Repeat traffic violator kills motorcycle driver in South Kingstown

[backinthesaddleagain]

This driver did not see the bike. I can almost, almost understand that as yes we are close to invisible. However if she didn't run the red light the rider would be alive, more importantly if the state of RI did its jub he would be alive. Our court system failed this man.

While I don't know the man who died, he went to the same HS as my daughter goes to.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/CH....13614eee.html

[tabogon]

How the hell does this person still have a driver's license? Car insurance? How is she still on the road with an attitude like "I'll TRY to keep my speed down"

and the worst part of the whole thing is:
"The police continue to investigate the accident and expect to turn over their investigation to the attorney general’s office, which will help determine if criminal charges will be filed. Shippee said he expects Reale will be issued several motor-vehicle violations, including obedience to traffic devices, due care by a driver and failure to maintain control."

IF criminal charges will be filed?!?! Obedience to traffic devices, due care by a driver, and failure to maintain control?!?!?!? Try vehicular manslaughter!

Here is a quote from another accident I read about a while back "He shouldn't have been driving that car, and he took a life that shouldn't have been taken."

A 17-yr old kid got in an accident and killed his girlfriend, he was charged with homicide. The kid was drinking, but the quote stands. She should not have been allowed to drive and she took his life, it never should have happened. I hope his family is furious, and look for the highest punishment available.

[2WheelGuy]

I'm not a lawyer but her record of speeding, running red lights and stop signs, and hitting other vehicles should be enough to show intent. They should go for a second degree murder charge. I bet they won't because it will cost the state too much money.

[rceezy]

Oh gosh... RIP to the fallen rider. I can't stop shaking my head. That is absolutely horrible.

[Hadyn]

Complete disregard for property, laws and lives. Makes me sick that there are people like that on the roads.

Edit: if she had displayed the same reckless disregard for human life outside of a vehicle she'd already be locked up. It's amazing what people can get away with while behind the wheel.
Posted via Mobile Device

[tjkamper]

Insanity. Simply, insanity. RIP

[rockNroll]

She needs prison time.

[drowe531]

That is a tragic thing that happened. That lady obviously had no respect for the road or anyone around here. She should have had her license taken away a long time ago but because it wasn't this happened. If she isn't brought up with charges of vehicle manslaughter I hope the AMA or something similar takes up action. That is insane that she was allowed to remain on the road after numerous accidents, speeding tickets and running stop signs.

[bob706]

Thoughts and prayers go out to the rider and his famiy. If the driver isn't brought up on vehicular manslaughter, RI is one effed up state. Please watch out for yourselves guys

[backinthesaddleagain]

I am so ripped today after reading the article. I think I will email my AMA district rep.

[mrlmd]

Go after the judges too. There should be some public outrage against this. They are too busy to do the right thing, the jails are too full?

[Lurkable]

Wow I think I love California's 3-strike rule... mother and brother watching it happen...what a nightmare.

[backinthesaddleagain]

I forwarded the article to the AMA who is giving it to their "Justice for All" department.

[Tigress]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

I forwarded the article to the AMA who is giving it to their "Justice for All" department.

Something has to be done!!

[cnichols79us]

How could someone be in that big of a hurry all of the time????? Hopefully now that she has to live with knowing she took a life, she will slow down, but I doubt it. HOPEFULLY she will do some Prison time. I pray to God she never Breeds.....

[backinthesaddleagain]

Lots of outrage posted on the RI newspaper's website regarding the failure of the "system" in RI. Supposedly the killer is related to a state senator (unconfirmed at this point). IF, i repeat IF true, then he should be held accountable, as should the last judge who she came before. Maybe if a motorcade of bikes hundreds strong paraded by this woman's home and the magistrate who she last appeared before then maybe someone would get the message.

[bobguy]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

Maybe if a motorcade of bikes hundreds strong paraded by this woman's home and the magistrate who she last appeared before then maybe someone would get the message.

That is one ride I wouldn't miss for anything. Grrrr this pisses me off.

Don't assume that cars are stopping for signals...always verify.

Absolute waste of breath, this lady.

