Trouble in the Dark

SamH · January 30, 2001, 04:35 AM

A scenario...

You are driving down a dimly-lit country road at night. Suddenly, you see a violent scuffle between two men on the side of the road; a car is parked beside them.

Nearest town is 15 minutes away by car, and the traffic is sparse.

You have no cell phone, and no weapons except your bare hands and some tools (screw driver, car jack, etc.)

Do you simply continue driving and let a potential murder take place? Or do you stop and intervene? What would you do?

Joe Demko · January 30, 2001, 09:24 AM

Note the car's plate number. Catch the combatants in your headlights and bellow at them in an authoritative way to stop. Be prepared to drive off at a moment's notice. If they ignore your command, drive off anyway and stop at the nearest available phone to call police or have the homeowner call police. Include plate number in your call.

ctdonath · January 30, 2001, 12:56 PM

Keep in mind that you have no idea what the situation is, no idea who is who, and no idea why they're doing it.

Could be an undercover cop taking down a suspect.
Could be two drunks brawling.
Could be a murder in process.
Could be two friends horsing around.

Best option: call 911 and give the license number.

Be wary of getting involved when it's not your problem. You don't want to become the victim.

M1911 · January 30, 2001, 02:51 PM

I'm with ctdonath. I'd get the plate number, a description if possible, but no way would I get out of my car.

M1911

justice4all · January 30, 2001, 09:24 PM

drive on, if I had no weapon or phone. But I sure wouldn't be in that situation. If I had a phone, I'd likely call. I sure as hell wouldn't intervene unless I had more information.

Karsten · January 30, 2001, 11:31 PM

KUDO's to all the above. Do what you can with minamal risk to yourself or those in you vehicle. Trust no incident, those involved as they are strangers. Who knows, if it wasn't a stage set and there are lurkers waiting for the first car to stop? I ask you, should you be the nice guy for a total stranger and lose your live and possibly that of your family? Unarmed and no cell phone is a bad time fopaw.
If you want to be of help, drive further and save the lost puppy walking down the road. You might get licked to death but you saved a little guy. Make the phone call later

fedaykin · January 31, 2001, 03:00 PM

swerve and flatten the both of them. look for witnesses first.

just kidding.

Spectre · January 31, 2001, 07:45 PM

Sam,

It is impossible for me to be in my vehicle and NOT have a weapon. Period.

Jumper cables, tire iron, spare clothes, training tools (if my dojo bag is in the car), heavy-duty belts, oil- there's ALWAYS something. As others have said, you, as the driver, don't know the whole situation. Unless I recognized one of the combatants, I would probably not stop.

SamH · January 31, 2001, 08:33 PM

Of course, there is always a weapon.

However, not everyone knows how to turn an everyday item into an effective combat implement.

ChuteTheMall · February 1, 2001, 10:39 PM

Even if I had two pistols, three knives, and the usual impact weapons, I would not butt in to the situation as described. Why go to prison for brandishing at a pair of drunken cousins fighting over who was going to drive?

In a different scenario, where I see a person about to inflict death or grave bodily harm upon a victim, I might take a risk to save a life, if I could do so safely.

Even cops may hesitate to butt in to a domestic dispute.

I would speed to the phone, and if pulled over for speeding, convince the cop to check it out ASAP.

Digger · February 2, 2001, 07:39 AM

Well, we should all remember the car is a weapon. I wouldn't get out of the car, I would shine my headlights on the two and blow my horn for a while. If that doesn't stop them, then they must be serious about doing harm to each other and the police are needed to mop up. (Because by the time the police get there, the harm-doing will be OVER, all they'll be able to do is MOP UP!!!!)

That was a good point, you don't know who's who, you don't know what started it. Don't dive into this one like a referee into a hockey brawl!!!

handgun357 · February 10, 2001, 10:29 PM

Do the most you can without putting yourself into too much jeapardy. One death is bad enogh, you don't need two.

January 31, 2001, 03:00 PM	#7
fedaykin Member Join Date: September 10, 2000 Posts: 39	dilemma swerve and flatten the both of them. look for witnesses first. just kidding.

