Car following you late at night - what to do?

[RS3RS]

This is just a hypothetical situation that I came up with while I was driving home. Figured I'd give it to you guys to see what you think about the situation.

Okay, so you're driving home late at night when not many cars are out on the road. You notice a car behind you that has taken all of the same turns as you, and you're kind of suspicious.

You take a few turns that no person would logically make - a circle around a block or something - and confirm that the vehicle is in fact following you.

You don't know what the car is, or what their intentions are, and as such, you obviously wouldn't want to drive back to your house since you wouldn't want whoever this is to know where you live in case they aren't exactly friendly for one reason or another.

The tactical side of you says to find a cul-de-sac, turn around, block off the road in front of them and draw - but that obviously won't work for legal reasons. This could be a well-planned out robbery where the person is gathering information, or it could just be a private investigator that someone hired, or just some teens screwing with you.

So what do you do? Do you just not worry about it and head home? Do you try to lose the car? Do you phone the police and see if they can do anything? Do you try to confront the individual?

Discuss. :D

[JohnKSa]

Go to a well-lit, very public place. If you have a cell phone, have the police meet you there.

If you don't have a cell phone and there is no good place to go that is reasonably close, you might try losing them, but that's risky for a lot of obvious reasons. I'd test their resolve, but if they are persistent, it's probably better to back off at that point. Getting killed or hurt in a car accident, or worse yet, killing or hurting an innocent "by-driver" is not what you want.

You definitely don't want to create a confrontation. THEY may force a confrontation, but you don't want that if you can reasonably avoid one. And while you're in a working vehicle, you can probably reasonably avoid a confrontation if you don't get hemmed in. People often get killed or hurt in armed confrontations. My guess is that you don't want to get killed or hurt. (Remember, the good guys don't always win like they do in the movies.)

[sm]

BTDT and how many T shirts you want?

-Head to the nearest Fire Station, LEO Station/ Sub-station, or if see a LEO parked, flash lights to get attention.

-Head to a well lighted place - best if have people. If you have a cell phone, and can safely call and drive, call LEO direct.

-Cul-de-sacs can be a "circle of death" . I live on one. One way in and out does not leave one any options to evade - you have just boxed ( circled ) yourself in.

Mine for instance has fences in folks back-yards, so no way to drive thru a yard to evade, meaning no safety of vehicle and once on foot you have to deal with dogs and that back fence. Boxed, cornered, circled...whatever.

-Best to use that brain and vehicle to one's best advantage.

There is nothing wrong in safely taking a left turn on Red and making it to a Fire Station and laying on the horn. You do apologize, and tell the LEO officer honestly that you did take a illegal turn and were in fear. You give best description of vehicles ( lucky me I had two) and Fire Fighters make the best coffee and have great snacks they share with you and LEO officers. The LEO will later follow you home to make sure you arrive safe.

Take a defensive driving course.

If a normal traffic route , do take alternate routes to be aware of any changes and stay familar. For instance any road-work, detours, would not be a great find in the need you had to take one.

For instance I commute to College, I have two night classes that run until 9pm or later- road construction has been going on for some time. Last week the normal entrance ramp I take to get home was closed...the suggested detour is not a good place to be at night to get to "next" entrance ramp. So I took another safer route ( albeit longer) to access freeway.

Cul-de-sac again - not long ago I could not get home. I literally sat in a Parking lot with LEOs and such and had to wait. There is one "main" street leading into neighborhood, all Our cul-de-sac's "T" off of it.

There had been a shooting, LEOs and Dogs working the neighborhood. Not only was my street/ cul-de-sac blocked - but with that one street blocked ("main") everybody elses too...NOBODY could enter or leave.

-I have pulled into Hosptials to Emergency Recieving areas - usually a LEO and or Hosptial Security around.

And if you head to the side gate of a Military camp - keep your hands on the windshield ( for some reason steering wheel did not seen "good enough") :p and tell the BIG guys with Rifles what the Problem is. MPs are understanding and one will call the Local LEO to come and escort you from gate. Said LEO will let you hang around his station for a bit and when things are safe have someone make sure you get back out onto Freeway safe.

BIG MPs sure do make them "eevil black rifles" look small.
Really nice folks - Professional, and really nice once matters explained and understood. I can understand and appreciate being a bit "stern" when some guy just wheels up to a gate and hollers "help".

[smince]

Almost 18 years ago, just married and not as "tactically saavy" as I am now, we had a car follow us home one night. We live in a small town subdivision, rural on the edge of town. It was obvious we were being followed.

