45 Days in Jail for Driver who Rode Around with Cyclist on the Hood of his Car

45 days should give him a lesson. I hope he lost his driving license too.

How was this not a charge of Attempted Murder?

A month and a half is a pretty light sentence for trying to kill people. The driver demonstrated that he or she isn't responsible enough to use a car. Being impatient is natural, but when a person fails to control their anger to the point that it starts to become dangerous to others ... it's a problem.

that's outrageous!

If he actually hit the cyclist, how was it only attempted assault?

I second that. Why the hell isn't this guy in prison for... I dunno, a year at least? I don't think that's much to ask, given that it could be called premeditated since the cyclist waited until he thought it was safe... That's a lot of time to consider what you're doing. A 45 day sentence is less than a slap on the wrist. Attempted Murder says I.

When will bikers be treated with more respect? I live in East Texas and the drivers are awful to bikers. I hope one day things will change.

When will cyclists get more respect? When they can ride at 70mph in a 55 zone like everyone else does. Considering how pissed off motorists get at people who are actually *obeying the law*, well, there's your answer right there.

This is not a defence of motorists. In fact, it's more a demonstration of the ugly side of human nature that gets unleashed when you have the power to go as fast as you can, but can't use it. This is why cars shouldn't be legal in the first place.

Abel: I'm from East Texas as well (now in Dallas/Fort Worth area), and I get nervous driving a small car there, much less a bike! There seems to be an anti-anything that's not a pickup truck mentality in that area.

When hitting a bike will mess up your car as badly as hitting another car, bikes will get respect.

Seriously, there is a reason that Europe has lots of bike lanes with concrete dividers separating them from the cars.

Jason Scott Rehnberg should have been charged with (and found guilty) with kidnap and attempted murder.

A very Hit by this post 45 Days in Jail for Driver who Rode Around with Cyclist on the Hood of his Car. the man looks dead in this.

I agree that this is a case of attempted murder. Any attorney with her salt would have him locked up for 2 years, with a seriously longer suspended sentence, 1 strike, and never able to drive again.

Lucky he got that much. I'm surprised the guy on the hood didn't get ticketed for not wearing his seat belt.

Ok, so he was drinking as well? Doesn't being charged with a DUI mean at least a year in Prison?

this is weird.. like many others have pointed out, thats not a fair sentence at all !! Millican should be given a cycle and told to enter the destruction derby with it... and win or it's life in jail ( life = life... not that softy 14 year term given to murderers and rapists and the like)

But what nobody seems to be looking at is the drivers side of it... True he may have already been ticked off when Jason told him to slow down... But all of you have automatically jumped onto the side of the cyclist, being smaller and all that... Thats not right.. make your judgment about Millican after you hear the circumstances during which it happened, and then maybe his mere 45 day termwill make more sense... I am a cyclist, but I know from experience, that we have a rebellious attitude towards bigger vehicles and assume that we are gods for riding on the road... Thats a mistake on our part... we behave properly, consider the fact that those large things you're driving alongside are not feather-weight vehicles with perfect drivers... Humans err and cars are bloody heavy... so if you other cyclists know whats good for you, stay the f**k away from cars as much as possible, cross roads at a pedestrian crossing, and ride on the effing side walk as much as possible... congestion is already a problem without us snaking through it acting indignant that cars dare to come within 6 feet of you...

Or you could just flip him off and drive the opposite way!!

Pathetic, that should be an easy case for attempted 1st degree murder.

Why does the newspaper headline say "and again a car vs. bike confrontation." Does this happen often?

"unlawful use of a weapon, DUI, and attempted assault (second degree)"

OK, ATTEMPTED assault? I think any reasonable human being could agree that hitting someone with a car has gone from attempted assault to just assault. I can actually understand why they may not have charged him with attempted murder, but he should have at least been charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

It's true, in Europe, you can find a lot of bike lanes and it may seem safer but they are often used by motorbikes and scooters (though they are not allowed) and are eventually quite dangerous. Also in Paris, we are supposed to share lanes with buses. Believe me it's frightening and already 2 people have been killed. I'm afraid it's a question of respect and behaviour.
In Japan, when you ride a bike, you can use the roads orthe sidewalks and there are practically no bike lanes. And it works

This is attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon. This is an act that deserves a minimum of one year behind bars. If I were the cyclist, I'd be taking civil action too, just to teach the guy a lesson. I wouldn't care if I won or lost.

