Accused of Reckless Driving Based on Phone Tips in Oregon

[beaverton_007]

Thursday, I was driving my 69 mustang south on I5 from Portland Or, to Eugene. As usual, the left lane was going slower than the middle or right lane. I get in the left lane behind a couple driving a new mustang. The guy has his cruise control set to 64 so he can just sit back and let everyone go around him. However, in oregon it is against the law to pass on the right. As you can imagine that doesn't stop anyone. So I start putting the normal pressure on him, hanging left, and riding him a little. This just pissed him off and he started blocking me, making sure I wasn't going to get around him. So I see he looking at me in his rear veiw mirror and I am motioning for him to move over. Finally I catch a break and get around him. I move on down the interstate and I'm being a good boy in the right lane when a cruiser shows up. He pulls me over and tells me there were some calls that I was a wild man. He writes me up for reckless and hauls me off to jail. The cops didn't get me on radar and I didn't admit to anything. The people in the mustang made up some pretty good tales about me. So far I'm $220 into this with towing fees and I need to know what I can expect from legal rep and how this will affect me. Thanks in advance for the help.

[Mr. Knowitall]

So I start putting the normal pressure on him, hanging left, and riding him a little. This just pissed him off and he started blocking me, making sure I wasn't going to get around him. So I see he looking at me in his rear veiw mirror and I am motioning for him to move over. Finally I catch a break and get around him.

You "catch a break" meaning you finally decided to pass him on the right like everybody else?

What you describe could reasonably be interpreted as "road rage" on your part, which is apparently how the people who called the police and the police officer who responded interpreted the incident.

[lwpat]

The person who made the complaint will have to appear at your trial. If he does not show, they will have to dismiss. You can go ahead and enter a plea of not guilty and request a trial. You can also get the name and address. If they are not local, it is unlikely they will show for court.

[beaverton_007]

In my defense, I did make numerous efforts to get around the guy but traffic was heavy and he was enjoying messing with me. I did finally get around him when he got trapped. The reason why I was pressuring him was because he wouldn't let me around. You know, new mustang vs old mustang.

[moburkes]

In my defense, I did make numerous efforts to get around the guy but traffic was heavy and he was enjoying messing with me. I did finally get around him when he got trapped. The reason why I was pressuring him was because he wouldn't let me around. You know, new mustang vs old mustang.

What was the speed limit when you were driving 60 MPH?

[beaverton_007]

The speed limit is 65 where this happened.

[chuckycheese]

Passing on the right, in and of itself, is not illegal as long as you're in a legitimate lane (although blocking traffic in the left lane is illegal in some states, including Oregon). I think the liklihood of getting convicted is very slim, considering that law enforcement officers did not witness your actions. I think at least talking with a lawyer would probably be a good idea.

[turbowray]

Thursday, I was driving my 69 mustang south on I5 from Portland Or, to Eugene. As usual, the left lane was going slower than the middle or right lane. I get in the left lane behind a couple driving a new mustang. The guy has his cruise control set to 64 so he can just sit back and let everyone go around him. However, in oregon it is against the law to pass on the right. As you can imagine that doesn't stop anyone. So I start putting the normal pressure on him, hanging left, and riding him a little. This just pissed him off and he started blocking me, making sure I wasn't going to get around him. So I see he looking at me in his rear veiw mirror and I am motioning for him to move over. Finally I catch a break and get around him. I move on down the interstate and I'm being a good boy in the right lane when a cruiser shows up. He pulls me over and tells me there were some calls that I was a wild man. He writes me up for reckless and hauls me off to jail. The cops didn't get me on radar and I didn't admit to anything. The people in the mustang made up some pretty good tales about me. So far I'm $220 into this with towing fees and I need to know what I can expect from legal rep and how this will affect me. Thanks in advance for the help.

Riding someone is reckless driving, even if the dumbo was impeding traffic by going 60 in a 65, in the left lane. In Oregon, that is against the law, I got a ticket for it when I was a new driver. The officer stated that you can go 5 miles under the speed limit if you wish, but not in the passing lane. Was there one call or several?

[chuckycheese]

The law in California is similar. It's illegal to impede traffic in the left lane regardless of how fast you're going. It's a sensible law because it causes a great deal of 'road rage'.

Personally, I think "following to closely" probably causes more accidents than speeding and drunk driving combined (although I think oftentimes, it's a combination of the three!).