OutsideShooter wrote:
If all he has is his bike, you can bet it will sell fast & the cash to fix your car won't be available. You are still a neighbor and not a very good one in his eyes. I'd be careful. He has already been humiliated by the law and this is going to cost him fines or jail time. A bad guy always has bad guy friends. And if he doesn't his sister does.
Some battles aren't meant to win. Bottom line, chalk it up.
You could show him that worn out photographer's rights pdf that always pops up in these discussions but I really can't see this as an anti photography issue. That guy would have probably done the same thing if you were painting on an easle or just standing there.
Even if it was about your right to take a picture, some people just don't care. You can be within your rights and still get your nose busted.
So if the other person is too dumb to have a debate and you are to sick or weak to kick his butt then the first thing to do is get away. Then take it up in court.
The following may not help you in your current situation, but dispenses good legal advice for photographers, in general (Sorry if this has already been shared.): http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf
Other than the typical responses of "you did the right thing" and "I woulda' kicked his ass"
Have you done any investigative work on the guy? google his name, then his sister, whoever owns the house, what his name is, lots and lots of intel available .... gotta know who's door your knocking on. If he's got a long rap sheet, or something that otherwise suggests he's REAL trouble... I would let it go. If a 40+ year old adolescent hasn't figured it out by now he's never going to.
If he's just a putz who bought a softtail last week, as the cell phone and gay bolt on accessories suggest, maybe you can talk sense to him. Those beer muscles always go away in the morning.
Simple fact of the matter is you gotta live near the guy. Perhaps get in touch with the landowner, or house owner where the sister is, and see if she's like the fake biker dude. Get her out of the house and maybe never see the guy again. If its the house in the pic, i doubt they take kindly to this kind of thing.
Baldur wrote:
well, anyone who rides a Heritige softail with a cell phone clipped to his belt and a bunch of catalogue junk screwed on the bike he doesn't really rank high in the biker hierarchy
That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw the photo of him. That pussy little cellphone on his belt? Yeah, real hard core for sure
Still, it's what's going on in a person's head that makes them most unpredictable and this guy was drunk, angry and probably a little kookoo, so had a potent mix of brain-altering chemicals running through his veins... enough perhaps to take down anyone who tried to stand their ground, however big and tough.
I agree that you did the right thing, however, you may want to get expert legal advice regarding posting his picture here. It may harm your case should you decide to pursue legal action. It also may be fine. Don't know, I'm not an attorney, I just have an uneasy feeling about you putting his picture up. Not looking to start a debate, just don't want to see you put yourself in a position that could get "you" sued. Perhaps you should save all of your comments for depositions/court. I've been in similar situations many times before, but never to the extent of a person actually connecting their fist/weapon with me or my property.
As mentioned, you've not been charged with trespassing, or any privacy violation. This is about the charges against him, and his attack on you. I would contact an attorney for a free consult at the least.
Not an attorney but roomed with a law student for years...
The photo you might want to pull off the web, as he might come after you for libel, if any of your story turns out to be judged to be falsehoods.
You can press charges or not, criminal offense. You have to live with your neighbors, though.
At the minimum, present repair costs and nicely ask that they be paid. If they resist, take them to small claims court...claims up to $5000, not really super time consuming. Or simply submit your claim to your auto insurance company and let THEM go after the guy for money, so you are not involved directly. The police arrest and report is self evident proof of his guilt and liability for costs.
You should be able to collect through his insurance. You have a police report that documents that he damaged your vehicle, right? Contact a victim's rights advocate through your police dept.
Let your insurance company take care of your vehicle damage. (provided you live in a state that requires everyone have it) Carry a steel monopod with your camera from now on.
He is going to be real happy Tuesday when he gets a certified letter containing three estimates between $815.00 and $925.00.
I don't have to approach him. If I do not get a certified letter 30 days after the letter is signed for containing one of the amounts he will get a visit and a ride to the county motel.
I have been around the block and had a careful eye on him during the indecent. I have a permit to carry and a Glock 21, stun gun, and flapper are always within reach.
Sounds like I'm paranoid but I have a 10 year old child to protect. The car jacking thing started me keeping the hardware. It would take a real dramatic indecent to make me put my hands on any of it.
I sent letters out to the 15 other neighbors stating my name, address, what I drive and stating in case anyone else see's me as a suspicious person, it's only me. I also provided links to My Site, the laws and rights and invited them to talk to me about it if they had any questions.
Since then I have not received any return hate mail or eggs on my house and many of them have been tooting the horn and waving as they pass my house.
If and when I get the check or other things develop I'll reply here.
Damn, I've run into a-holes like this! You handled it better than I would have. I probably would have ran him over if he charged my truck like that. Or better yet, just ram his bike after he rammed your truck.
Good for you for keeping your cool!!!
I've gotten harassed by farmers because I was taking a picture (from the road) of their crops. Some are cool after I tell them I'm putting together a calendar, and others are complete assholes saying go find somewhere else to shoot. It's frustrating, but I've yet to be charged like that. Held up by gunpoint once, but that old guy wasn't all there I think, so I let him be and high-tailed it out there.
My hats off to you for handling this like you have. This guy needs a life lesson and I bet if he keeps acting like he is it'll come his way soon. You are a better man than I because he would have realized how bad of a day he was having had I been in your shoes that day. I think you are handling this situation well now make him pay cause sometimes that's the only way to teach scumbags like this a lesson.
Baldur wrote:
well, anyone who rides a Heritige softail with a cell phone clipped to his belt and a bunch of catalogue junk screwed on the bike he doesn't really rank high in the biker hierarchy
... don't let this colour your view of everyone on a bike
