Skip to Content
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Log In
Streetsblog USA

This Is What Passes for Traffic “Justice” in America

The "mob" was actually a group of people on bikes trying to flag down a motorist who had hit one of their friends and driven off, dragging his bike. Image: <a href=
The "mob" was actually a group of people on bikes trying to flag down a motorist who had hit one of their friends and driven off, dragging his bike. Image: KGTV San Diego
false

Here's a great example of how American law enforcement tends to produce perverse results when it comes to traffic collisions.

A cyclist in San Diego was hit by a driver and managed to avoid more serious injury by jumping off his bike. Prior to the incident, the motorist had been honking repeatedly at the group the victim was riding with, according to this report from KGTV San Diego.

Although she struck a person, dragged his bike for blocks, and only stopped when confronted by the victims' friends, the driver will receive no ticket and face no criminal charges. In fact, one of the friends who chased the driver down may be charged with a misdemeanor for banging on her window and breaking it. In KGTV's telling, that makes the cyclists a "mob" and the whole incident "a tussle" between them and the driver.

That's how it goes on American streets: Harming a person with your car carries no penalty but harming someone's car most definitely does.

Hat tip Shane Phillips

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog San Francisco

Alameda’s Central Ave Project Depends on Paint and Prayers for Bike Safety

After a decade of advocacy, a bike lane will start construction on Central Avenue on Monday. But most of it will be unprotected

January 24, 2025

Commentary: It Shouldn’t be Possible to Go 100 MPH in a Car

Tesla, other car makers, Newsom, the staff at SFMTA, former mayors and other politicians, collectively owe Luu an answer as to why her boyfriend's death was necessary

January 23, 2025
See all posts