Ok- WTF Cali people??

[Nephythys]

Link (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080411/D8VVBL000.html)

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A teenage driver was killed in a car-to-car shooting at a freeway off-ramp early Thursday in the latest in several recent fatal roadway attacks in California.

Samantha Padilla, 19, of Los Angeles, was shot in the upper torso around 12:30 a.m., authorities said.

She apparently was attacked while stopped at a traffic light at the end of an off-ramp from the 110 Freeway in South Los Angeles, police Detective Tommy Thompson said. A car pulled up alongside and someone fired about five rounds from a medium-caliber gun, he said.

...snip...

Southern California has had a spate of shootings on major roadways; at least five other people have died in recent weeks.

Among the victims were a 54-year-old chiropractor who died after she was shot in the head while driving on Interstate 10 in eastern Los Angeles County; a 26-year-old man who died in a shooting on U.S. 101; and two teenage boys who died after they were shot on a state highway in San Diego County. Another death is being investigated as a possible suicide.

In Northern California, a driver was killed Wednesday in a rush-hour shooting on a San Francisco freeway as he drove with two children in the car.

Now I am not one to live in fear but this is crazy freaky!

[€uroMeinke]

Just remember that here in California we probably spend a larger percentage of time in our cars than in other places. We probably have a high instance of car births as well

[Snowflake]

It's a media ploy to keep people from moving to California ;)

Seriously, very sad. I'm going to have to make sure I mind my manners when cars are passing me as I ride the Cable Car to work, who knows?

[Sub la Goon]

Just remember that here in California we probably spend a larger percentage of time in our cars than in other places. We probably have a high instance of car births as well


And don't forget the ever-popular vehicular conception...

And the torso shot was just poor aim. We usually go for the head.
Bad show, shooting motorist!

[Pirate Bill]

California freeway shootings are soooooo '80s.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

A bass player in one of my bands had his rear side window shot out a few months ago on the 405 freeway. Understandably, he was quite freaked out by the incident.

[blueerica]

I remember this happening a few years ago... and then a few years before that. It's like El Nino, some years you get shooting rampages, other years you don't.

Edited to add: Not that I'm trying to be flippant about it. I do think it's a serious issue and I have been freaked out nights when I've had to drive the freeway when these things have gone on. But, I am a little flippant, too... Oh well.

[Alex]

These things seem to spawn copycats, like school shootings. Once the idea is planted...

But so far this currents spate is nothing compared to the freeway shooting spree in the '80s. In 1987 there were more than 50 of them (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/04/BADQVVDV6.DTL) in Southern California. If you've seen the movie you may recall a scene in L.A. Story that spoofed on that spree.

The one mentioned up here in the Bay Area was actually the second within a week but it turns out the first was a targeted attack.

[RStar]

I dunno, but perhaps it's a gang initiation thing or something...

What ever it is (over population, the housing market or money issue anger, high divorce rates, what ever) I wish it would end already! :(

[NickO'Time]

Bill Cosby's son was killed by a shooter alongside the freeway. Tragic.

People are getting pulled over for their Bikes and being robbed recently.(New thing, maybe?) That's why I carry pepper spray and mace and for those with the get off the road mentality.

[Kevy Baby]

Bill Cosby's son was killed by a shooter alongside the freeway. Tragic.That was over 10 years ago (http://cgi.cnn.com/US/9701/16/cosby.shooting/index.html)!

Not that it isn't relevant and tragic and all.

[MouseWife]

I would say the relevance is that it was happening even that long ago and that it has no boundaries?

The first one, the two boys along a highway in SoCa, that is a freeway we frequent and that my family does as well. I didn't read the article but I know that around that time, there were a lot of random shootings, from cars, to cars, whatever. It really does worry me because I see it might be directed towards young men, and, I do have a son who is really enjoying his age and is out late.

I would imagine it is gang initiation or else territorial issues? I had wanted to visit a local cemetary which is quite lovely with its' name plates/statues, I even invited a friend to come down for some photos. Well, shortly thereafter, there was a shoot out, originating from there and continuing all of the way to a local mall {shooting all the way, admist traffic} where they had to shut down the mall to find the shooters.

I was happy to have been able to forget about all of this on vacation. Not that it wasn't happening, I just didn't think about it.

[wendybeth]

I was more concerned about all the motorcycles that race in-between vehicles on the freeway- waaaaaayyyyy illegal here in Wa state, and we auto drivers aren't habituated into watching out for cycles like that. (They are expected to follow the same rules as automobiles.) Are there a lot of deaths caused by this practice?

[katiesue]

I don't know how many deaths - but it is legal in CA (I asked at traffic school once). The reason I was given is that motorcycles can't cool down if idling in traffic, so they are allowed to keep moving.

[MouseWife]

Thanks for that answer, katiesue. I'd never heard that before.

I believe it is called 'lane splitting'. It is legal but still risky. My hubby used to ride and so he is quite concientious of cyclists whereas I am like 'Why are you moving over??'

[wendybeth]

Thanks also, KS- I was kind of unnerved by all the motorcycles weaving in and out of traffic and couldn't help but wonder at the mortality rates. The next time my Honda tries to overheat in stop and go traffic I'll have to try that maneuver......:evil:

[Morrigoon]

California freeway shootings are soooooo '80s.
Pfft. Exactly.

