What would you do?

[sea2summit]

Honestly, the car was driving towards my own home, so I followed it.

Called it in, and later the state troopers showed up and took my statement at the end of the driveway where the car "pulled into".

Got a call from the DA, apparently this person is fighting the DWI charges. I will need to testify in court.

Here is the thing... I get people drink and drive, but what REALLY ticked me off is they crashed into a church parking lot and hit the church van that basically stays in the same spot 24/7 unless it's Sunday. NO WAY could you even imagine hitting it per where it's parked in the corner of the parking lot.

If you're guilty, just admit it and take the punishment IMO because you did wrong. I've been in the same boat so I can say I speak from experience.

I just don't like being the rat and sticking your nose into someone else's business.

My best friend and another friend were killed by a guy who had been drinking but BAC below legal limits on my 16th birthday.

Same driver 11 years later blew a stoplight t-boned a mini van with a family of five killing the mother instantly and one of the daughters died of injuries a day later. Again he had been drinking but was under the legal limit.

You’re not being a rat, you’re being a garbage collector. Take out the damn trash.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

My Aunt and Uncle were rearended at a stop light and killed by a driver drunk on MJ and alcohol. She got eight years in prison.

 

[Sigarms]

Thanks. Some of of your responses have made me feel better.

The driver from what I remember was definitely an older lady. Added a little more confusion to everything I was seeing from what I remembered (which I told the DA when he called me).

I did take pictures after the accident as I couldn't believe what I was seeing at the time, but I deleted them after a year, as I didn't think anything of it because they were so old.

That said, iI figure if I called it in, and the state troopers met me at the end of the driveway where the call pulled in (and a piece of the car bumper was laying there at the end of the driveway) and they (state troopers) went down the end of the driveway to verify the car I saw, and they have my statement at the time, I figure that should be good enough for the justice system.

 

[Ken45101]

If the car was on fire and still moving, there is no telling what he could have set fire to. Call it in.

As a past volunteer firefighter/emt, I've seen enough impaired drivers. Call it in!

There was one day we saw a propane delivery truck weaving back and forth. We called it in and gave 911 updates. We he got into town, he ducked into a side street. He saw the cop looking for him and flagged him down and told him where he ducked off the highway. I've seen similar sized gas tankers that lost arguments with an Interstate overpass pier, not pretty, Cincinnati Fire Department had to call in an airport crash truck to put it out.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I've been the victim of a hit and run. They leave damage behind them and never pay for it. Somebody hit my job trailer parked on the street and made it un-towable. I had to flatbed the trailer to get it repaired, which took 10 days. My crew lost a lot of productivity for two weeks. I figured I was out about $10,000, and that was in the '70s when the dollar was worth 3x as much.

 

[Sigarms]

My crew lost a lot of productivity for two weeks. I figured I was out about $10,000, and that was in the '70s when the dollar was worth 3x as much.

10K in 1975 equals to about 50k today, your off by 20 grand.

Ran it by a couple of different calculators, came up in the same ball park.

CPI Inflation Calculator

www.bls.gov

 

[oosik]

Yes, of course, if I had my cell phone I would call it in. I would stay away from the burning car. It's likely to blow up any minute.

 

[Sigarms]

Add another thing in life that is nothing like the movies. At least being subpoenaed for court appearance as a witness for a DUI case, a sheriff deputy calls you to inform you of the date only.

Deputy calls me while I'm driving (hands free, for work) and informs me of my court date. No time, no courtroom. I told the deputy to send me something in the mail so I can keep for my own records (court date is in June). Sorry, they don't do that.

Funny thing is if I miss the court date, I can be held in contempt or some other charge.

I'm sorry, we live in the 21st century. At least send me a calendar invite via along with the court room to my email and let me put it on my calendar.

 

[NCL4701]

Honestly, the car was driving towards my own home, so I followed it.

Called it in, and later the state troopers showed up and took my statement at the end of the driveway where the car "pulled into".

Got a call from the DA, apparently this person is fighting the DWI charges. I will need to testify in court.

Here is the thing... I get people drink and drive, but what REALLY ticked me off is they crashed into a church parking lot and hit the church van that basically stays in the same spot 24/7 unless it's Sunday. NO WAY could you even imagine hitting it per where it's parked in the corner of the parking lot.

