SaintofKillers
May 26, 2003, 09:51 PM
While on the way home from work friday I had an encounter with a road rage maniac. Usually I set my cruise at 75 (speed limit 65) on I-57 and ride the right lane usually being passed by and getting dirty looks because I guess I am not violating the law fast enough. At one point (this is in Kankakee county) I had to pass a semi, this may take approx 2 seconds but this was not fast enough for the loon that was behind me. This middle aged guy in a Saturn (Something bothers me about people that drive that car)starts tailgating me, flashing his lights and waving his arms, now usually I will not move over for people like this, reason being is that the second I get a half a carlength in front of the semi, Saturn boy is whipped into the left lane and passing me at the speed of light. So as Saturn boy passes me he is yelling some catchy phrases that cant be repeated here, and as he passes he flashes a badge and motions me to the side of the road. Now since I know that Saturn doesnt build a state police cruiser I give the standard inappropriate gesture and rest my hand on my cased 45 on the seat. No CCW in Illinois but I am carrying legally. I guess he gave up and drove off into hyperspace when he saw that I was disregarding his authority. Now the important part of the story, this guy has done this to me before and I am starting to wonder if he is following me-maybe this is a coincidence but I am unsure at this point, so I write his plate number down and call the ISPD. Thier response was unbelievable.
I explained to the brainstem on the other end that this indivdual was doing this and it was not the first time. I told her about the badge, she said, "well...maybe he is a police officer." I told her that I didnt feel that a police officer would act in this manner especially on several occasions. She asks if I could see what department his badge was from, I explained to her that I could not see this information because at 75mph I tend to pay attention to my driving instead of reading small print going by at 100 plus MPH. She then asks me, "what would you like me to do about it?" I said how about stopping the guy and see what his problem is. Again she said, " you know he may very well be a police officer." and I told her that he may very well be a law enforcement officer and that he may also be some NUT!!!! She asked me if i would like to file a complaint, I said yes that I would. I am now transfered on hold for 20 mins wating for another officer to pick up the phone and hear my story. At this point no one had answered and I was at my exit, where there is a ISP station right off the highway. I am very aggravated now and decided to deal with the situation on Tues. becasue I was going away for the weekend. I told my wife about this, she has also seen this loon (we carpool together) and she was also disturbed by the ISP response and lack of concern. Perhaps I should of said that he was Arabic and waving a gun, and he had an NRA sticker on his car, that should bring them running.
I explained to the brainstem on the other end that this indivdual was doing this and it was not the first time. I told her about the badge, she said, "well...maybe he is a police officer." I told her that I didnt feel that a police officer would act in this manner especially on several occasions. She asks if I could see what department his badge was from, I explained to her that I could not see this information because at 75mph I tend to pay attention to my driving instead of reading small print going by at 100 plus MPH. She then asks me, "what would you like me to do about it?" I said how about stopping the guy and see what his problem is. Again she said, " you know he may very well be a police officer." and I told her that he may very well be a law enforcement officer and that he may also be some NUT!!!! She asked me if i would like to file a complaint, I said yes that I would. I am now transfered on hold for 20 mins wating for another officer to pick up the phone and hear my story. At this point no one had answered and I was at my exit, where there is a ISP station right off the highway. I am very aggravated now and decided to deal with the situation on Tues. becasue I was going away for the weekend. I told my wife about this, she has also seen this loon (we carpool together) and she was also disturbed by the ISP response and lack of concern. Perhaps I should of said that he was Arabic and waving a gun, and he had an NRA sticker on his car, that should bring them running.