[izmail1215]

she should have her licence lost for good after the at least 10th violation this is very sad and fills me with anger both at the Cort and her

[CC Cowboy]

I don't know why you all are so upset. It was just a motorcyclist. What about the damage to her car!

[GeneJunkie]

My grandparents own a cottage in Charlestown and I hate driving around there, I don't know if its the abundance of tourists but drivers there are nuts sometimes. I can't believe that woman hasn't had her license taken away for good. Lets hope that the courts do something right this time with this woman.

BTW wtf is up with the cops not actually writing her tickets for the actual violation? I can't believe one of them gave her a verbal warning when it was her 8th time caught speeding.

[backinthesaddleagain]

I don't know Gene. I guess when they punch up your license on the laptop in the cruiser it doesn't show the license history, only outstanding itmes??

[CC Cowboy]

In Rhode Island it's who you know. Sure sounds like she is connected.

[tabogon]

Eye for an eye! She should only be allowed to ride a motorcycle from now on so she can see just how stupid cagers can be....or stick her on a bike and let the victim's mother hit her with a car! Whatever works best.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

In Rhode Island it's who you know. Sure sounds like she is connected.

See, CC once lived in RI. Supposedly the cousin of a state senator, though this isn't confirmed.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by tabogon

Eye for an eye! She should only be allowed to ride a motorcycle from now on so she can see just how stupid cagers can be....or stick her on a bike and let the victim's mother hit her with a car! Whatever works best.

That put her on a motorcycle isn't a bad idea, though she'd probably run into a bicyclist or pedestrian.

[Sailariel]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

In Rhode Island it's who you know. Sure sounds like she is connected.

Oscar, You are spot on.

[Sailariel]

As I see it, most people forget that driving--whether it is a cage or an MC is a priviledge, not a right. Judges and courts need to be periodically reminded that this happens to be the case.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Killer of motorcycle rider sentenced to 8 years. Judge blames marijuana. As a repeat driving offender he should have blamed the system. A system that he is part of.

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- Laura A. Reale, the Westerly driver who failed to to stop at a red light, killing motorcyclist Colin B. Foote on Route 1 in Charlestown in May, was sentenced Friday to serve 8 years of a 10-year sentence in the Adult Correctional Institutions.


http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/12/ph...ity-await.html

[HKr1]

"I find that marijuana killed Colin Foote,"

What kinda dam point system do they have in RI?

Dec. 17, 2002: Westerly speeding ticket, written for traveling 1-10 mph over the speed limit on Bradford Road. The posted speed limit is 35 mph.


April 16, 2004: Westerly ticket for not stopping at a stop sign on Dayton Street.


Oct. 15, 2006: Westerly speeding ticket, written for traveling 1-10 mph over the speed limit on Tower Street. The posted speed limit is 25 mph.


Jan. 19, 2007: Westerly ticket for driving without proof of insurance and speeding as a result of an accident by 165 Granite St. Reale crossed the center line and hit the oncoming car. No one was injured.


Jan. 25, 2007: Charlestown speeding ticket on Route 1 by Meadow Lane, written for 1-10 mph over speed limit.


Feb. 11, 2007: South Kingstown speeding ticket on Route 1; written for traveling 55 in a 50-mph zone; actual speed recorded by the police –– 73 mph.


June 10, 2007: Charlestown car accident, at 4016 Old Post Rd. at 314 Narrow Lane. While Reale was traveling south on Old Post Road, her car collided with one that entered the intersection from Narrow Lane. Both cars sustained substantial damage.


Aug. 4, 2007: South Kingstown speeding ticket, at 3363 Post Rd., written for traveling 60 in a 50-mph zone; actual speed recorded by the police –– 75 mph.


Oct. 1, 2007: South Kingstown speeding ticket on Route 1, written for traveling 60 in a 50-mph zone.


Nov. 11, 2007: Westerly speeding ticket on Post Road, written for traveling 55 in a 50-mph zone; actual speed recorded by the police — 72 mph.


Feb. 20, 2008: Westerly ticket for not stopping at a stop sign on Elm and School streets.


