B.C. Flagging Association applauds 7-day sentence. WHY?

[coffeeFreak]

Am I missing something here? Why would they be applauding this pathetic sentence and calling it a "stiff penalty"?

B.C. Flagging Association applauds 7-day sentence for man who hit road flagger
Vancouver Sun – Fri, 30 Mar, 2012

The B.C. Flagging Association welcomed a seven-day jail sentence handed down Thursday to a man who deliberately drove his truck into a construction-site road flagger in 2010.

Michael Biemans, 43, who was sentenced in provincial court in New Westminster, also received one-year probation and must take an anger management course.

"The prosecutor was not asking for jail time but the judge handed it down anyways," the B.C. Flagging Association said in a statement.

The flagging association said it believes the stiff penalty reinforces that people must obey the direction of a traffic-control person.

The court heard that Biemans got into a verbal argument with the flagger who would not let Biemans go down a closed road. Subsequently, Biemans drove his truck into the flagger, who was not injured.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Flagging+Association+applauds+sentence+road+flagger/6385437/story.html

[Captain Awesome]

Am I missing something here? Why would they be applauding this pathetic sentence and calling it a "stiff penalty"?

Looks pretty stiff to me. When was the last time anybody went to jail for disobeying flaggers?

[coffeeFreak]

This wasn't just disobeying, it was deliberately driving a car at a flagger...if someone deliberately drove a car at a cop directing traffic or a tow truck driver cleaning up an accident, or even a neighbour on the road do you think they'd only get 7 days?

[Captain Awesome]

This wasn't just disobeying, it was deliberately driving a car at a flagger.

People disobey flaggers all the time. Most of the time, they get away with that. At rare case they'd get a ticket. Comparing to that, seven day stay at jail + anger management course is pretty stiff. And probably well deserved.

[grammafreddy]

Considering the prosecutor was not asking for any jail time but the guy got 7 days, PLUS a year probation AND has to take an anger management course, that's pretty hefty.

[logicalview]

Considering the source (Yahoo) no wonder why you're confused.

[coffeeFreak]

Considering the source (Yahoo) no wonder why you're confused.

LV, It's the same story regardless of the source. Not much to fudge on this news report; however, I changed it to it's source,the Vancouver Sun.

I am still am surprised it isn't a harsher sentence. Hope flaggers have good extended medical benefits.

[grammafreddy]

The article says the flagger was not injured.

[Coolit]

I have seen agression on all sides (drivers, flaggers, pedestrians & crews) :purefury: By the looks of the court reports and decision there was agression on both sides with no injuries and the driver paid the penalty to be set as an example. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall when either of their behavior isn't witnessed? this one was just caught.