Cyclist Ruled to Pay Up For Tapping Off-Duty Chicago Cop's SUV

An attorney who was riding his bicycle to work last month will have to face a disorderly conduct charge and pay court fees for tapping on an off-duty police officer’s SUV, even though he claims the officer was swerving in and out of a bike-lane in the West Loop.

James Liu was ordered to pay $290 in fines and court costs for the charge on Thursday by Judge George Berbas, who found Liu’s actions to qualify as disorderly conduct, according to DNAinfo.com Chicago. Berbas said Liu’s actions were likely an incident of road rage or “overreaction to a traffic situation.”

On October 14, Liu says he was riding his bicycle in the bike lane, southbound on Desplaines Street when off-duty police officer Paul Woods was weaving his vehicle in-and-out of the bike lane. Liu says he tapped on the window twice. Later, in court, the attorney explained it was a firm warning to watch out for cyclists.

Woods said in court that he was stopped in traffic when Liu pounded on the car and flipped him the middle finger, and that he was not encroaching on any bike lane.

But Liu claims Woods pulled up to him and yelled out the window that he was “a f------ cop.” Liu and Woods both continued in the same direction after that altercation, but when Liu attempted to make a turn, the SUV cut him off and Woods handcuffed him. He was taken to a nearby police station and charged with disorderly conduct.

Liu told DNAinfo he plans to appeal the judge’s ruling and file a civil lawsuit against the officer.

“I didn’t do anything wrong here. I was just trying to keep myself safe,” he said.

more via DNAinfo.com Chicago