The driver attempted to hit and kill THREE people. While drunk. If he hit a car with 3 people in it, and maimed them, he'd have a minimum jail term of what...10 years?

Am I the only one that thinks the video looks totally fake?

Attempted murder? You guys calm down. Lawyers had the job of proving what was on the drivers mind. What was his intention. That is the problem with anything public. Like when you call a police officer. It is almost almost a question what will happen.

So as for the attempted murder the guy probably just said he expected any "fool" would move out of the way. From my point of view that is a very good question! People really need to stop pretending they are an authority. Example, someone said he should have been charged with kidnapping. Well, did these people on the street admit they were trying to block this guy? Is that kidnapping too? No, of course not--it depends upon the intention. From my point of view the video showed he wanted the biker off his car. I say this tongue in cheek just to give you an idea how calling the police on anything is just not like you see on television. Too many darn variables; and those darn lawyers know all of them.

Attempted murder? You guys calm down. Lawyers had the job of proving what was on the drivers mind. What was his intention. That is the problem with anything public. Like when you call a police officer. It is almost almost a question what will happen.

So as for the attempted murder the guy probably just said he expected any "fool" would move out of the way. From my point of view that is a very good question! People really need to stop pretending they are an authority. Example, someone said he should have been charged with kidnapping. Well, did these people on the street admit they were trying to block this guy? Is that kidnapping too? No, of course not--it depends upon the intention. From my point of view the video showed he wanted the biker off his car. I say this tongue in cheek just to give you an idea how calling the police on anything is just not like you see on television. Too many darn variables; and those darn lawyers know all of them.

It sounds like the driver is someone who is generally angry and will do this sort of thing again. Too bad I found his address very very easy and I happen to live close by. I'll snipe him and the only trace of evidence will be this comment buried deep in the internet that nobody even notices! : )

If this were a cop he would be charged for assault with a deadly weapon, possibly with intent to kill. Hence why they fire upon drivers who aim their cars at them. This is a light sentence. He should never be able to drive again. Screw his rights.

Reply to anonymous.
You said just flip him off and go the other way.
I know a guy who did that and received a bloody nose and is missing two front teeth.

I guess the Portland cyclist can count his blessings. It could have been a lot worse.

I have broadsided a freaked out cow up near LaCrosse, Wisconsin, so the Bear vs. Bike story certainly resonates. I road the cow for a short while, dragging my bike along with us before sliding off onto the pavement.

But cyclists also need to be mindful of the other side of the story as well.

As more and more of them take to the sidewalks (for understandable safety reasons) they need to keep a sharp eye peeled for us pedestrians, especially children and oldsters. (When I'm not cycling or driving, I'm using my feet!).

Along those lines, the Tour De France wannabes fly down dedicated biking and walking trails at incredible speeds -- another cycling venue where special care needs to be taken.

Fortunately, I've yet to have any problem with cyclists on the bike-hike paths in the Denver area, although I know for a fact their speed intimidates older walkers. All the riders seem very courteous and aware.

On the street, though, it's a different matter. I am surprised at the growing number of Bicyclists With Attitudes (BAWs) navigating city traffic. When I used to commute in and out of Downtown Denver via bicycle I constantly rode on the defensive and never expected a break. And, gladly, I never have had a driver attack me like this drunkard in Portland.

But just the other day I encountered another BWA when he flew by me on the right after the driver of the car I was in had (legally) pulled over to the right-hand curb the let me out.

I was opening my door to step out when I just caught a glint of something in the mirror on the door, allowing me to yank the door back in just as the BWA flew by. Even though he clearly saw the car pull over to the curb (he was a half a block bhind us, but obviously moving very fast), he threw on his brakes - after passing me illegally - and was about to get of his cycle to adminish me, when I had to come out of the car in an offensive mode to dress him down for being such a crappy and dangerous city-street cyclist. He backed off, and rightly so.

It goes both ways in this greening world. Bikes and cars need to yield to each other.

Bears and Cows? I just give them the right of way.

If you all want to ride your bikes on the road get insurance coverage in case you damage my car.

Register your bike like I have to for my car and boat.
Obey all the traffic laws. not just some of them when you feel like it.
Ride like a person would in a car or truck. You would never think of bunching up as you do on a sunday morning with your buddies and ride around like a herd of cows.

Thik about it. Being Green has nothing to do with riding around like a jerk with a bug up your butt towards everyone in a car.