Problem #1: Our fire station is volunteer, and no one is manning it 24/7, or at best, only one person.

Problem #2: Ditto, our PD. One officer and a civilian dispatcher per shift. Chances of him being at the PD are slim, as there is a good bit of area to patrol(Makes a good case for 2nd ammendment).

I did head to the house, pulled into my drive and turned the car into the front yard to put it between myself and the following vehicle. Told my wife to get into the floor of the car(she had drawn her Colt .380 she carries). The vehicle did turn into my driveway, but the occupants did a quick reverse when they saw me in the headlights holding a 1911 and a Mag-light (pre-Surefire) at low ready.

Report was made, nothing ever came from it that I know of.

There are more officers on duty and 24hr quickie stores in the area now. I would probably do different now if it happened. This was in the days when cell-phones were the large expensive bag type and not everyone had them.

[hso]

The tactical side of you says to find a cul-de-sac, turn around, block off the road in front of them and draw - but that obviously won't work for legal reasons.

That side will get you killed and/or in jail.

Drive to the nearest police gathering place or call 911.

[Hemicuda]

Either find a LEO, well lit public area, or...

USE that extra lever on the floor, the lift kit, and those big, expensive tires to simply go somewhere the other car can't go... (park on their roof as a final option...)

[WT]

Something similar happened to my secretary. She noticed she was being followed and she turned into an all night convenience store. The guy behind her followed her in. Turned out that he was a uniformed policeman in an unmarked vehicle. He was following her because her tail lights weren't working. She was pretty shook up at first and gave the officer a piece of her mind. He did not give her a ticket.

Yes, he really was a cop on duty.

[Edmond]

Happened to me a few years ago. I was driving my Corvette through some areas that I was not familiar with, they were yuppy neighborhoods. A Crown Vic is on my rear and turning where I turn. I went a few over the speed limit. :D They turn on the lights and asked me if I was lost, I was lost and having a car following me didn't help. I had a cup of grape juice and they asked me if that was just juice and I said yes. They said, "Follow us and we'll take you back to Harlem." They didn't mention anything about the speeding or the rolling stops.

The thing is, if they can get your plate, they can already get where you live. Does that mean I would drive home immediately? No. From a private investigators point of view, I would call the local PD and drive straight to the police station. If I really want to lose someone, and this may not be possible in all situations but it is where I live, get to the expressway ramps. Right before the expressway ramps, pull off to the side of the road and see what that car does. Force them to make a choice. If they pull up behind you, you know they're looking for trouble. If they're dumb enough to pull up in front of you, get their plates. Either way, call the police.

[JamisJockey]

The culdesac is a no-no. Forget the legal reasons. You're backing yourself into a corner with an unknown number of attackers. You also don't know why you're being pursued. Attacker, or good samaritian? Old friend who wants to reuinte, or stalker?
Your vehicle also gives you a means of E&E, which is the best way to stay alive and survive any encounter. It also offers you a degree of protection.
This is an easy situation to control. You just drive normally to a busy well-lit public place, preferably a Police station or Hospital (emergency room entrance is usually busiest).
You had better have a Cell-phone in your "tactical" equipment. Calling the police ahead of time means you might just be able to rondeveous with a cop at some point (who knows, maybe your pursuer is an unmarked or detective, too).
Don't drive past your house, don't go home, don't go to a relatives house.

[Sheldon J]

The culdesac is a no-no. Forget the legal reasons. You're backing yourself into a corner with an unknown number of attackers. You also don't know why you're being pursued. Attacker, or good samaritian? Old friend who wants to reuinte, or stalker?
I was on the way to church (mid day service) with the family, out of state van in front of me had no brake lights, he made a bunch if turns, that just happen to be the way to church. Pulls into lower drive and parks on the end of the lot, I pulled up beside him, rolled down the side and made for him to do likewise, he looked nervious, I then told him he had no brake lights, and that this was where I was going and that if he wished to stay I would have a look at his lights after service if he liked. He thanked me and left. Was he paranoid that he was being followed, was he lost, he was alone, not dressed for church, minor PD to rear of small van, yes I had the HK.

[thorazine]

Happened to me twice,

Each time (after confirming I was beliving followed) I found a safe place to stop, park and exit my vehicle. I proceeded to run around my car in circles smacking the top of my head while making fire engine sounds.

Got back in my car and left.

Other car never moved an inch.

