Almost did *CSP today...

[Ronin13]

Are there any CSP troopers on here? Or perhaps someone from some LE Agency that can fill me in if this actually works or what happens on this issue?
This morning on my way to work (Exiting I-70 at Evergreen Parkway) a woman in a white Chevy Malibu LS was perhaps 3-6" off my rear bumper almost all the way to my office (about 4 miles). She tried to pass and tailgated another driver and then got back behind me and continued to tailgate. Where are the cops when you need them to see this? A few times I turned on my marker lights and turned them off- as opposed to tapping the brakes- but this yielded no change in her behavior.
My question is, what is the point of following too closely? You can only go as fast as the car in front of you (that pesky flow of traffic) and obviously we're all going the same direction so you'll get there when you get there. Next time I get tailgated by this woman I might just let her by me, then follow her to wherever she's going and let her know that following too close is illegal and dangerous and report it to the authorities. What happens when you report an aggressive or dangerous driver to *CSP? Do they really do anything as it's your word against theirs?

[ghettodub]

I've called that on a few drivers before. Doesn't do a whole lot unless that same person gets multiple complaints.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

IMHO I believe this service is a joke. I called in an obvious drunk driver driving down high way 85 from highway 2(168000 block north) to 104th, called an update that we were getting onto I76. I followed at a safe distance with hazard light until the 270/36 interchange. Never once saw a cop car or heard sirens. I would say that is one of the highest levels of threats out there in speaking about traffic. I provided make model color and license plates number, even sex and race of the driver.

[El Caballo Loco]

I've considered reporting these people too. I guess I can't really answer any of your questions but I would like to say that finding a 21 year old truck with hardly any miles on it for a dirt cheap price makes you a lot less bashful about slamming on the brakes. The chances of losing control from a direct bump in the rear are slim to none and you don't even have to come to a complete stop to make them feel like an idiot.
My sturdy steel bumper stays looking new thanks to the can of flat black plasti-dip in the tool box too.

[ghettodub]

IMHO I believe this service is a joke. I called in an obvious drunk driver driving down high way 85 from highway 2(168000 block north) to 104th, called an update that we were getting onto I76. I followed at a safe distance with hazard light until the 270/36 interchange. Never once saw a cop car or heard sirens. I would say that is one of the highest levels of threats out there in speaking about traffic. I provided make model color and license plates number, even sex and race of the driver.

If it's something like that, you should be calling the police, and not just the *CSP line. that csp number is just for shitty drivers, but if someone is drunk and may kill someone, you should call the cops IMO

[OneGuy67]

*CSP goes the State Patrol and ghettodub stated, if there isn't a Trooper nearby, all that happens is they mark it in a database somewhere and when there are sufficient complaints, they send out a letter informing the person about their driving habits.

Personally, I wouldn't use *CSP, I would call 911. The local jurisdiction most likely is going to have a patrol vehicle closer than CSP. More true in urban areas than in rural, I would admit. You can file a traffic complaint with the local jurisdiction and if you feel strongly enough, they can be cited and you are the witness to the event, not the issuing officer. You would have to go to court to testify on your observations. I used to write these types of situations on occasion when I was a patrol officer and I've called and been a complaintant on occasion when I see really stupid stuff.

One thing to mention, the CSP won't notify a local agency if they get a call on a DUI driver or such on this system. They will notify their own Troopers. More reason to call 911.

[Flatline]

Its hard to quantify following to closely, but if its inches it is fair game. More importantly is do you feel like the driver was a threat to life or limb? Call 911.

CSP either spends their time with traffic operations in metro areas, or dealing with major accidents in rural communities. DUI isn't their thing.

[Ronin13]

I remember back when I was driving home from work and there was a DUI in front of me- I called Jeffco (b/c I lived in Evergreen) on their non-emergency line with a REDDI report (Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately) and followed the drunk driver for about 3 miles. They went into a private drive and I stopped following, but met up with a nice deputy who I told the info to and he said "Damn, we couldn't get him off the road- he must have gone home. Luckily he made it safely without harming anyone. Nothing we can really do now, but thank you for being proactive in keeping our area safe." Since then I found out said deputy lives in Evergreen (not many do). He really didn't want to do the process for the DUI but did want to keep the streets safe, and like so many things we don't like doing but do for the greater good he would have been happy to make sure no one was killed by a drunk driver.
As far as slamming on the brakes, I'd rather not have someone hit me in BMW, I know for a fact that while it's getting fixed I'd have a rent-a-wreck for a while that wouldn't be nearly as fun and doesn't have my iPod integration in it.