Scared some gangbanger's going to come after me

[I_waste_everything]

Today I was driving back from buying a book from Half Price Books, and I made a lane change that, in hindsight, was unnecessary. The driver behind me had an arm hanging out the window with a Roman-themed text tattoo on it.

At the light stop, I saw him in the rear view mirror, and after looking forward at me for a while with a still, terse face, he reached back, pulled out his cell phone, and held it such that I'm pretty sure he was recording me.

I hope that this is just pettiness or personal private record on his end that'll pass by, and I can learn to think about lane changes before doing them for my own reasons. But I'm worried that now he or one of his buddies are going to recognize me on the road and do something I can't do anything about and can't prove later. I hate feeling doomed and helpless.

I didn't even take note of his license plate number. In hindsight, I should have. At least I know his car was black.

 

[I_waste_everything]

It's hard to get at when the fear is in the way, but there's luckily, underneath, also guilt of having been so fickle and inconsiderate. I hope the reason to be afraid dissolves, but that my guilt for having made such a mistake and my want to be a more patient and thoughtful driver stays as rock, with record of this mistake among its crystals.

 

[may71]

Usually when there is a road rage incident to something minor, the road rager acts immediately. It's understandable that you'd worry, but statistically it's unlike that anything would happen.

He might have recorded you to report you to the police, but if so the police would have already done something if they were going to do something.

I hope that everything will be ok and that you'll feel better soon.

 

[I_waste_everything]

Just now, stopped at an intersection, some guy in a baseball cap and sunglassesin a dark SUV was rounding the turn, then slowed down, seemed to drive close to my car, look at my hood, then pull out his cell phone and immediately turn into the gas station parking lot.

I fear this is connected. Or if not that this is some person I didn't know I've offended. I hope this is nothing, but I worry otherwise. They both have in common, some guy pulling out his phone on a steering wheel.

 

[may71]

If someone was going to take revenge on you because they didn't like your driving, they almost certainly would have done something already. There really wouldn't be an incentive for anyone to engage in a long term tailing of you unless there was a big financial or national security issue involved.

A lot of people are on their phones nearly constantly, so somebody taking out their phone does not necessarily mean it's something connected to you.

I can't prove absolutely that this wasn't some deliberate tailing of you, but in my experience there's definitely a point where fearing something like this would cause more trouble than its worth.

 

[KM76710]

You have all my best wishes that nothing bad will happen and it is more of a coincidence than anything else to be fearful of.

 

[Congratsbaby]

I hope you're all good or will be + safe. And your anxiety to ease , gradually.

 

[Something.idk]

Maybe they were checking their phone for directions?
I wish you the best and hope you'll be okay.

 

[I_waste_everything]

Today, between 10 -10:50, some black Chevy equinox idled amid þe driveline in þe grocery store parking lot, not taking a parking spot.

A short distance away from me. Where I *had* parked. And it just stayed þere a full minute or two while I locked up, got a cart, and looked (back?) at it.

It had tinted windows.

I panic wiþin. I do still muse þæt perhaps my car's on some underground list, put out by þe guy I wrongfully pulled in front of. And now I'm likely seen.

I hate me. I hate me for my driving mistake þæt January. And I hate me for not saying sorry or at least making remorseful gestures to þe guy behind me, þen. And I hate me for getting selfish and all about me, me, me, instead of feeling in my heart for þe þree people in þæt car I endangered and didn't make it up to.

If I do get street-justice'd, I hope it's only me they kill. I alone did þæt wrong. If they're taking justice into their own hands, then I alone deserve whatever undignified end they have in store for me.

 

[may71]

I think this is almost certainly not connected to the event in January. There's just a lot of slightly weird or suspicious things that really have no meaning.

There's lots and lot of vehicles with tinted windows. There's also lots and lots of reasons why someone might idle and not park.

I'm sorry this has had such a profound effect on you and I hope there's a way you can feel more at ease.