If you're guilty, just admit it and take the punishment IMO because you did wrong. I've been in the same boat so I can say I speak from experience.

I just don't like being the rat and sticking your nose into someone else's business.

If they drive drunk, high, recklessly, hit & run… If they’re doing that on the same roads I drive on, that IS my business.

If they’re doing whatever on their own property (if they want to emulate Whistlin’ Diesel or get drunk or crazy or whatever OFF public roads) not my business.

Bring it out onto public roads I’m using, it IS my business.

 

[Sigarms]

If they drive drunk, high, recklessly, hit & run… If they’re doing that on the same roads I drive on, that IS my business.

If they’re doing whatever on their own property (if they want to emulate Whistlin’ Diesel or get drunk or crazy or whatever OFF public roads) not my business.

Bring it out onto public roads I’m using, it IS my business.

I completely agree and that's one reason why I did call it in, follow the car, and waited for the state troopers.

Lets just say all country "folk" aren't as nice as we claim country "folk" to be in my neck of the woods. Reality is we have some VERY interesting people in my area, some who don't care about others and the law. End of the day, I just don't want problems with people, particularly those that live around me. Now I have to testify in court with the woman and her family in court, which in all honesty, I really don't care to do. Kind of black and white as to what I saw, it was reported, I waited, the troopers (sat around for about an hour out of my work time) who found the woman. Not certain why a sworn statement wouldn't work.

 

[Hay Dude]

I completely agree and that's one reason why I did call it in, follow the car, and waited for the state troopers.

Lets just say all country "folk" aren't as nice as we claim country "folk" to be in my neck of the woods. Reality is we have some VERY interesting people in my area, some who don't care about others and the law. End of the day, I just don't want problems with people, particularly those that live around me. Now I have to testify in court with the woman and her family in court, which in all honesty, I really don't care to do. Kind of black and white as to what I saw, it was reported, I waited, the troopers (sat around for about an hour out of my work time) who found the woman. Not certain why a sworn statement wouldn't work.

When you witness something egregious like that, you have to show your face and prove your convictions of what you saw. After all, you were the one who got the ball rolling on this. Now its you who has to make their case. Youre the lead witness. The defendant has a lot to lose in money and freedom.
Think of it this way, if our justice system allowed anyone to just phone-in accusations of crimes ay any level, we’d have a lot of false accusations of crimes. It allows citizens to destroy each other’s lives by false accusation.

 

[RandyT]

My best friend and another friend were killed by a guy who had been drinking but BAC below legal limits on my 16th birthday.

Same driver 11 years later blew a stoplight t-boned a mini van with a family of five killing the mother instantly and one of the daughters died of injuries a day later. Again he had been drinking but was under the legal limit.

You’re not being a rat, you’re being a garbage collector. Take out the damn trash.

In Illinois you can get a DUI at BAC of .04 if you appear to be under the influence.

 

[ultrarunner]

I've called in several and never contacted for follow-up and sometimes told to call non-emergency and not to use 911 for hit and run.

If you are traveling with a cell a 911 call is exempt from Hands Free rules.

One time I asked for non emergency number and 911 was not happy about it but did provide when said could not transfer...

It was a recording saying to call back during normal business hours...

Many things are no longer 911 worthy like coming home and finding you have been burglarized... instead directed to go online to make report with no police response...

 

[PILOON]

Well Saturday on my way home I observed a vehicle down a small ravine laying on its side and no signs of tracks in the overnight snow.
Also some 4-6 saplings were broken.
It was obvious that speed was a cause as the site was just after a curve.
I called it in as there was no question of my crawling thru 4 ft of snow without snowshoes besides (I'm 82 and suffer from COPD.)
Could well have been a person lying unconscious inside.

Sure would have appreciated a follow up from the LEOs on this.

 

[NCL4701]

I completely agree and that's one reason why I did call it in, follow the car, and waited for the state troopers.

