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A young, black, professional, Spelman College and UNC Law grad, and new mommy who practices law in the Chicago suburbs.

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Road Rage + Cup of Ice = Prison

February 21st, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

We’ve all been there. Running late and trying to speed to our destination. Stuck in traffic on a hot day. All the while wanting to strangle the people in the cars ahead of us. ‘Road rage’ describes that feeling of anxious maneuvering and is what causes us to drive aggressively. Many accidents and thousands of deaths are the result of road rage, but I’m not here to preach or tell you how to be a safe driver. I just want to bring to your attention recent news that may make you think twice the next time you want to take your frustration out on another driver.

Jessica Hall, age 25, wife, and mother of three children, was convicted of “maliciously throwing a missile into a vehicle” last summer while driving through Virginia. The “missile” was actually a McDonald’s cup of ice, thus the reason the case has come to be known as “McMissile.” Hall says she was angry when she flung the cup of ice into a car, where it flew across a D.C. man and landed all over his girlfriend. Hall claimed that the car merged in front of her twice on Interstate 95, as she, her kids and her pregnant sister were driving to New York.

So what is the McMissile sentence? Well, the Stafford County jury recommended the minimum of two years in prison for the felony. Under state law, the judge can only decrease the jury’s sentence. He will make the final decision later today. Hall has already spent the last month in Stafford County jail, where her fellow inmates throw things at her and call her “McMissile.”

Clearly the people of Stafford Country are trying to make an example out of Jessica Hall. But two years? Oh, and I forgot to mention that her husband is in Iraq and the family is on welfare. So now we’re putting people in jail for road rage? I could understand if someone had died or even been seriously injured, but nope, not in this case. Even the driver who filed the complaint against her was shocked at the jury’s recommendation. He thought she would merely get community service.

After three years of law school, I definitely understand the law making process. The rules are there for a reason: to govern the conduct of the people of a community, society or nation. But cases like McMissile make me lose faith in the justice system because it reminds me how some people (read: rich, famous and usually white) get away with breaking the rules, perhaps with a slap on the hand or a civil suit to pacify their victims. Meanwhile others (read: poor and black) are sent to prison. True, you can’t just go around throwing “missiles” at people, but my point is that our country is not consistent when it comes to convictions. But let’s hear what you think.

[update] The judge sentenced Jessica Hall with probation instead of the two year jury recommendation.

Woman Gets Probation For “McMissile” Attack

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Viewing 3 Comments

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    I honk and cuss at crazy DC drivers constantly, but I make sure I keep my windows up and all objects inside my car. I couldn't imagine how it feels to have an ice cold drink thrown into your car and all over your body. The driver could have easily lost control of his vehicle when she threw that drink into his car. Clearly, this woman was out of control and at the very least this was some type of battery/assault. I feel sorry for her, her children and the victim and I am not sure that 2 years in prison is a fair sentence but throwing something into someone else's car is kind of a big deal. I would be interested in finding out the results of other road rage cases though.
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    while a sentence is purely subjective, the point is that violence is not the answer. ever.


    we learned that as kids. self-control is a very important skill to learn. it allows for less stress, self-confidence, and proper perspective.



    it shouldn't take a traumatic experience to bring people back to reality.
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    Hmm..the driver in the other car should be thankful it wasn't a hot drink thrown at him...
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