I Was A Semi-Victim Of Road Rage Today

[Moviequill]

On my weekly errands this morning, pulling out of the post office and some geriatric fat guy went all postal on me... for?... heck, I don't know.

Could it be he was in a hurry to get to Walgreens to refill his Depends prescription and didn't realize we were in a school zone and that is why I was going 25 in a 50 zone? Is he an ex-employee of Ford, unfairly dismissed for spending an inordinate amount of time in the broom closet with Fred, the Janitor and then when he saw my Ranger truck he went off? Was I a victim of mistaken identity and he thought I was Vincent D'Onofrio from SUV and was mad because he got confused as to which version of SUV I was on?

Your guess is good as mine, but he sure was mad. He tailgated me all the way down the street, honking his little horn and followed me into the Conoco parking lot where I was grabbing a pumpkin spice cappuccino and $10/gas. No physical blows came to hand, although he jutted his substantial midsection in my direction and prevented my passage to the store. "Where are you going, little girl," he taunted me, "I've beaten up bigger people than you in my sleep." I swear that is what he said, but I can't be quite sure over the roar of laughter inside my skull.

I wasn't laughing when I came out. The old fart keyed my truck!

[GINA]

What a jerk! I'd go find him and key his face.

[Shay]

I'd call the cops especially if you got his license plate

[FineExampl]

I wouldn't have gone into the building until he left. No coffee is worth that. Had a similar thing happen this past summer, but no keying, just a punch to the head. I took his as to court though and his tune changed.

Anyone who confronts someone outside of a vehicle has serious issues. Fingers, yelling, honking, flashing, cursing, etc. are all acceptable. Once you get out of the car, you've crossed the line.

[Moviequill]

Originally Posted by Shay

I'd call the cops especially if you got his license plate

To defuse his lit embers I went into the Conoco, grabbed my coffee, paid my gas... it is only then when I came out did I notice the keying. During the incident I was already on my way to the Conoco, so if I had turned back to go back to my truck he would have considered me calling his challenge and who knows? He could have had a Beretta 9mm, a six inch switchblade, a spiked club, a wet newspaper... in hindsight I should have went back, but I didn't think a 65 year old man would be so childish to vandalize

[FineExampl]

Actually, that sounds to me like something a 65yr old would do. My worst case of self road rage was tossing as Wendy's Frosty onto someone's windshield. At least it could be washed off. Keying is serious damage.

childish SOB.

[manoverboard987]

so about the actual keying...

If it's not all the way down to the primer or the sheet metal, try Meguiar's Scratch-X before filling it in with a touch-up pen. I had some similar scratches from my pocket knife rubbing on the side of my car, and scratch-x levels out the clear coat to make the scratches unnoticeable.

[Moviequill]

Originally Posted by manoverboard987

try Meguiar's Scratch-X before filling it in with a touch-up pen

thanks for the tip, we are planning on selling it this spring too, so this would stand out to any potential tire kickers

[dnyed]

The Conoco must have security footage, right?


I hope the guy feels better now.

[kcfoxie]

I've gotten out of my car and approached a Z3 convertible that had it's right blinker on and wasted a 3 miniute green left turning light on one of the busiest and largest intersections in memphis during RUSH HOUR. He was the first car in line, I was the second... this as back when I had my aircooled. He cut off an SUV when the 22 other car behinds him started honking and I got out brandishing a large metal wrench in my hand. I blamed it on the indiscretions of youth, but what a jerk. He could have turned left and made a U Turn and caught the OTHER left green arrow at the cross street.

[FineExampl]

(mental note: never drive near chris)

[kcfoxie]

hey! i've toned down *a lot* since I was 19.

[niki]

We all woulda coulda shoulda done something differently. The fact is, no one wants to think the worst will happen. I think it's a good thing you were thinking smartly and like you said, he could have had a gun so in retrospek a little scratch is nothing compared to being shot in the face.

Keying is no fun, though. I know this first hand. Mine are too long and deep for Scratch X to do anything about but I do it everynowandthen to get some of the dirt out that builds up in there.

I knew someone once... I won't name names!... that had a parking spot stolen at the mall during Xmas. This person yelled at the man who stole his spot and the man just laughed and walked away. He had a rather fancy brand new SUV so this person found a spot, went over to the guy's car and keyed "F YOU," but writen out in his door. I know that's not the answer to anything but boy I bet that guy never stole another spot again.

[kcfoxie]

I hear stories like that and think of Fried, Green Tomatos ... that movie from the 90s... "Your hitting my car!" "I'm older and have better insurance!"

[noR]

Originally Posted by dnyed

The Conoco must have security footage, right?


I hope the guy feels better now.

Bingo. I'd call the cops. have them investigate the tape.

Do it soon while the time is fresh and before they write over the tape.

[JuggBug]

Todd, listen to me.....file a police report. Give a good description, tell them where the incident occured. If it was a gas station, they most likely have cameras all around that place and can get a plate for you and hopefully it will show the guy actually doing it.

I'm sorry that this happened to you. There are just stupid turd cutters everywhere we turn in life. If I had been there I would have helped you beat his until my fists hurt.

[Moviequill]

but nothing actually happened physically between us, if this guy hit me and then he somehow survived the pounding he'd get back, I'd follow it up... but I don't want the cops to get involved in something as minor as a door scratch. We only have collison on it so insurance is out, my baby just got a war wound that's all... I appreciate the good thoughts but I am letting this go after today... tomorrow we talk about flipflops and boobies again

[JuggBug]

Originally Posted by Moviequill

but nothing actually happened physically between us, if this guy hit me and then he somehow survived the pounding he'd get back, I'd follow it up... but I don't want the cops to get involved in something as minor as a door scratch. We only have collison on it so insurance is out, my baby just got a war wound that's all... I appreciate the good thoughts but I am letting this go after today... tomorrow we talk about flipflops and boobies again

Oh damn you Todd! I say it's an beating and some po po action! LOL

Naw, it's cool. I'm glad that it didn't come to blows *haha*. But I do think if you pursued it, even a little, you could get this creep in trouble.

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by Moviequill

but nothing actually happened physically between us, if this guy hit me and then he somehow survived the pounding he'd get back, I'd follow it up... but I don't want the cops to get involved in something as minor as a door scratch. We only have collison on it so insurance is out, my baby just got a war wound that's all... I appreciate the good thoughts but I am letting this go after today... tomorrow we talk about flipflops and boobies again

I see where you're coming from, but...if someone doesn't call this moron out and sic the cops on him he will probably do this to someone else again. As a matter of fact I'm sure we all know this isn't the 1st time he has done something like this and next time it might be worse. Someone could get hurt. If he did this to you and you have no clue why he did it then when someone actually physically does something to piss him off who knows what could happen? It's scary to think about it. I would have called the cops. This freakzoid shouldn't get away with what he did I'm glad all you walked away with was a scratch on your truck though, Todd. This guys sounds like he needs a major attitude adjustment.

[noR]

Seems you're in the Best possible position then man. You're not all invested in the outcome, but yet in a position to do some good.

The short of it is, that the guy did $500 (professional shop, professional job) worth of damage to your door. And there are cameras that have caught him in the act of doing it.

The fact that you're not all wrapped up in it actually HELPS your cause. The bigger cause. This isn't about revenge, and that's good. Lets make it about cleaning up the garbage out there that have no respect for other people's property.