[JohnKSa]

A novel solution. :D

Not very tactical, is it... :evil:

[1 old 0311]

I was managing a service department at a large dealership. We were open till midnight. One night I locked the building, and headed for the gates to lock them. I noticed a car sitting across the street with the engine running (exhaust smoke) lights off, and 3 guys in the car. I thought strange but what the hell.
I started driving home, and they tucked in behind me. I made 5 turns, and they continued to follow. I thought I sure didn't want a gunfight in my front yard, so I pulled into a empty parking lot, got my Glock 19 from the car, and got out. They slowed down to a stop, looked me over, and realized they no longer had the upper hand. They then did what all punks do.........Got the hell out of there.
That 33 round pre ban mag with Hydra Shoks was a very nice equalizer.

Kevin

[tegemu]

I have seen self defense experts say that whatever you do, do NOT go to your home. Now they know where you live. Whatever choice you make to resolve the situation can most likely be done just as well somewhere else.

[JamisJockey]

Kevin:
You're lucky they didn't just run you down....you left the sanctuarary of your Tactical Regroup Vehicle (Sounds cooler than your "get the hell out of there car")

[Carl N. Brown]

Two women told me about passing the deranged boyfriend of a friend
of theirs who passed them going in opposite directions: he U-turned
and pursued them apparently to get info from them about the girl
friend's where abouts.

They pulled into the very well litten parking lot of the local Justice
Center, home to over a hundred local police and sheriff's deputies.

[Johnny_Yuma]

The tactical side of you says to find a cul-de-sac, turn around, block off the road in front of them and draw - but that obviously won't work for legal reasons. This could be a well-planned out robbery where the person is gathering information, or it could just be a private investigator that someone hired, or just some teens screwing with you.

I strongly suggest that you get that "tactical side" of your's some decent training before it boxes you into dead-end you've got no way out of.

One of the first things a good officer survival instructor should teach is never go into a place you don't know that way out of. As soon as you pull into that cul-de-sac, a tailing driver intent on doing you harm will block your car in. What are you going to do if five armed passengers pile out of that big SUV blocking the exit to the cul-de-sac while the driver counterblocks your attempts to exit? In about 15 seconds, some of those five will have flanked you and they can have their way with you at that point.

JY

[Warren]

This one time I was being followed by a couple of people that were harrassing me so I rammed them.

The all steel front bumper on my '70 Camaro totally owned the cheap steel that the other car's foriegn doors were made of.

I felt great, though it was a stupid move and I don't recommend it. They never bothered me -like that- again. In fact I ended being the best man at the passenger's wedding and he at mine.

[Crosshair]

Quite simple method to first use to see if they really are following you, The four turn method. Just drive in a circle (four turns) and if they are still behind you then you are likely being followed. I have used it a few times to satisfy my paranoid side.

[bcolorado]

There was a case here several years ago where a man followed a lady after her shift at a casino in mountains. She drove to a police station , on the grass, he caught her as she stopped her car and killed her later that evening.

three things work...
cell phone, cell phone, cell phone

[Kamicosmos]

People often snicker at me for knowing where the police, Fire stations, and hospitals are on my commonly traveled routes.

They also snickered when I was buying my house. One of the 'selling features' for me was the fact that I had 4 routes out of my neighborhood, and from there I had many routes to 3 major highways.

And besides, it's fun to 'loose the tail' every now and then. Even more fun now that I have a New Mustang. :evil:

[misANTHrope]

There are some good side effects to owning a Camaro, and knowing how to drive the piss out of it. :)

[pete f]

In a situation like this, crowds are your friend.

My daughter has been to driving school, (real driving school, AKA skip barber) but she has been told to go to Police station, fire station, shopping mall, All night resturant. etc. Not to worry just get there. She drives a 2002 s-10 4x4 not the biggest thing but somewhat stout, If she gets scared to the point of fearing for her life, she has been told to drive it like she stole it, get out of there, go 4 wheeling across the park, throw it in reverse and take out his radiator. try the cell phone, hit the onstar button, drive into Mcdonalds and scream at the top of her lungs, NEVER STOP< NEVER get out of the car unless she gets stuck.

My wife was chased some years ago by a looney who had been fired from her office. After making several turns and going slow, driving like mad, she finally drove across the curbs and across a school yard in 4WD pulling out going th wrong way on a one way, he was forced to try todrive around, after getting a half mile on him she was able to pull into a city public works parking garage and just screamed for help, two large truck mechanics came out to see what the ruckas and the bag guy left in plume of dust.

[Nitrogen]

This happened to me, real-life, earlier tonight.