February 1, 2001, 10:39 PM	#10
ChuteTheMall Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 1999 Location: Sinkholeville Swamp Posts: 228	roaming vigilante Even if I had two pistols, three knives, and the usual impact weapons, I would not butt in to the situation as described. Why go to prison for brandishing at a pair of drunken cousins fighting over who was going to drive? In a different scenario, where I see a person about to inflict death or grave bodily harm upon a victim, I might take a risk to save a life, if I could do so safely. Even cops may hesitate to butt in to a domestic dispute. I would speed to the phone, and if pulled over for speeding, convince the cop to check it out ASAP.

February 10, 2001, 10:29 PM	#12
handgun357 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2001 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 293	Do the most you can without putting yourself into too much jeapardy. One death is bad enogh, you don't need two. __________________ Always identify your target before you shoot. NRA Member

January 30, 2001, 04:35 AM	#1
SamH Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2001 Location: Down Under Posts: 108	A scenario... You are driving down a dimly-lit country road at night. Suddenly, you see a violent scuffle between two men on the side of the road; a car is parked beside them. Nearest town is 15 minutes away by car, and the traffic is sparse. You have no cell phone, and no weapons except your bare hands and some tools (screw driver, car jack, etc.) Do you simply continue driving and let a potential murder take place? Or do you stop and intervene? What would you do?

January 30, 2001, 09:24 AM	#2
Joe Demko Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2000 Posts: 1,143	Note the car's plate number. Catch the combatants in your headlights and bellow at them in an authoritative way to stop. Be prepared to drive off at a moment's notice. If they ignore your command, drive off anyway and stop at the nearest available phone to call police or have the homeowner call police. Include plate number in your call.

January 30, 2001, 12:56 PM	#3
ctdonath Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 1999 Posts: 1,904	Keep in mind that you have no idea what the situation is, no idea who is who, and no idea why they're doing it. Could be an undercover cop taking down a suspect. Could be two drunks brawling. Could be a murder in process. Could be two friends horsing around. Best option: call 911 and give the license number. Be wary of getting involved when it's not your problem. You don't want to become the victim.

January 30, 2001, 02:51 PM	#4
M1911 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2000 Posts: 4,055	I'm with ctdonath. I'd get the plate number, a description if possible, but no way would I get out of my car. M1911

January 30, 2001, 09:24 PM	#5
justice4all Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2000 Location: Grand Junction, CO Posts: 327	drive on, if I had no weapon or phone. But I sure wouldn't be in that situation. If I had a phone, I'd likely call. I sure as hell wouldn't intervene unless I had more information.

January 30, 2001, 11:31 PM	#6
Karsten Junior member Join Date: January 22, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 479	KUDO's to all the above. Do what you can with minamal risk to yourself or those in you vehicle. Trust no incident, those involved as they are strangers. Who knows, if it wasn't a stage set and there are lurkers waiting for the first car to stop? I ask you, should you be the nice guy for a total stranger and lose your live and possibly that of your family? Unarmed and no cell phone is a bad time fopaw. If you want to be of help, drive further and save the lost puppy walking down the road. You might get licked to death but you saved a little guy. Make the phone call later

January 31, 2001, 07:45 PM	#8
Spectre Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 23, 1998 Location: ATL Posts: 3,277	Sam, It is impossible for me to be in my vehicle and NOT have a weapon. Period. Jumper cables, tire iron, spare clothes, training tools (if my dojo bag is in the car), heavy-duty belts, oil- there's ALWAYS something. As others have said, you, as the driver, don't know the whole situation. Unless I recognized one of the combatants, I would probably not stop.

January 31, 2001, 08:33 PM	#9
SamH Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2001 Location: Down Under Posts: 108	Of course, there is always a weapon. However, not everyone knows how to turn an everyday item into an effective combat implement.

February 2, 2001, 07:39 AM	#11
Digger Member Join Date: January 26, 2000 Posts: 82	Well, we should all remember the car is a weapon. I wouldn't get out of the car, I would shine my headlights on the two and blow my horn for a while. If that doesn't stop them, then they must be serious about doing harm to each other and the police are needed to mop up. (Because by the time the police get there, the harm-doing will be OVER, all they'll be able to do is MOP UP!!!!) That was a good point, you don't know who's who, you don't know what started it. Don't dive into this one like a referee into a hockey brawl!!!