May 25, 2008: South Kingstown police issued verbal warning for speeding on Route 1, for traveling 11+ mph over speed limit. No ticket written.


July 23, 2008: Westerly speeding ticket, at 365 Post Rd., written for traveling 61 mph in a 50-mph zone.


Sept. 18, 2008: Traffic Tribunal magistrate “court orders” her license to be suspended for one month. Actual court hearing was Sept. 9, despite Sept. 18 date recorded in her driver’s record.


Oct. 10, 2008: Driver’s license reinstated.


July 29, 2009: Westerly ticket for not stopping at a stop sign on School Street.


Dec. 15, 2009: Westerly ticket for not stopping at a stop sign at School Street and Chester Avenue.


May 16, 2010: The police say Reale ran a stop light and collided with a motorcyclist who died in the crash. They say she will be charged with motor-vehicle violations that include obedience to traffic devices, due care by the driver and failure to maintain control.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Kerry,
This f*****d up state does not have a point system. It is a political cesspool. Maybe its the small size of the state. As CC said above its all connections here. We do have some rare victories however. Last year a federal prosecutor got arrested for DUI, along with about 8 civilians one night. Surprise, surprise they all got booked for drunk driving while he was booked for reckless driving after mentioning who he was and that he was friends with the chief. Word leaked out, the local paper pulled all the arrest reports, the chief then pressed drunk driving charges.

[Racer x]

I feel pressure should be put on Judges that release people like this. If some drunk with 5 DWI arrests runs over and kills some one. WHY is the judge that did not put the drunk under the jail not held DIRECTLY responsible for the death? The court system did not fail the JUDGE FAILED . First an not delivering justice.And second at not protecting the public.

[rockNroll]

IMO Judges are one of the biggest problems in our country. C'mon... coffee is sposed to be hot!

[HKr1]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

Kerry,
This f*****d up state does not have a point system.

Really..... OMG! Thats just plain stupid.... month suspension for all those tickets is a joke. I know it would take a few more for it to be revoked(5 years) in some other states. But a couple 6 month to year suspensions were needed there. Hows a person to learn?

Guess it could really be in the judges hands sometimes, you know other than dmv. One time in Escondido, Ca.... Judge started off court saying if your here on a ticket for 85+ "Iam" taking your license for a month.

Well, she probably would have been driving anyway........

Pretty sad for the biker and his family

[Cab305]

Aggravated Manslaughter, that's what they should charge her with minimum of at least 20-30 years.



Just googled it she got 8 years. WTF seriously that's prob. 2 with parole. F'ng disgusting.

For the record she looks like the kind of skank that is used to getting her way.

[chokne]

unbelievable, god damn reckless cagers. you never know when these things can happen.

so many people shouldn't even be driving cars.

people seem to forget the responsibility that comes with operating any type of vehicle

[CThunder-blue]

You know, I can understand the prison sentence, but I don't understand why the judge didn't permanently revoke her license? It's OBVIOUS that she is unable to operate any sort of vehicle regardless of drug use. She shouldn't be allowed to drive at all. Like Alex said, driving is a privilege and she abused it.

[backinthesaddleagain]

I think, unfortunately, her license was revoked at a prior court date for the state max (5 years maybe). Blame it on this - GA makes the laws, GA is made up of lawyers, if she loses her license for ever, less work for lawyers.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Father of crash victim Foote sues driver, DMV chief and RI.
Part of the article:
While Reale pleaded guilty to causing Foote's death, the victim's father's lawsuit also blames the state's DMV for the fatality. It claims that if the DMV had done its job and had notified the attorney general's office in the fall of 2008 that Laura Reale was a habitual driving offender, her license would have been revoked and it is unlikely that she would have been driving on the date that she killed Foote.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/FO...10.428b2f.html

[FrugalNinja250]

Good, I hope he wins enough to make the people who's actions and policies contributed to his son's killing hurt. Hurt bad enough to change their ways.

[backinthesaddleagain]

And maybe some money go to a victim's fund or something similar. At least put the state on notice that they share part of the blame. Maybe the woman would have driven without a license. Who knows?