Guy was tailgaiting me. I slowed down so he could pass me. Instead of passing me, he tried to run me off the road. I gunned the engine to get back ahead of him and he kept tailgaiting me. I had my fianceé call 911 while I began driving like a bat out of H-E-Double Hockey Sticks to see if I could lose him.

The manuver that finally worked was pulling along the right lane, and pretending to exit the freeway, (making sure nobody was nearby) and speeding up on the offramp. He followed me very closely. At the last second, I veered HARD left, while braking, getting back on the freeway.

I had managed to loose him, as well as almost losing a load in my shorts.

Told my fianceé that if he hit us and we stopped because he hit us, to duck below the seat and cover her ears. If the guy hit me, disabling my car, he was going NOT going to injure either of us any farther.

[Hemicuda]

as i said earlier... that little (and expensive) extra lever (ypu soccer-mom types might have a button on the dash) is your friend... those cars and small pickups cannot go the places my 4x4 does... so they can't follow...

[sm]

Then again I knew a UC LEO that was on a motorcyle whom went around the steel posts to keep motor vehicles off the walkway bridge at a city park.

Big SUV with the BGs following - could not.

Again...Strategy and Tactics always begins with the brain - not equipment.


Slow Down! This ain't no neighborhood! This is a Residental District! - Richard Pryor

[Manedwolf]

The tactical side of you says to find a cul-de-sac, turn around, block off the road in front of them and draw - but that obviously won't work for legal reasons.

That's the side for people who make up and hum their own theme music. :rolleyes:

Know where the police stations near your home are. Drive to one or a manned fire station.

[Alex45ACP]

Car following you late at night - what to do?

Lose him. :D

[Tokugawa]

you all urban dwellers or what? Around here I have to drive a long way to get to a fire station, cop shop or any other place with people. I told my daughter if she is being followed and she is coming home and KNOWS we are home (I am always home), call us, come down our drive with horn on and I can garantee there are going to be some armed folks,with big bright lights and inquisitive natures waiting.

[sm]

Yes Rural areas do present the need for the need for different skills in awareness, strategy and tactics.

I fully agree, and can full empathize as I have BTDT as well...

I used to travel at night, less traffic, cooler in summer months, etc...

I have lived in rural areas and when married the concerns of her being called in or coming in from being "on call" were concerns.

I myself have worked graveyard and had to answer on calls...

What really really sucks?? Someone that lives in a rural area, attends a College with NO CCW ON CAMPUS , then works the late shift in the city and has to come in from working until Midnight, 1am, 2am...

Think about a daughter, or wife , doing this.

Cell phones are great ---Except we didn't have cell phones back then.
Then again many of us grew up without 911 as well...

Cell phones today - still the Campuses around here have NO CCW on Campus. Still daughters, wives, GFs...and the males too, having to attend classes from Rural Areas work the late shifts and so forth and get back home.

I am a male ...I get really sick and tired of all the males " well by gawd , I pull my Rice Burner / Stump truck and pull my Super Duper Tricked Out Testosterone High Cap Bling Bling Blaster and ...

Cemetaries are full of Stupid Folks pretending to be Heros.

No wonder Kipling wrote the female is deadlier of the two species...

Ladies have only brain to think with and it is bigger than the one most guys choose to use...

So for these ladies, I suggested a Simplex lockbox for vehicles, No keys, no batteries, just a solid lockbox bolted into the vehicle and NOBODY is to EVER know they have one. Loose lips sink ships.

Then a trusted person, such as myself, a relative, or business owner ....

The gun is placed in this persons care while on campus, retrieved (gals had keys and alarm codes to access my and other trusted places ) and then they were able to travel to and fro rural areas with a firearm.

One such business was a Mom & Pop Gun store...I knew he had daughter attending the College, and we talked as he was concerned about her...he gladly offered up his services. I simply asked. We did this for a few trusted folks, most often customers, and those he/ we knew had taken CCW (assisted with) and therefore were aware of thier Maturity level , skill and training.

Pretty simple as he had a another business, not gun related, so this is where the set up was for folks to put guns. Another was a Mom&Pop grocery store...Small , discreet...strategy and tactics do not have to be elaborate.

Cummunication is the key. So they called and let folks know if normal schedule changed and would be heading back at a different than normal time.

Brain, strategy, tactics learned , practiced and built upon.

Rural areas, farm roads are great to learn defensive skills. Really nice if a trained LEO shares or daddy sends you to a driving course.

Firearms are only part of the tools, physical tools such as guns, vehicles, knives, cell-phones, canes, pepper spray...

