Comments on: Firefighter who shot at cyclist released on $200,000 bond

By: Tucson Bike Lawyer » Blog Archive » A (Bittersweet) Historic Moment in Arizona’s Three-Foot Rule?

Tue, 25 May 2010 18:20:49 +0000

[...] are a bicyclist the penalty won’t be all that severe even if I shoot you.) (And see also the comments to this post, including one from the [...]

By: Coghauler

Coghauler — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:46:28 +0000

A rather sad consequence resulting from
a few seconds of unrestrained behavior.
I am so dismayed that this culture has
imparted the view and feeling that cyclists
and bicycles are not validated at any
point in our society.

By: Alan Simons

Alan Simons — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:35:36 +0000

I know this story has got a little old,but however since this issue got swept away by our justice system,I thought i would share a few things that have gone on since the trial..Mr Diez really did get a slap on the wrist.4 months in jail for trying to kill me in front of my son is a joke.I dont believe that there is any justice for cyclists at this point,however I do hold up hope…I could not find a attorney to do a civil case ,pro-bono,as for I have no funds due to the fact my son is a special needs child.Also,I have chose to relocate from Asheville,NC to another part of the state 1 because of financial issues regarding my son and 2 Diez was getting out of jail.I am currently seeking employment,and I am sure I will get rolling Sooon.I continue to ride as much as I can and take my family when they want to ride with me.As for Diez I hope his life ends up miserable.I dont know what he was thinking that day.,But I hope he thinks about what he has done the rest of his life.

By: Bike Commuter

Bike Commuter — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:56:10 +0000

The North Carolina firefighter incident might indicate a broader problem of negative bicycle attitudes among safety employees across many cities. An example is Southern California’s Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) that is located above a state wetlands preserve used by thousands of bicyclists each week. Both traffic signals entering into the California state preserve have been altered to not detect bicycles. Newport Beach’s Principal Civil Engineer Tony Brine and Traffic Engineer George Bernard replied to my email that the left-turn signal at the south entrance had been set back to not detect bicycles. For over a decade, motion sensors had detected bicycles to safely use the left lane to enter the California state preserve. NBPD police vehicles hide in a condominium driveway to chase bicyclists and fabricate vehicle citations. At the other preserve’s entrance, the bicycle button has been disconnected. If only one car is using the light, a bicyclist has four seconds on the green phase and one second for the yellow pause. The situation is dangerous. A bicycle cannot even make it across three lanes to the median, and has to do a 360 degree turn back to the curb as the traffic roars. Meanwhile, police cars park at the corner gas station. Mayor Ed Selich is not interested in bicycling. In a telephone call with Sergeant Mike James, he supported police engagement in chasing bicyclists and fabricating vehicle citations. California has Statute AB-1581 for bicycle detection of traffic signals upon first placement or replacement. Sgt. James seemed oblivious to Statute AB-1581. During a similar call with Lieutenant Steve Shulman, he laughed. Lt. Shulman sent me a letter recommending that bicycles first test left-turn signals and then dismount to go across the traffic to the pedestrian button. While using the Lieutenant Shulman’s recommendation, a Newport Beach Fire Department paramedics van turned in front of me while at the median in a crosswalk while commuting to the main post office. And a Park Ranger in a NBPD vehicle cut me off in a crosswalk at a local high school. His windows were rolled up, but I could read his lips yelling “Get out of there”. City employees and safety officers have to get over resisting bicycles for everyone’s safety.

By: Opus the Poet

Opus the Poet — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:47:51 +0000

The sheriff’s deputy that “fell asleep” and killed 2 cyclists in NoCal last year spent 14 months on paid leave until he was adjudicated, then immediately demoted to a job that paid about half as much and did not allow him to carry a gun or drive a county vehicle.

But this is much worse than that…

By: Mickey

Mickey — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:04:08 +0000

Do we need bulletproof cycling helmets now?

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:12:22 +0000

PAID LEAVE. Yeah…
I didn’t want to be the first one to say it.
My mind is sufficiently boggled.

By: Nate

Nate — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:33:35 +0000

PAID LEAVE, Erik. I live here. Our tax money is being used to pay the salary of an attempted murderer until they get around to (hopefully) a conviction. The whole thing stinks. These guys all work together in the same part of town and he’s been employed by the city long enough to make plenty of “good ol’ boy” buddies in high places. And look– he spends two days in jail and a local judge reduces his bond enough for him to walk out. Imagine this: a cyclist sees a firefighter driving with a small child in the back of his pickup truck. He thinks that’s dangerous. He catches up to the fireman at a red light and tells him off. Firefighter says a few choice words and gets ready to leave the scene. Cyclist pulls out a gun and tries to shoot him in the head but misses. What then?