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apostate wrote: Some questions:

• He may have my license plate data as well. Can he use that to track me down for revenge?

It's definitely possible to track down a name and address from a license plate, using various sources, such as publicdata.com. I'm not sure about your other two questions, though I'd think calling 911 when feasible would be a good choice.

Most people on the Road simply don't have any Patience, always gotta get somewhere quick. And they don't care how they do it.
It can be scarey on the Highway, people are crazy, you don't make prolonged eye contact with anyone, otherwise they may take it as a challenge, or Threat.

Forget calling the Cops on 911, they aren't going to do anything. Found that out myself once.

I would only call 911, if only to be ready to report an accident when I see people like that.

911 is the right number to call, and you might have even called it earlier. They may not do much, as it is sometimes hard to catch the moving targets, but there is also the chance that there is a cop about 30 seconds in front of you that could catch the guy. Odds are against them being able to do much, but sometimes long shots pay off.

911 data is a public record. If someone wants your name or phone number, all they need to do is request the records for the calls that day. But, they have to know you called, want to do something about it, and know that they can get the records. Since nothing happened to him while you were in the vicinity (if ever) he is probably not going to know or care about the call.

License plate data, as has been pointed out, is also public and can be used to find you. But, just because you got his plate does not mean he got yours. He might not have been thinking about it when he could see your plate, or he might not have been able to read it correctly. Most people have trouble reading some license plates because of the way some letters and numbers resemble each other (try to tell a 2 and a "Z" apart quickly).

All told, there is a small chance he could do something to you, but it is a very small chance.

Thanks for the feedback y'all. With any luck he already forgot me and we'll never see each other again.

Briankey wrote:
Forget calling the Cops on 911, they aren't going to do anything. Found that out myself once.

I don't mean to argue, but I've got to point out that this is bad advice...

Even if the police can't get there in time to help you, you will be much better off if the situation does escalate if you have called and documented the situation.

I can also tell you that in the city I work in every time a call like this comes in the dispatcher puts it out over the radio with a vehicle description, location, direction of travel, and wheter the caller is following the vehicle or not.

srothstein wrote:911 data is a public record. If someone wants your name or phone number, all they need to do is request the records for the calls that day. But, they have to know you called, want to do something about it, and know that they can get the records.

Also, I'd bet the requests for that information are logged, so he'd be setting himself up for a hard time if he got it then *anything* happened to you.

As far as doing anything differently, digital cameras with audio/video recording are cheap and easy to operate. WalMart even carries the little flexible tripods that can be wrapped around the passenger seat headrest or the rearview mirror post for handsfree recording, and a 2GB SD card holds about 30 minutes of video at 640x480 30fps, though 15fps is plenty for documenting bad driving and will give you an hour of recording in case you just want to drive around with it on all the time. Turn on the time/date stamp, and make sure you speak the plate number and anything else you've noticed clearly once you start the recording. Even low-quality video can provide plenty of evidence for a stop if the guy's driving problem miraculously clears up at the sight of a cop.

KD5NRH wrote:

srothstein wrote:911 data is a public record. If someone wants your name or phone number, all they need to do is request the records for the calls that day. But, they have to know you called, want to do something about it, and know that they can get the records.

Also, I'd bet the requests for that information are logged, so he'd be setting himself up for a hard time if he got it then *anything* happened to you.

As far as doing anything differently, digital cameras with audio/video recording are cheap and easy to operate. WalMart even carries the little flexible tripods that can be wrapped around the passenger seat headrest or the rearview mirror post for handsfree recording, and a 2GB SD card holds about 30 minutes of video at 640x480 30fps, though 15fps is plenty for documenting bad driving and will give you an hour of recording in case you just want to drive around with it on all the time. Turn on the time/date stamp, and make sure you speak the plate number and anything else you've noticed clearly once you start the recording. Even low-quality video can provide plenty of evidence for a stop if the guy's driving problem miraculously clears up at the sight of a cop.

Can you do this while talking on the cell phone and eating a Whataburger?



Anygun

I don't consider it advice, to me its more a comment, because no matter what someone says here, people will always make up their own minds whether to dial 911 or not.
Everywhere I've gone, I've dialed 911 on a bad drivers, given details, even followed them from a distance, never once was there a response from a LEO, I kind of think that unless a cop see's it for himself, he doesn't get involved. Got too much other work to do than get involved in a "He Said, she said" incident involving someone cutting someone else off at the intersection.
Here in Beaumont, Tx, the cops don't even investigate Hit and run incidents involving a person smashing into anothers vehicle while on a resturaunt parking Lot, I know, it happened to me a Month ago.
Just my opinion, from actual observations.

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I don't mean to argue, but I've got to point out that this is bad advice...

anygunanywhere wrote:

KD5NRH wrote:
As far as doing anything differently, digital cameras with audio/video recording are cheap and easy to operate.

Can you do this while talking on the cell phone and eating a Whataburger?

As long as it's already clicked over to video mode, yes; two button presses and I can hold it with two fingers while holding the wheel with that hand. If I have to change modes, then I have to put the burger down for a second. Add on the little tripod or a beanbag mount, and it can sit on the dash just fine.

I avoid it in traffic, but yes, I've maintained handheld recording on a particularly bad driver on our curvy, cornery backroad while on the phone with the dispatcher.

I have called 911 twice while driving. Both times were to report obviously intoxicated drivers.

Both times, I continuously updated the drunk drivers position and within minutes a unit had them pulled over.

I saw something crazy like that about 8 years ago at 7:00 in the morning.

I was driving about 45 mph down Westheimer out in the suburbs of Houston when I looked in my rear view mirror and saw an old 1970s car coming up to me fast. At the very last minute the driver whipped his car around me. He must have been driving 60 or 70 mph. I was then shocked when that same car changed lanes and sideswiped a car to its left. It broke of the side mirrors on both cars. Then the reckless driver changed lanes all the way to the right side of the road and did it to another car. This time it kept ramming the car until it drove off the road. The reckless driver then sped off even faster and I lost sight with them.

I slowed down and saw the person get out of their car and they were alright. They were on their cell phone calling the police. I kept driving and up ahead there was a bayou with the guard protector. A lot of cars were slowed down right in front of the bayou. When I looked to my right there was the reckless driver's car flipped on its back and stuck on the guard rail hanging precariously.

It was the strangest thing I have ever seen on the road.

Briankey wrote:Here in Beaumont, Tx, the cops don't even investigate Hit and run incidents involving a person smashing into anothers vehicle while on a resturaunt parking Lot, I know, it happened to me a Month ago.

That's because it's private property and therefore does not fall under the laws of the TX transportation Code. An officer is not required to investigate unless the damage is estimated at over $1000. It used to be $500 but recently went up!

apparently leaving a fake address behind, it's not hit & run anymore.

Happened to me, and specially thanks to some illegals.

gregthehand wrote:

Briankey wrote:Here in Beaumont, Tx, the cops don't even investigate Hit and run incidents involving a person smashing into anothers vehicle while on a resturaunt parking Lot, I know, it happened to me a Month ago.

That's because it's private property and therefore does not fall under the laws of the TX transportation Code. An officer is not required to investigate unless the damage is estimated at over $1000. It used to be $500 but recently went up!