I was driving my c5 home from my 3rd shift job at 6am and the road was wet. I got into my development and hit the gas around one of the turns and ended up spinning out into the edge of my neighbors yard (maybe 2 to 3 feet). No damage was done to my car and the only thing that I did to their yard was put a few tire marks in it. I had plans on going down to their house later in the day so I would not wake them up and offer to fix the yard or pay for them to get it fixed. Well apparently they were not asleep and called the police. The cop who came to my house was having a bad weekend. He lectured me for awhile about what happened and then went to his car and said he was going to give me every ticket he could think of. I received the tickets in the mail and I have 4 tickets totaling over 600 dollars and I am not even positive that this pays for the damage done to the yard so that could possibly be even more money. the tickets are for reckless driving, Leaving the scene of an accident, property damage, and speeding. All of these tickets would definitely lead to my license being suspended. I know I was wrong but was I really 600+ dollars and losing my license in the wrong? Do I try to fight it myself? Should I get a lawyer?

Thanks for the help

Mark

 

I'd say you were hard done by, given the time of day and the fact you planned to speak to them later. Its easy to spin out a Vette on a slick road so speeding is a tad harsh.

I think I'd be taking legal advice given that number of tickets. That collection is disproportionate to a little turf damage IMHO.

 

That's very sad to hear. I don't know you, but if what you said is true (your intentions) that is frustrating for me. I always hate it when "bad things happen to good people". If you honestly wanted to tell them tomorrow and offer to pay/fix everything you may have damaged, you should really not be punished.

I have a junk honda beater out in front of my house, and apparently one of my neighbors hit the back bumper, leaving a 10-inch scratch. I noticed it because the car was pushed at least a foot or two. I never called the cops because this was just some piece of junk not worth anything, and I don't want to give anyone huge troubles. No one ever came to my house (this happened a week ago) to admit it. I don't plan on taking any legal actions, for reasons I stated. But it's 100% one of the neighbors. The street I live on is a dead end. There are maybe 20 houses total.

Of course, it was still your fault. I'd go apologize to the neighbor, not in hope to lessen punishment (not that they have any control over it anyway, other than to sue you for.. some grass) but to let them know that you never intended to run off (like my neighbor did).

Good luck.

 

I went down there shortly after the police left my house and knocked on their door for awhile and they sent their son to the door and he said his parents were sleeping.(the police officer just left their house) I wrote on a note pad my name and number and that I was sorry and would pay for the grass. I have not heard a word from them. I have never had any issues with them they just moved into that home not too long ago so I really dont know why they wouldnt just talk to me.

 

A lawyer should be able to make short work of at least 3 of those tickets, maybe all.
Sounds like you got a real pinhead for a LEO.

 

Yea that really suxks,i think you better get a some legal help.its easy to monday morning quaterback,but i guess you should of stoped and left a note.I cant beleive they called the police,i got a word for them but i cant print it on here.Plus the leo could have gave you some slack.. I think id try to reach out to them one more time and see if they will drop the charges if not..........Get a lawyer.........Live and learn...I hate developments.Theres alot of a@#holes in this world and you found some in yours.............Good luck.let us know how you make out.

 

and good luck

Chuck

 

I would get a lawyer for sure. If you get a good lawyer, I think you could get all the tickets dismissed.

You don't want them on your record for employment or insurance purposes. Your insurance rates will go through the roof for years.

Good luck.

BTW, you should never smack the throttle going around the corner. What you experienced is called throttle on oversteer.

 

Sorry but I worked on the other side of these situations for 25 years as a police officer. In most states you are obligated to remain at the scene after causing property damage. You may have intended to return in the morning but the only one that knows that to be true is you. I can tell you that over 95 % of the people that cause property damage like that don't return and have no intention of repairing or paying for the damage.

 

Wow, sounds like really "great" neighbors.

The fines aren't a little excessive, they are extremely excessive IMO. It's not like you were doing donuts in the yard. Was their lawn manicured or was it just a basic lawn?

Get a lawyer like the others have said. I wouldn't even talk to those people anymore or even fix the lawn. They seem to want to put the screws to you for some reason.

 

I would get a lawyer...

It was dark, you were a significant distance from their view....
How did they without reasonable doubt know it was you?
did they record your plate#? or do they just know that a similar colored Corvette is in your driveway?

The LEO did not witness the alleged event...

 

The one thing I think you need to do is keep the traction control button "on" or do some practice driving "in the right place" to better understand how your car reacts so this thing wont happen.....ever!

 

GET A LAWYER!

By the way, how was your driving record before this?

 

I would get an attorney. Sounds like you had an over aggressive officer and scared neighbors.

Had you not gone and left the note admitting guilt I would have said you had a "HE said She said" case without any proof of guilt and probably could have walked away from all of those tickets. I know that doesn't sound like the right thing to do but you never know what people will sue for and you don't know these people. Everyone wants to do the right thing but in this letigious society you have to be very careful.

JMT

 

Had a note been left at the time of the incident there probably never would have been a citation issued.

 

It's the American way to avoid accepting responsibility for one's illegal actions.
Oh, and police officers do not have to witness a collision to investigate and/or issue citations. If that was the case, no H&R collisions would ever be investigated. And people who suggest they do would be the first ones to complain if their property were damaged and the PD couldn't investigate.
By the way, since the citations came in the mail, it's more than likely that a city prosecutor reviewed the case and filed the complaints through the city court.
FYI, your comments here can be used against you in criminal and civil action.
Contact an attorney and have the attorney contact the home owners. The attorney can act as your intermediary and possibly come to a reasonable compromise about paying/repairing the damage. That might mitigate the criminal charges.

 

Sounds like they're just unfriendly neighbors.

 

You're right. My neighbor did that.. never showed up at my door to apologize or at least inform me.

But I'm sure you know this well, U.S. has a lot of a**hole cops too.
I'm talking about the ones you deal with daily, not like cops that are "mean" to criminals or drug dealers.

I'm from a foreign country and our cops would be fired right away if they show attitude problems to the public, because of the importance of public image.

Don't get me wrong though, I appreciate a lot of cops too. I'll save my family's incident for storytelling another day but let's just say those police were very helpful (and I feel my tax dollar is well spent).

 

Sorry to hear that. Your neighbor should have talked to you before calling LEO or better yet, you leave a note on their front door if you thought they where sleeping. Anyway, good luck and fight those tickets!!

 

First, the LEO had no business writing any tickets since he did not witness the event.

Second, the right thing to do would have been for the LEO to have gotten all parties together after hearing that the OP had every intention of talking to the neighbors at a more appropriate time. That would have been the end of it.