Tuesday, September 23, 2008

"Where is a cop when ...

... you need one?"

How many times have you said that? Well, tonight he was right behind me.

I was in McHenry and was driving on a side street past a park on the south side of Route 120. As I approached a crosswalk, I spotted a kid on a bicycle who was pedaling hard for the crosswalk. It was obvious he had no intention of stopping or even slowing, and I slammed on the brakes.

Fortunately, I was able to stop without hitting him as he tore across the street in front of me. I gave him a blast on the horn, and he flipped me off as he rode away from the street. I thought to myself, "I'd like to chase him down and get him ticketed." But how does a man in a VW keep up with a kid on a bike?

About one block further on I stopped at the stop sign at 120. Guess who was right behind me? A McHenry Police car! Yea!!!

The kid had ridden up to 120 and then back to the east, so he was riding right into the cop's arms. As the officer crossed the street to meet the kid, I offered to witness, but he said he'd take care of it. I'm sure he did.

I'll bet it will cost the kid $100 in court for that little act. I'm glad I didn't hit him (and that he didn't hit me), and I hope he learns his lesson.

8 comments:

Kyle S. said...

"I gave him a blast on the horn, and he flipped me off ..."

Way to go kid.

Gus said...

Maybe you'd like to contribute to the kid's legal defense fund? If the judge gets the whole story, the kid will find himself with a big fine and bigger court costs. He earned it, and he deserves it.

yagottabekidding said...

Where do we send the money ?

Gus said...

Send it to Chief Tom O'Meara at the City of McHenry Police Department. He'll see that it gets to the right place. Send plenty.

yagottabekidding said...

Did you actually check that out or are you just making it up? I don't want it ending up buying donuts.

Gus said...

Check what out? That Tom O'Meara is Chief of the McHenry P.D.? That he'll be sure the money gets to the defendant? Of course, he will, if he receives it addressed to the defendant, even if the sender doesn't know the kid's name. The Police Department knows the kid's name. And, no, I didn't call Chief O'Meara to ask him what he'd do if he received the money. I can assure you it won't go for donuts.

Thomas the Ruffian said...

Gus- I understand is not your real name, but, seriously man, you need a life. Kids are kids, people move out of the city to have kids here. They don't need old "get off my lawn" types like you. You saw the kid, good attentive driving, now move on!!! Why ticket this kid? The only lesson to be learned from that is avoid old jerks, hate cops, and remember the pathetic man in a dress that sides with the cop. Seriously Gus, when I first saw this site I thought you were cool, posting important city information online, but you are a sad excuse for a man. Wasting time posting your grumpy old man diary for all to read. Stick to the important decisions that are being made and spare us you encounters with everyone that passes you or otherwise annoys you as you run your errands. Let the kids be kids and realize that finger was well deserved.

Gus said...

Thanks for posting, Thomas. You weren't there; I was. It wasn't just a kid crossing a road in front of me. He pedaled hard and never slowed. That type of attitude puts kids in hospitals and graveyards. He was very, very lucky that I didn't splatter him all over the roadway. If any careless kid on a bike ever deserved a ticket, he did.