence. Motorists will still continue to do what they've always done, and without witnesses, it'll still be `he said, she said' at best and few will result in prosecution or conviction. I doubt it’s a tipping point in anything.

Mostly, it happened because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut, wouldn’t exercise his fifth amendment rights.

Had he not been so forthcoming with the police (wanted to teach them a lesson), it’s entirely possible that none of this would have happened. The case probably would have gone to the DA, but the DA probably wouldn’t have prosecuted due to lack of evidence, they never would have found the other related case, etc.

It’s just a case where the evidence (much of it came out of his own mouth!) was strongly against the defendant, so it went to court, got a guilty verdict and a decent sentence. Motorists will still continue to do what they’ve always done, and without witnesses, it’ll still be `he said, she said’ at best and few will result in prosecution or conviction.

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