No tool is ever any better than the operator of said tool.

Rural two lane blacktops do not have places open, volunteer Fire Depts, LEO substations or lighted areas ...UNLESS you get close to a freeway and the truck stop / convience store areas are set up there.

Two miles down the road it is dark, that good looking cute thing that bought gas at 1am so she would not have to at 4am leaving to hit 0530 clinicals for nursing school...

That shift worker just coming in at 3am called in for an emergency...illegal eyes noticing his money as he bought a half a gallon of milk for his kids...

Around here the BGs are going to small towns and stirring up trouble. We had a drive by shooting in a small town the other night.

Not only did they drive by once - they turned around and let loose again on a crowd.

From the bigger city...just went to that smaller town and did a double drive by...



Strategy & Tactics.

Not Hollywood is gonna save me.

[leroy]

Headed home from work one night. Some mean, drunk looking guys in a blazer or bronco began running up on my rear like they were going to ram me and pulling up beside me shouting obscenities and flying the bird. By now I'm in the sticks (where I live) on a five mile stretch of road with no other roads of any kind to turn on. So its a race. little 4x4 against a grand am. I can barely see their headlights when I cross the junction onto the dusty gravel backroads and lost them in the boonies. took the long curvy way home. hid the car behind the house in the dark. sat behind a tree beside the road for 2 hours just in case. never seen em since. And yes I was concealed carrying. local police (the county) are stretched thin, and firestations are volunteer. Out here you better be carrying, know the backroads, and be aware of your surroundings, and have a plan.

[Hemicuda]

As i said... 3rd time... get a real vehicle... something that can run... either a car with some balls, or a dependable 4x4... then get the heck outta there... there aren't many vehicles/drivers capable of staying with me on a cross-country 4x4 run... get the heck out... go somewhere they can't... or outrun them...

[bogie]

The tactical side of you says to find a cul-de-sac, turn around, block off the road in front of them and draw - but that obviously won't work for legal reasons.

Won't work for a lot more then legal reasons. Been playing too many video games, watchin' too many B-pictures lately?

Disengage, disengage, and disengage some more, until _they_ force your hand. Do not force theirs...

Now... I drive a little Mitsubishi Mirage and a 3/4 ton chevy van... The van will pretty much do anything a 2wd truck will do, with the bonus being the handy radiator ram that stays in the hitch receiver... Darn, it hurts when you bang your shins on it tho...

The Mitsu is pretty nimble - More of a dodger than a runner tho.

Go around 'em, or go through 'em, just so long as you get away from 'em. You don't have to drive like nascar either. The speed limit is fine. Just know your vehicle and how it handles.

[Jon Coppenbarger]

I have had a few of those kind of things happen. A few I will never ever tell anyone about and a few I will. If you have a choice do what the others have suggested as it may save your life. If you do not care then do what you wish but always remember you should pick your spots and not theirs.

Sometimes you just have to be firm. Maybe it was not the right thing to do but in one of the cases I will tell you can see it may of been the only choice I had.
The first one was down on the sac river back in the late 1970's. Winter and it was raining. I liked to Sturgin fish all night but when I got tired I just slept in the back seat of my car. like always I carry sometype of weapon and usually several. Usually you had somebody around but on the week nights you may be there by yourself once in a while. Around 3 in the mourning a car came by me real slow and went down to the dead end and parked. After like 10 minutes they went past me and back up on the road and left. I put my boots on and jacket and made sure my 9mm was cocked and locked as I knew it would be. Around 15 minutes later they came back and did the same thing but this time they parked like 50 feet behind me and turned their lights off.

Now what in the hell would 3 guys in a old 65 or 66 impala be doing things like that at night if it was not for evil purposes. I knew I was going to leave after the first time but had not gone yet. I got out of the car with a weapon slung in the ready position with my finger on the trigger and swept it right past them and walked right between my car and theirs. I went to the front of my car so it was between me and them. I was sure they would reconize the weapon and it must of made them change their mind seeing it and knowing that 100 rounds of 45 acp may ruin their night. After they left I packed my pole and lantern and split also. Never went back alone to that place.

I have had like 4 others that I could tell you about but it would bore you and actually a few of them were pretty funny to see the look on their faces when things did not go the way they had planned.
I have not had any bad experiences in the last 25 years or so but I am very carefull where I go and what I do.

Take the others advice and do what is safe and do what you need to do and there is thruth to the saying I have always had. If you do anything do not do it close to home and that means like the others have said DO NOT GO HOME or someplace where they now know where you live.

