What can I happen if I was in a road rage incident today?
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What can I happen if I was in a road rage incident today?
Another driver was driving slow in the fast lane, so I switched lanes to pass them but they then sped up flipping me off. I eventually got in front and put my windshield wipers and slowed down to spray them. I then drove off switching lanes to the right to proceed to merge on another freeway. The other guy then sped up to catch up with me, switching several lanes fast, and when he got close to me in the left lane right behind me, I swerved into his lane a little bit to scare him or whatever. He had a dash camera and got everything on film and was pointing at the camera then pointing at me as he drove off. Can I get in trouble or be arrested for this?
Asked on December 9, 2015 under Criminal Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
The good news ofr you is that no damage was done or injuries caused: if they had been, you could have charged with assault, vandalism, even manslaugher if a death resulted.
The bad news is that if the other driver takes this to the police and they find his dash cam and testimony credible, you could get ticketed for some form of reckless driving, as well as with improper lane changes, and could face several hundred dollars of fines and several points on your license.
A word of advice: don't do this again. It could have had drastic consequences (and that's even excluding the fact that if the other driver was armed and/or unstable--i.e. willing to run into you--you could been assaulted or killed. So what is some random stranger flipped you off? You'll never see him again--his opinion of you or his rude gesture is irrelevant.
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