Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

After leaving a restaurant recently I was welcomed to a note on my windshield from a driver who had bumped my fender. She apologized, told me the location of the scrape, and left her name, #, and insurance company. I'm not that worried about it, because I could barely see the scrape, and I really don't have the time or energy to get into it. Besides, it matches a few other bumps and bruises my car has acquired in the school parking lot.

But I started wondering, what if she had scraped my car and just left the scene? Is that a misdemeanor, assuming that someone got her tag #?

...Back to homework.

This will vary greatly by state.

In PA, it is considered ... Accidents Involving Damage to Unattended Vehicle or Property. It is a summary traffic ticket offense that carries a penalty of $300 and /or up to 90 days in jail or both. And throw in 4 points ( at 6 points you have to take your test over)

But I started wondering, what if she had scraped my car and just left the scene? Is that a misdemeanor, assuming that someone got her tag #?

...Back to homework.

That's why you write the notes that say, "Sorry I hit your car. I wish I could say I am going to pay for it but I don't have any insurance and I'm not going to. But, a lot of people saw me hit your car, and if I don't put some kind of note on your windshield, one of them might write my tag number down and wait for you to come out and tell you. Sorry"




Just kidding, just kidding. :D

Group, shorter notes mate. I don't carry an A4 piece of paper everywhere. "The people watching me think I'm leaving my details under your windscreen wiper" :)


Otherwise, here, it's a lot more trouble than it's worth.

I wish we had a ticket for it, but we have to prepare a brief, all minor offences.
Fail To Report Accident (Property Damage) To Police - This is only if no owner is present, otherwise you don't have to.
Also, depending on how the collision happened, we would have to give them one fot that too, ie Reverse when Unsafe, Careless Driving. After all, it had to have happened somehow, and there is no such thing as an accident (even though it's in the charge). Somebody is always at fault.

I could always squeeze out more charges if I had to, but it would be at least 2.

In NY:
Property Dmamage Only: Violation (summons)
Injury and/or Property Damage: Misdemeanor and if serious injuries, Felony

You should call them and thank them anyway for leaving it and let them know you are not going to persue it. Peace of mind issue.

You should call them and thank them anyway for leaving it and let them know you are not going to persue it. Peace of mind issue.
sound advice!

Hell, I'd get it fixed anyway. YOU didn't put the scratch there, right? I know I'm being a hardass on this, but you paid for your car, she didn't. Unless of course your car is a huge jalopy with chalkboard paint!! :) If the car still has a note at the bank, get it fixed. One less scrape might mean a couple hundred/thousand less at trade in time! B'sides..it wont cost you anything.

You got lucky. Three years ago this month some idiot in a truck backed over my LF fender, mirror, and door in a parking lot. No one saw anything, I went to the cops myself to report it for insurance co (doctor's office, so they would not have told the cops anything anyways), so I have the joy of raised rates for something not my fault. :mad:

I STILL have a creak and clunk from the LF. It was diagnosed as a strut mount/strut busted. Course, the shop had missed it the year before when I took it in for the body repairs, and then the several times since then. :mad:

Needless to say, I got the finger from the insurance co. since it was found a year from the original claim, though it was due to the hit and run. I certainly will not be going back to that shop any more, either. I just love morons with no insurance. What do you LEOs do when you tag someone who has no insurance? Ticket only, or ticket and calling a hook for their vehicle?

Leaving scene of an accident and/or failure to report an accident. Both misdemeanors in TN. ;)

You got lucky. Three years ago this month some idiot in a truck backed over my LF fender, mirror, and door in a parking lot. No one saw anything, I went to the cops myself to report it for insurance co (doctor's office, so they would not have told the cops anything anyways), so I have the joy of raised rates for something not my fault. :mad:

In most states, insurance companies cannot raise your rate for a comprehensive claim like the one you mention, UNLESS you have another one within a certain time period.


I STILL have a creak and clunk from the LF. It was diagnosed as a strut mount/strut busted. Course, the shop had missed it the year before when I took it in for the body repairs, and then the several times since then. :mad:

If you have a bad strutmount/strut, its probably not from this accident. If it is, I have no idea how a shop could have missed it, or how you could have not noticed it in less than a year. The typical failure mode of a strutmount is the failure of the cheesy plastic bearing, and it would be difficult for any impact that didn't total the vehicle to damage that part. The strut towers are easily the strongest area of a modern vehicle.

Its definitely a crime to drive around without insurance here. I have NO IDEA how people would do so either, as DMV charges you 8 dollars for every day you have plates but no insurance, and they suspend your license after 30 days. This is all misdemeanor stuff IIRC in NYS.

That's why you write the notes that say, "Sorry I hit your car. I wish I could say I am going to pay for it but I don't have any insurance and I'm not going to. But, a lot of people saw me hit your car, and if I don't put some kind of note on your windshield, one of them might write my tag number down and wait for you to come out and tell you. Sorry"




Just kidding, just kidding. :D
So that is all you have to do? Okeedookee. Thanks. :D

That's why you write the notes that say, "Sorry I hit your car. I wish I could say I am going to pay for it but I don't have any insurance and I'm not going to. But, a lot of people saw me hit your car, and if I don't put some kind of note on your windshield, one of them might write my tag number down and wait for you to come out and tell you. Sorry"




Just kidding, just kidding. :D

Or leave fake information. That's what I had somebody do to me about a year ago. He left me a scrap of paper with BS info and split before the local police got there. It turned out his license had been suspended and he wasn't insured on the vehicle. Of course, knowing all this, he left fake info that he knew I wouldn't realize was fake until it was too late for HPD to do something about it.

So, he got away with rear-ending me without getting a ticket nor an arrest for driving while license suspended, and didn't have to pay a dime. The great thing though was his front end was totaled while I had minimal damage. I drive a Jeep Cherokee (which I've found is VERY sturdy when it comes to morons rear-ending you), he drove some piece of crap little bitty car. :D

No insurance = the following..

1. $300 fine plus costs ( about $380)

2. Mandatory 90 day suspension of their license.

3. Tow truck comes for the car.

I love it when I stop someone and when they dont have their insurance card, I ask " do you have insurance ? " Their reply is ..." as far as I know ?!

YEAH RIGHT.

In WA, the person leaving the information behind would not be charged with any crime. They met the requirements by leaving "written notice in a conspicious place."

Just as a vent on insurance. In MN there is a push to get rid of the NO FAULT insurance here. From what I've been told if we get rid of it, our rates could drop 25%.

With no fault, each party pays for their own car, no matter who caused the accident.