[Tokugawa]

Why not go home, if you are close? You know the terrain, the house, the nieghbors , there may be reinforcements there, and if they really want your address, they can get your plate. I realize they could come back later, but the idea is to save your life NOW.

[johnnymenudo]

Never get out of your car unless it doesn't run or unless it is on fire. As long as it still moves never exit the vehicle. Call 911, drive to a police station, firehouse, anyplace public.

[oilman]

This happened to me a few months ago. I was driving home at about sunset when a car pulls in behind me. The driver started honking his horn and it looked like he was yelling. I turned right four times and determined he was following me. The chase was on through the neigborhood.

Our neigborhood had a patrol contract with the county deputies. Relying on the city police department is foolhardy as their response time can be very long. I use my cell phone to call the county deputy dispatch. She tells me to stop so the deputies can find me.:eek: :what:

Instead I told her to have the deputies meet me at a well lighted place nearby. I then gave her the address. As I pulled into this prearranged meeting place I was met by two patrol cars. At that point the guy chasing me decided to break off the chase and high tail it out of there.

[smince]

Back in my early days, such as during the story I related before, I used to carry my 1911 condition 2. Sometime during this event I moved it to condition 1 and have never looked back. There were just too many things going on for me to have to think about cocking the hammer, holding the light, etc.

I leave for work about 4:15am every morning and drive about 25 miles to work. During this commute, I pass one volunteer fire station (seldom anyone there), and two convenience stores on the way to work. Nearest PD is about 6 miles the other direction on my route. Cell phones make things safer, but my sister's husband is a deputy, and two to three cover the entire county on the night shift. Most small town PD's here only have one officer on shift at night. I very rarely see one or more on my commute unless there is already a major problem they are out trying to solve. Fortunately the crime rate here is very low, but stuff happens. I know for some, driving to the PD/FD/24hr Store is not an applicable solution.

[bcolorado]

Here is a story about Robert Harlan who shot and abducted Rhonda Maloney from the front lawn of a police station. The story is from a good samaritan who drove Rhonda Maloney to the police station.

http://www.aware.org/success/singlemom.shtml

[sturmruger]

I think the best place to end up would be a big gas station. They usually have 5-6 cameras covering the gas pumps at any one time and there are tons of lights. I have never had this happen to me, so I can't say for sure what I wouild do, but I think the Conveniance store would be my first plan.

[Sheldon J]

As i said... 3rd time... get a real vehicle... something that can run... either a car with some balls, or a dependable 4x4... then get the heck outta there... there aren't many vehicles/drivers capable of staying with me on a cross-country 4x4 run... get the heck out... go somewhere they can't... or outrun them...
I drive a big 4X4 19" rims, heavy push bar, the wife (some times I) drives a 300 SDL MB, one day we were driving up a off ramp, posted speed 35mph guy in big PU trying to dust my rear bumper, :fire: I see red and say "@%@ tailgater lets see what this euro $h!t will do," at 55 I look in the rear view and he is over the fog line almost in the dirt trying to stay with me, it is then that I realize that the Bentz is not even complaining yet so I hit it and come out at 85. I slow down to the speed limit at the top and watch the rear view I'm almost a mile down the road before he makes it out. I wonder if he will ever try and tailgate anyone like that again.:evil:

[solareclipse]

pull over somewhere making it clear that for the other car to do anything, they have to actually pull over after you. this way you leave space between you and them and prevent a flyby robbery or a block.

the longest i've followed someone because i was actually going someplace was over 30 miles. i am sure that person was freaked out at some point. and the thought did cross me i was following them but it's not my fault i had to go run my errands so i didn't make the effort to back off.

[cbsbyte]

Easy answer drop the tail gate, and open up on them with the .50 cal. :neener:

No the correct answer is pull into a well lighted, area with other people. Such as a gas station.

[trickyasafox]

my first choice is call the police and have them come to me or meet them in a well lit public area. if thats not an option however, i'm not sure what i would do. pretty much all business by me shuts down by 10pm, and the bars close at 2am, so if this really is a late night adventure, there is no one out and about for help.

im definatly not leading them near my home thats for sure. the last thing i want is predators to now have access to my family, as well as myself. even if i have my family there locked and cocked to scare them off, they then know where i live, they can come back whenever they feel the need, and eventually if they are determined enough they'll have an advantage.

i really don't feel a 24hr gas station would be much better either. maybe i'd drive to the local hospital. police are always there, always activity, and if you fly up to one honking the horn someone is gonna be out front expecting an emergency.