Get a life!!!

"Register your bike like I have to for my car and boat."

Sure, as soon as I have to take a test for riding my bike too. Wouldn't mind that in the least considering how whobbly many people are on theirs.

"Obey all the traffic laws. not just some of them when you feel like it."

I obey the traffic laws that don't endanger me. Most laws of the road are written with vehicles in mind that weigh a couple of thousand pounds and basically only require the ability to stomp on a pedal. And yeah, I know, it's aggrevating when you are standing in line behind 10 other cars waiting for the light to change and the guy on the bike manages to squeeze past by and get the front of the queue where he holds you all up.

"Ride like a person would in a car or truck."

So you are in support of people riding their bikes in the middle of the lane? You only overtake them as you would another car or truck (read, go into the other lane), you do not honk at them or cut them off?

The moment car and truck drivers treat bikes as equal I am more than willing to return the courtesy, until then I ride in a way that gives me the most safety, like it or not.

"You would never think of bunching up as you do on a sunday morning with your buddies and ride around like a herd of cows."

What's the problem with that? Pissed that you now all of the sudden have to go into the other lane to pass instead of almost hitting the lone cyclist with the side mirror?

I don't know about everyone else, but I imagine if I told my boss I would be gone for 45 days, I wouldn't have a job waiting when I returned.

Going to be tough getting another job in this economy, especially with a record.

Interesting in that the"punishment" didn't include the loss of the drivers license for a substantial period. Cyclists on the sidewalks may not be part of a solution, here in the US. Too many cyclists display a similar disregard to pedestrians, as motorist display to cyclists

That cyclist had a lot of nerve. I hope he chipped-in for gas. Are you sure this isn't a clip from one of the "Jackass" DVDs?

Actually the biker engaged in the behavior and jumped on the hood of the car.Moron.

Actually the biker engaged in the behavior and jumped on the hood of the car.Moron.

He deserved more than 45 days... bastard.

Attempted murder is an idiotic charge. Assault with a deadly weapon at the most. For attempted murder you would have to prove the intent to kill, which isn't plain here.

Also, was it really just "slow down" the biker said to him? I'm a relatively safe driver and I've had to fight the urge to run down bycyclists smugly commenting and saying rude things plenty of times. It doesn't make the driver's actions permissable, but at least understandable.

" I've had to fight the urge to run down bycyclists smugly commenting and saying rude things plenty of times"

Jeez, you should really get some help about that before you lose the "fight". That's the same mentality as saying "I've had to fight the urge to shoot/knife someone for saying something to me". Using a vehicle as a weapon is the same as any other weapon - its a serious crime.

Really, you need to get some help.

People are really sick. This guy should serve 45 days working at a gas station in Alaska in a t-shirt wiping car wind shields.

The kid is lucky that he lives in a city where the law makes at least some attempt to protect cyclists.
While its sad, had the same incident happened in my home town the driver probably would not have been charged with anything at all (In the last 5 years none of the deaths from cyclists being struck by cars have resulted in the motorist being punished in any way, not even with a ticket). As a result, aggressive cyclists are almost as much of a problem as bad drivers.

Its ridiculous that the driver got off so lightly, but at least it was something.

"I obey the traffic laws that don't endanger me."

Wow, how arrogant! So does this also mean it's OK for me not to obey gun control laws because I feel they endanger my safety by denying me the ability to defend myself?

Also the notion that you only hurt yourself by running stop signs or not wearing a helmet is flat-out false. If you get hit by a car and require the assistance of paramedics you put their life in danger. More cops and firefighters get killed in accidents responding to calls than are killed in shootouts or fires. If an ambulance has to come get you because you ride like an idiot you're endangering their lives as well as your own. I personally know 2 paramedics who have been injured in accidents while responding to calls. You don't live in a bubble and your actions have consequences for others.

Seems it's open season on cyclists. If you only get 45 days for trying to kill someone with your car, drivers need not fear the law when confronted w/ a cyclist brave enough to take to the road.

This kind of behavior is why I sold my bike. Quite frankly I am scared to death to ride a bike on the same road as a car. Being forced into a gutter by a car was enough for me. I was lucky to get away with two flat tires. Never again.

A driver hit 10 El Tour de Tucson bicyclists Saturday, 11/22, injuring five.and then fled the scene. He has since come forward through his attorney. Big deal. He'll also get a slap on the wrist.

It's apparent, might makes right when sharing the road.