In Colorado cyclists are encouraged to use the standard road rage/dangerous driver hotline (*CSP). If an officer is available in the area, they will attempt to find the driver.

At a minimum, the information is kept in a dangerous driver database and the driver is contacted after 3 reported offenses and faces penalties for any beyond that. Of course I wish that they'd just go lock the guys up but it does please me that cars and bicycles are treated with equality in the system. This is due to the advocacy work of Bicycle Colorado.

I agree that making sure that the police take these things seriously is important. Equally important IMO is advocacy to ensure that cyclists are respected by the system beyond the individual officer/department.

Mr. Silver is right that you have to train yourself to react by looking for the plate. I do this every time a car scares me or turns in front of me even if they have a safe distance, a game more than anything but a good habit to develop. More useful long-term than the finger anyhow. It's important to have a means of remembering/recording the plate # too.

Anne