[Taurus 66]

Install small hydraulic lift kit and wire up 10 - 1 million candle power lights to the underside of your trunk lid. At the appropriate time, press that there yellow button, which pops open the trunk and the lift kit will raise it up. That there red button? Well that's a real doozy. BLIIINNNG!!! Instant 10 Million candle power in his face. :evil: heh

I bet he stops following you after that.

[c_yeager]

The tactical side of you says to find a cul-de-sac, turn around, block off the road in front of them and draw - but that obviously won't work for legal reasons.

Tactically speaking, it is a bad idea to cut off your enemies line of retreat, doing so puts you into the battle of the bulge, and your playing the Germans. A running enemy is a lot easier to deal with than one who is going to fight to the death.

[jagdpanzer347]

Here's something to consider: if you choose to try to evade your pursuer, it will help to have fuel in the tank. Never let your vehicle's tank drop to less than half full. I've never had this happen to me and hopefully never will. If it does, hopefully I'll be driving the 5.0 Mustang and not the 2.0 Sentra.
In a rural type situation with no help available, I'd go down as many gears as possible, drop the hammer and wave bye bye. If their car is as fast or faster, the .40 caliber solution might just come into play. Stay alert, stay alive.
-jagdpanzer

[old4x4]

"Install small hydraulic lift kit and wire up 10 - 1 million candle power lights to the underside of your trunk lid. At the appropriate time, press that there yellow button, which pops open the trunk and the lift kit will raise it up. That there red button? Well that's a real doozy. BLIIINNNG!!! Instant 10 Million candle power in his face. heh"

Had to do a somewhat abbreviated version of that once. Some f*ckwit was following me for whatever reason (so long ago, I don't remember why), almost touching my bumper several times. Out came the 1 million candle power spotlight. Never saw him again. A face full of that (at night) put an end to his BS...:neener:

[rnovi]

Drive to the nearest LEO station, fire department, donut shop or local Starbucks.

PS: something for women to know: just because a car behind you puts lights and sirens on does NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. If you have ANY concern whatsoever about the vehicle behind you, you CAN call 911 or your local police hotline and ask them to verify that the vehicle behind you is indeed an officer and that you are indeed being legitimately pulled over. It might guarantee you a ticket or an irritated officer, but your life is a helluva lot more valuable than a ticket.

[CubDriver]

I had this occur to me while I was in High School. It turned out to be people I knew, but I didn’t recognize the van as they had acquired it from some one else and were finding people they knew and tailgating/following them with the intent of freaking them out.

As I was driving back home at night, a can began to follow very closely and flashing their brights. I thought they wanted to pass and made the error of turning into the elementary school parking lot to let them by (one way in, one way out). When they pulled in behind me and blocked the entrance with the van, I freaked. I luckily had a 4x4, and made tracks down under the covered commons area, across a soccer field, through the playground, down a path, and into a cul-de-sac behind the school and bolted. I called the police to explain what happened and they went to investigate. Next day at school the buzz was how these five guys got busted by the cops when their 2wd van became stuck in the playground behind the school, they never knew I called the cops.

Since then I have formulated a better plan to deal with a situation like this.

[mmike87]

Whatever I'd do, I would not go home.

[gryphon]

Way back before I was even born, my mom used to work as a waitress at a family owned restaurant.

She was working the night shift and was driving home one night when she noticed that a car had been following her. The restaurant and home where 20 miles apart.

After she made some "odd" turns and such and noticed that the guy was still following her, she drove to the nearest police station, got as close to the frot door as she could, made sure the car doors were locked and laid on the horn until an officer or two came out.

She gave the description of the car following her to the officers on duty. She waited 15-20 minutes at the station and then got a police escort home. Never did find the guy and no one ever followed her home again.

My mom, tactical before her time. I'm proud of her. :)

[RyanM]

Suspicious car following you around? Yell "go home!" at it really loud.

Or is that dogs?

[Topgun]

The only SAFE thing to do would be to whip out your laptop and post the scenario on THR ...... IN REAL TIME..... Then....IF..... the thread weren't moved for failing to mention what kind of gun the BG had or the one you wished you had with you, you would get advice that you could consider as the situation progressed.

:scrutiny: :neener:

[larry_minn]

BTDT more then once. Called the Police more then once. I have always been tempted to just call a few locals and drive down into remote area for a (conversation) Figure 15+ good old boys with spotlights/rifles/shotguns/pistols should give them something to think about. :) Its fun to consider it but NO WAY...
I take precautions and yes it has been LEO and I figured that out when I got on HIS bumper (unmarked) and was on phone to dispatch. When we talked he couldn't figure out how I got behind him without abusing law.