Honestly, kids today are taking this 80's revival thing way too far. HEY, HOW ABOUT REVIVING THE MUSIC INSTEAD OF THE CLOTHES AND SHOOTINGS, HUH?!?

Oh Neph... if you're planning on moving here, the first thing you need to learn is nobody from CA says Cali ;)

[JWBear]

...Oh Neph... if you're planning on moving here, the first thing you need to learn is nobody from CA says Cali ;)

I suspect it may have something to do with her fascination with goddesses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali) that have attitude problems.... ;)

[alphabassettgrrl]

Hey, what's wrong with my attitude problem???? I'll teach you!!!! :)

Lane splitting- yeah, it's definitely legal and not terribly dangerous if done right. That means not doing 90 when traffic is stopped.... But there are lots of m-cyclists who seem to have a deathwish (riding too fast in shorts and flipflops- got to wonder). Some people get really upset at the bikes for doing it though. I worked with a guy who would block them from getting through. I figure no problem- it's one less vehicle in front of me and they don't delay me by splitting lanes. I just don't like it when they go too fast and come out of nowhere and I don't have time to move over.

I agree to bring back the 80s music not the clothes (shudder) and the shootings. Let's all be patient on the roads, people, it's not like any of us are going anywhere fast. Sit tight, stay in your lane and we'll all get there. Slowly.

[Morrigoon]

I suspect it may have something to do with her fascination with goddesses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali) that have attitude problems.... ;)

Heh. I wouldn't know anything about bad@ss goddesses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrigan).

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Looks like they found someone. Random wasn't so... random.

A 30-year-old woman was in custody Saturday in connection with the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old driver near a freeway off- ramp in South Los Angeles.

http://www.knbc.com/news/15865562/detail.html

[BarTopDancer]

Nothin like some freeway shootings to make people more polite drivers.

[alphabassettgrrl]

We can only hope that the shootings make people more polite. Heinlein said it a long time ago- "an armed society is a polite society".

Also, crime and assaults and whatnot are most frequently not random. There's some connection. Glad they got a suspect.

[Nephythys]

I suspect it may have something to do with her fascination with goddesses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali) that have attitude problems.... ;)

I'm sorry? Calling it Cali is an indication of an attitude problem?

I realize you are jesting with me- but come on. Nothing was meant by it other than a shorter name.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I can't be certain but I think that JWBear means that the goddesses have attitude problems, not the people who like them. Both Nephthys and Kali are goddesses of death and destruction respectively. : )

[Nephythys]

I get it now :) Thanks

[Kevy Baby]

I was more concerned about all the motorcycles that race in-between vehicles on the freeway- waaaaaayyyyy illegal here in Wa state, and we auto drivers aren't habituated into watching out for cycles like that. (They are expected to follow the same rules as automobiles.) Are there a lot of deaths caused by this practice?

I don't know how many deaths - but it is legal in CA (I asked at traffic school once). The reason I was given is that motorcycles can't cool down if idling in traffic, so they are allowed to keep moving.While it may have been someone's lame justification for getting the law passed, it is just that: lame.

There are restrictions on lane splitting. If I recall correctly, they motorcycles can't be going more than 20 MPH over the flow of traffic. And multiple lane changes is still illegal.

MOST motorcyclists obey safe riding habits. The biggest danger of riding a motorcycle is not the motorcyclist themselves, but the unobservant drivers around them. Which is why I have refrained from purchasing a motorcycle on the roads.

Honestly, kids today are taking this 80's revival thing way too far. HEY, HOW ABOUT REVIVING THE MUSIC INSTEAD OF THE CLOTHES AND SHOOTINGS, HUH?!?There was already a revival of the music and fashion, so now we have moved on to the seedier side of the 80's.

[wendybeth]

The motorcycles I saw were nearly all going well over the speed limit, as we were going the limit most of the time and they blew right past us. As a driver, I would not be looking for a motorcycle on the side of my car, especially when driving a large SUV. (Some of those crotch-rockets would be hard to see from my Civic.) I just hope not many of those cyclists come up here and try that- they'd be roadkill pretty quickly. (Especially with all of the potholes in the roads right now).

[JWBear]

I can't be certain but I think that JWBear means that the goddesses have attitude problems, not the people who like them. Both Nephthys and Kali are goddesses of death and destruction respectively. : )

On the nose!

[Alex]

It was a bit of a freak out for me the first time I experienced lane splitter in traffic on the Bay Bridge after moving here. Then it was followed by annoyance at how rude and aggressive California drivers are.

Then I found out it is legal here.

I wonder how much of the California reputation for aggressive driving (and really, I don't find it any worse here than in other places I've lived) comes from motorcycle lane splitting being illegal in a lot of other places.

Similarly, I used to have a coworker who said she was terrified of driving in Oregon because of the triple trailer trucks. She'd never shared the road with them so on her one trip up there all she remembered was them all convoyed up.

[Capt Jack]

well, gotta admit I dont like cruising next to the triples much. not even mentioning I always seemed to encounter them on windy mountain roads.

lane splitters dont bother me all that much. the only one who ever caused me trouble faired far worse than I when he hit my mirror.