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Legal matters

Road Rage - Is it illegal to tell someone to "fu*k off" ?

25 replies

AcesandAches · 15/11/2012 18:51

I've just experienced a really horrible road rage incident and am so upset and mortified as the other party has taken a photo of my reg and said he's going to the police.

In short, what happened was I was parallel parking outside my house, and the front of my car swung out and came within a few inches of the drivers door of a porsche waiting in traffic on the other side of the road. My car didnt touch the other one, it came very close but it didnt touch it. However, the man in the porsche rolled down his window and shouted at me calling me a "stupid woman" among other things. I pointed out that no damage was done so there was no need to make a big deal of it. More shouting from him and he started to drive away.

Then, I really stupidly and totally out of character, told him to "fu*k off". I think I was just trying to get the last word in and I know it was an incredibly stupid thing to say. So he jumps out of the car and takes a photo of my reg with his phone and tells me I should expect to hear from the police. I, like an idiot, just sat paralysed in my car and did nothing.

Now Im really worried that the police will come knocking on my door and I'll get a penalty notice for disorder. A Mum I know was passing by when all this was going on and she will say he was being aggressive towards me if need be, but I cant deny that I swore at him. But right now I'm totally shaken and upset by the whole incident. Can anyone offer any info on this? Is it an offense to swear at someone like that and could it justify a PND?

OP posts:
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SoupDragon · 15/11/2012 18:55

So, he left his car unattended in the middle of the road in order to harass a lone female driver?

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ISeeSmallPeople · 15/11/2012 18:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

1sassylassy · 15/11/2012 18:56

Dont worry,he,s blustering,I actually got my car hit and swore at in a road rage incident and the police said without witnesses they were unable to act unless there was an independent witness.I dont expect you will hear another thing.

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hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 15/11/2012 18:57

I think the police probably have more important things to do to be honest, try not to worry about it.

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AThingInYourLife · 15/11/2012 18:59

"So, he left his car unattended in the middle of the road in order to harass a lone female driver?"

This

What an utter cock he is.

Telling someone to fuck off is not a crime.

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Theas18 · 15/11/2012 18:59

If all that happened was you shouted at him to f off I can't see the police being very interested- i dread to think how many times that phrase is shouted in the street daily! If he wants to try to makemore of the incident than you report - that your behaviour was threatening or yor driving reckless maybe I'll come to obtain your side of the story but that's all I guess.
Don't try to "excuse" it just explain exactly what happened - you we in total control of te car and knew it was inches away but Å·ou knew you wouldn't ht his car - he shouted t you , and you rather or if character, and a bit childishly maybe ,used an in advisable phrase whilst trying to get the last word in. Bit silly but I can't see what the police matter would be?

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SoupDragon · 15/11/2012 19:01

Should the police call. Say "oh, I'm SO glad you came, I felt really scared when he started shouting at me and especially when he got out of the car to threaten me"

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BeatTheClock · 15/11/2012 19:01

Oh poor youSad He was very aggressive to you. The police would be pretty busy if they had to visit everyone who swore every day.

What's he going to say to the police? A woman didn't hit my car today and then when I was aggressive towards her, she was back. Confused

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lottiegarbanzo · 15/11/2012 19:03

Just don't do it to a policeman!

Technically, if you did that, you could be done under section 5 of the public order act (behaviour likely to cause offense, alarm or distress). It's only used in cases where people are really, properly, badly offended for good reason though. I suspect this man had heard swearing before and was not deeply shocked and wounded Smile

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mamij · 15/11/2012 19:03

Even if he did report it and the police was interested enough to knock at your door (which I doubt), they will want to know both sides of the story! And it sounds like he was harassing you first! I'm sure he will drop his allegation pretty darn quickly if you wanted to report his aggressive behaviour!

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WrathdePan · 15/11/2012 19:05

Really don't worry OP.

IF and that is a really BIG if, the police paid a visit to you it will be ask you to not swear at people. unless they are a govt Chief Whip and then it will be ok

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WrathdePan · 15/11/2012 19:07

and it's fuck off, not 'fu*k off'. I have no idea how you would pronounce the latter.Smile

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clam · 15/11/2012 19:08

He's a complete and utter arse, as evidenced by the fact he drives a Porsche, and he's just trying to wind you up with the photo business.

Forget it.

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PoppadomPreach · 15/11/2012 19:09

I sooooo hope he goes to the police.

I'd just LOVE to see their reaction!

Don't worry , OP, he has clearly never satisfied a woman before and took out his feelings of failure on you. I think he would have far more to worry about as suggested already - abandoning a car in moving traffic, harassing a lone female. Because that's what he did. Tosser.

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AcesandAches · 15/11/2012 19:17

Yeah, he left his car unattended and stood directly behind my car so I couldnt finish parking properly. Traffic was all backed up in both directions.
He was so insistent that I should expect to hear from the police, thats what got me so worried, even though I know the Police should have alot more important things to do.

Thanks for all your replies, I feel alot better about it now. Actually I wouldnt mind if the police did take notice and I could report the prick for abusive and threatening behaviour.

OP posts:
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EuroShagmore · 15/11/2012 19:17

Wrath, those of us posting from work could be disciplined for posting profanities on the internet. So when I mn from the office, I'll carry on using an interesting selection of symbols and numbers where I intend swear words.

When I post from home it is a different matter of course

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WrathdePan · 15/11/2012 19:20

Yes, apols for the humour...

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BeerTricksPott3r · 15/11/2012 19:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WrathdePan · 15/11/2012 19:31

Porche drivers sign an acknowledgement on purchase that they will be sworn at a lot, shorely?

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VivaLeBeaver · 15/11/2012 19:32

Technically you shouldn't swear in public.

However feeling threatened like I'm sure you would have done would be an excuse for verbally lashing out. Like a defence mechanism.

But I seriously doubt you will hear from the police.

And maybe he will reconsider shouting at people who haven't actually touched his car.

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digerd · 16/11/2012 14:01

I think it may be if you say that to a policeman, but not in your circumstances - what a horrible man. Next time, hold your head up high, give a look of contempt, and walk off.

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MrsWhoGivesaShit · 16/11/2012 14:05

i have had people arrested for swearing at me, it is verbal assult and they can get done. not sure exactly what it is they are charge under but they can.

BUT op i would have done exactly the same, in face i had a very similar incident yesterday and i too told him to fuck off!

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whistlestopcafe · 16/11/2012 14:06

This reminds me of an incident when we were trying to park and a delivery driver pulled out in front of dh and dh told him to learn how to drive. The delivery driver then got out and photographed dh's number plate.Hmm I had just given birth and being hormonal I was convinced that he was going to track us down and murder us in our beds.Blush

I actually reported the incident to the police but didn't tell dh as he would consider it to be a massive over reaction.

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sneezecakesmum · 16/11/2012 19:35

Deny it. Your word against his!

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cumfy · 17/11/2012 14:58

Are you certain you didn't even graze his car ?

If you didn't nothing is going to happen.

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