Driver learns about 'flipping off' sheriff

The Indianapolis Star ^ | March 16, 2004 | Associated Press

[Joe Hadenuf]

Ok, so now it is "road rage" to flip someone off. That is a bunch of crap.

No, it's nothing but flipping someone off. Not illegal.

This cop opened up a can of worms. Now everyone with a cell phone will be calling 911, screaming "road rage" everytime some dummy flips them off.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I think he pulled her over because she was driving recklessly.

Where did you get that? The article clearly states"

Ellsworth and Williams pulled Sweeney over to talk to her about her "road rage" and ran a check on her license plate.

[Mr. Lucky]

Even Indiana has rednecks.

EVEN Indiana has rednecks? Son, God, in his infinite wisdom has filled this whole blessed state with rednecks. That woman hain't a redneck; she's just plain stoopid.

[Dog Gone]

Where is probable cause in regards to the search?

First, you're assuming this ace reporter gave you all of the relevant facts. Big assumption.

When they were nailed for warrant violations, the car wasn't going anywhere except on a hook. During the arrest process, the woman's purse was going to be inventoried.

I'm no fan of the war on drugs, but she's going to have the pot conviction stick.

[CharlieOK1]

Mary Ann Sweeney, 33, of Evansville was stopped behind a bus.

She pulled to the left to get around the bus at the same moment a Ford Explorer started to pass. The SUV braked to let her in, police said.

Neither one of us was there, but it sounds like she nearly ran into the Explorer. I have been cut off numerous times in the exact same situation. People are pissed that they get stuck behind a bus, so they just fly right into the next lane without even checking to see if there is someone coming.

[Sam's Army]

Try being nice every now and then and you typically have less cause to get into these situations.

[OXENinFLA]

They found that both she and her husband, Jerry DeWayne Sweeney, were wanted on outstanding civil warrants for $500 each, and that the car was illegally registered, police said.

Ellsworth said they found marijuana in the car and in the woman's purse and cigarette pack. Mary Ann Sweeney also was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession.

D'oh!

[clamper1797]

I have pulled up right next to a sheriffs deputy and flipped him off with vigor ... he looked over with a "you're going to jail" look and then started to laugh when he saw who I was. He and I are drinking buddys and were together the evening before.

[bondjamesbond]

These folks had to have help. Nobody is that stupid on their own!

I think that is covered by this sentence from the article:

Ellsworth said they found marijuana in the car ...

Must have been in a joint on her lips at the time, I would think...

[bondjamesbond]

Found out later, it was my neighbor beeping to say hi!

You know, just yesterday I was explaining to my six-year-old that we are courteous to other drivers and never honk or yell at them because they might be perfectly nice people, and we might even know them!

She thinks Daddy is a Wussie-Boy.

[Joe Hadenuf]

People are pissed that they get stuck behind a bus, so they just fly right into the next lane without even checking to see if there is someone coming.

Well, er uh, they have a name for that Charlie. It's called unsafe lane change. it was never mentioned in the article, only that they braked to let her in, and she was never cited for unsafe lane change. According to the article they pulled her over for "road rage" due to the fact that she flipped them off. Read the article again, and get back to me.

Ellsworth and Williams pulled Sweeney over to talk to her about her "road rage" and ran a check on her license plate.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Try being nice every now and then and you typically have less cause to get into these situations.

Sammy, there are bad, angry, and tightly wound people everywhere. Always has been, always will be. It's reality Sammy. You'll just have to deal with it.

[looscnnn]

"I think he pulled her over because she was driving recklessly. She did pull right in front of him causing him to have to brake, presumably without looking or signalling. While not a big deal, I do believe that is against the law."

First; she was stopped, tried to pass the bus by changing lanes in front of the cops. That is not reckless driving, reckless driving involves high speed.

Second; if she changed lanes without signaling, he could have pulled her over for that. That would not be for "road rage" though. If she did change lanes without looking or signalling, that is against the law. If she did look and signal, the cop could have been in her blind spot, then no law was broken.

Third; if there was a collision, she would most likely get ticketed for it, but that is due too them being cops. If this had happened between civillians and she looked & signaled, she might not have gotten the ticket.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

I maintain that an armed society is a polite society and since I'm always armed, I'm always polite.

Too many have come so close. I NEVER do something like expressing rage on the road in any form. Had to tell a fellow in Houston to "Stay calm and stay alive." He understood, got back in his vehicle and left. Smart man.

[looscnnn]

"i was driving in Revere MA, going around Bell circle when a person in a car honked at me. I figured that it was somebody I
cut/pissed off whilst going around a pain in the rear rotary, I put my middle finger out the car window and drove on.
I arrived home and found out to my dismay that the person honking was my mom who " just wanted to say hi!" and wanted to know if I " did that to everybody who honks". I still laugh when I think about that"

You should have told her that you were just telling her that she is number 1.

[Sam's Army]

"Sammy, there are bad, angry, and tightly wound people everywhere."

All I am saying is that flipping people off may feel good, but that activity is asking for problems to happen as a result.

[looscnnn]

"This cop opened up a can of worms. Now everyone with a cell phone will be calling 911, screaming "road rage" everytime some dummy flips them off."

Or a lawyer will get her cleared of almost all charges, due to a technicality.

[Prince Charles]

Doubtless, these two mouth-breathing morons are big Kerry supporters.

[looscnnn]

"She pulled to the left to get around the bus at the same moment a Ford Explorer started to pass. The SUV braked to let her in, police said."

To me that sounds more like the cop was behind her, tried to pass her and the bus as she tried to pass the bus. This has happened to me numerous times.

[cinFLA]

Where is probable cause in regards to the search? Any typical filthy bottom feeding lawyer will get her off in a second.

She had an oustanding warrant and was driving an illegally registered vehicle. Did you read the article?