[Zach S]

Happened to me one night. I noticed an Impala behind me that had been there for a while. At the last moment, I turned up a backroad that I'm familiar with, and the intersection it put me at gave me several options as to where to go which allowed me to disappear.

The Impala turned out to be an unmarked police car. I learned this when a marked car pulled me over. The officer was pretty steamed about me leaving his co-worker in the dust, but he was understanding when I explained why I did what I did, and turned out to be a pretty nice guy. We even talked talked hot rod for a minute or two before he sent me on my way, without a ticket.

When he asked about the work I had done to my car, I was a little nervous about answering. One lift of the hood or a look at the undercarriage and I could have got a few tickets. But I was still honest about it, he didnt look at anything, and nothing more came of it. I still caught the attention of LEOs when I pulled into a gas station or something, but a fairmont with a wicked exhaust note tends to do that.

[Inner Monkey]

The Impala turned out to be an unmarked police car

Late one night on my may home I noticed a car following me. I took a few turns to see if the car was indeed following me. After 4-5 turns & decided I was being followed & called 911 from my cell phone. I gave the operator my location & headed to our small town police station. Then about 30 seconds later the car following me turned on his lights & pulled me over.

The offices said I was driving suspiciously. I said I was driving in an odd manner because I was being followed.… We actually had a pretty laugh about it. I was on my way in less than 5 minutes.

[Vern Humphrey]

Cell phones are so cheap there's no reason not to have one. I had a guy pursue me on the interstate (why, I don't know -- he pulled past me shaking his fist, and then tried to follow me off the exit ramp.) Just holding the phone to my ear made him decide to break off.

With that and a CCW, all you have to do is keep your head. Dial 911, head for a well-lighted area and keep your handgun ready.

[Trisha]

Um, if there are lights following, the elk are probably getting outfitted with PIAA off-road spots. . .

Not much trafic this far back in the hills. Strangers get unnerved after only a few miles, and everybody else knows everybody else. Cell phones don't work back here yet; so all that's left is really the elk getting tricked out from the new JC Whitney catalogue.

Trisha

[jamz]

Happened to me only once so far, back before I carried.

Heavy traffic, very aggressive/scary guy behind me, could not lose him on my normal route, but I had a very well handling car with sticky summer tires, so I banged a quick left at the last possible instant without any braking. (I had a very celar view of the turn and the surroundings) I saw him hit his brakes hard to try to stop after I had left his road, but traffice was too heavy and he was sort of swept along.

[ARperson]

Been followed a few times by idiots cussing and shaking fists, but none to the point of needing to take further action.

I second the notion that sometimes merely having a cell phone at your ear will cool the other driver off a bit. I was turning left behind some stupid chick. She had a manual transmission and was slow to shift so I had accelerated a little too much/too close to her rear bumper. I immediately let off the gas to let her shift her way farther ahead and then proceed at a safe distance. But she thinks she's gonna start dicking around with me. Keep in mind she's in a little Toyota and I'm in a big Suburban. She keeps slamming on her brakes in front of me trying to get me to hit her. I simply pick up my phone, pretend to call the cops. She turns into a neighborhood not long after seeing this and I go on my merry way. Whether that was her intended turn I do not know, but I can't help but think that she didn't really want to have to cops called on her.

As for the scenario of being followed late at night: I've always wanted to take the idiot for a long ride around the highway loop that surrounds our city. 30 miles roughly, again and again and again. :D My Suburban is 4 wheel drive so I can probably go where a lot of others can't. In fact, we take it to one of our rental units in the inner city simply because it's usually the biggest vehicle around and if nothing else we can use it as a battering ram to get away...or drive up on the front lawns. The other car is a slightly modified 5.0 Mustang. If possible, I'd rather pull 4th or 3rd and wave goodbye to the idiot in the rearview. If I'm on the local loop highway, I can get far enough ahead to get off on an exit before he would even know it. From there, I know about a gajillion ways home across the surface streets or back on the highway from a differnt point (though I probably wouldn't do that for fear of running into him again).

Of course there's always the PD station, public place, etc.

Tell me, how does one find out where another lives simply by knowing the tag number? To my knowledge, without a LEO friend or BMV friend, there is no public access to that information...at least in my state.

[Mannlicher]

what? you don't have rear firing co witnessed laser aimed High Point 9mm carbines? Shame. :)