“Escape is your first option.” If Things Turn Violent That might mean driving on the sidewalk or on the shoulder of the road or through the median,” said Young. But unless you can articulate a reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm, you can’t use your car as a deadly weapon by driving over people or accelerating through the crowd. If you cannot turn around or go around the group, driving your car slowly through a group of protestors may be seen as a reasonable use of force. Turing around and immediately leaving the area, if possible, is your best option. In that case, start the recorder, capture as much of the action as you can, then leave the recorder on, put it down and focus on your escape. Try to remain quiet while recording so as to caption the words as well as the actions of the protestors.ĭo not attempt to record video and drive if you are alone. If you are with a companion, have the companion record as much of the incident as possible. Most cell phones have video recorders these days. One of the best ways to show what you were facing and begin the basis for an effective legal defense of your actions is to record video of the incident. You could be injured or killed waiting for help. Officers at the scene may not be prepared for a riot situation, and it may take several minutes or more before police feel they have the resources to take on a large crowd. If you make them aware that you are trapped in a large, angry crowd they may take action to attempt to disperse the crowd and facilitate a rescue, but don’t count on it.
Local law enforcement may already be aware of the protest and may even have people on the scene. The actor may not intentionally use force which is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm unless the actor reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself. The actor may intentionally use only such force or threat thereof as the actor reasonably believes is necessary to prevent or terminate the interference.
(1) A person is privileged to threaten or intentionally use force against another for the purpose of preventing or terminating what the person reasonably believes to be an unlawful interference with his or her person by such other person. In Wisconsin, the use of force is outlined in state statute 939.48, which reads: If the protestors are merely blocking your way, you may be able to use a reasonable level of force to get out of the situation, but you must remember that someone who was not at the scene will evaluate your decisions. So the first thing you must do is assess the threat level.” “Some prosecutors could see using your car to drive away from a protest as using force, even deadly force. “Most state’s self-defense laws allow you to use reasonable force to defend yourself and your family, but you may not use deadly force unless you are facing an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm,” Young said. If you, as a motorist, round a corner and find yourself in the middle of a protest march, or if protestors suddenly surround your car, you need to take action quickly.ĭave Young, founder and director of Arma Training, stresses that immediate action is important, but such action requires forethought and a thorough understanding of the laws of self-defense in your state. Street protests are all too common these days, and blocking traffic has become one of the favorite methods of public protest.
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