Lets just say all country "folk" aren't as nice as we claim country "folk" to be in my neck of the woods. Reality is we have some VERY interesting people in my area, some who don't care about others and the law. End of the day, I just don't want problems with people, particularly those that live around me. Now I have to testify in court with the woman and her family in court, which in all honesty, I really don't care to do. Kind of black and white as to what I saw, it was reported, I waited, the troopers (sat around for about an hour out of my work time) who found the woman. Not certain why a sworn statement wouldn't work.

Aware it’s a difficult position to be in. Several years ago, I was part (not all) of the reason an elderly gentleman with Alzheimer’s lost his license and insurance after he attempted to drive 4 miles north of his house to a hardware store in the small rural community to pick up some screws and ended up 30 miles south driving the wrong way on an interstate. Thankfully no serious injuries by some miracle. His wife, who was clear headed, physically fit, and perfectly capable of driving, didn’t have the backbone to stop him. She and a few members of the community (mostly his family members) were incensed with me for my part in grounding him as it was “none of my business”. I explained to them so long as he’s driving the same roads I do it IS my business and they could all go pound sand if they disagreed. Wasn’t long before they found out many members of the little community agreed with my position and wanted him off the road before he killed himself and/or one of them.

I’m well aware it’s an uncomfortable position and a distasteful duty but is something that has to be done. If the individual won’t control their own actions the community (which includes you and me) has to assist in doing it for them. And remember, you’re just establishing facts. You aren’t convicting or sentencing anyone. That’s up to others who also have to live in that community. So long as you accurately report the facts without embellishment those facts just are what they are.

Edit: And a sworn statement won’t work because if it goes to trial the accused has the right to cross examine any witnesses. Unless there’s some sort of plea deal to avoid a trial, any witnesses used by the prosecution or defense have to show up and testify under oath to be examined by both the prosecution and defense.

 

[MossRoad]

Aware it’s a difficult position to be in. Several years ago, I was part (not all) of the reason an elderly gentleman with Alzheimer’s lost his license and insurance after he attempted to drive 4 miles north of his house to a hardware store in the small rural community to pick up some screws and ended up 30 miles south driving the wrong way on an interstate. Thankfully no serious injuries by some miracle. His wife, who was clear headed, physically fit, and perfectly capable of driving, didn’t have the backbone to stop him. She and a few members of the community (mostly his family members) were incensed with me for my part in grounding him as it was “none of my business”. I explained to them so long as he’s driving the same roads I do it IS my business and they could all go pound sand if they disagreed. Wasn’t long before they found out many members of the little community agreed with my position and wanted him off the road before he killed himself and/or one of them.

I’m well aware it’s an uncomfortable position and a distasteful duty but is something that has to be done. If the individual won’t control their own actions the community (which includes you and me) has to assist in doing it for them. And remember, you’re just establishing facts. You aren’t convicting or sentencing anyone. That’s up to others who also have to live in that community. So long as you accurately report the facts without embellishment those facts just are what they are.

Edit: And a sworn statement won’t work because if it goes to trial the accused has the right to cross examine any witnesses. Unless there’s some sort of plea deal to avoid a trial, any witnesses used by the prosecution or defense have to show up and testify under oath to be examined by both the prosecution and defense.

That reminded me of many years ago, being at a stop light on my motorcycle. It was 2 lanes. I was in the right lane. There was a car in the left lane next to me. All of a sudden I feel my left leg getting pushed forward slowly, and realize there is some old guy in another car trying to squeeze between the car in the left lane and my. It hooked the back of me left knee on his right front fender and starting pushing me over to my right. l look back and he's just sitting there inching forward. I started pounding on his hood and I jumped over to the other side of my bike and pounded on the passenger window and yelling at him to stop. He had a huge hearing aid in his right ear, and never even looked at me. I finally had to dump the bike. I was young and angry and kicked in his right-rear fender. The light turned green and he slowly drove away.

Some folks were sitting at a bus stop bench and asked if I was OK. Yes, but yikes! I went into the Taco Bell on the corner and called the police and gave the description and license number.

I can't remember how long it was later, but the police did call me back. As I recall, they wanted to use me as leverage to get the guy to surrender his driving license. Apparently he'd been involved in several accidents in the past year, and the police were very familiar with him. So if I wouldn't press charges, his family would get him to surrender his license. I don't know what charges I could have pressed. No injury and no damage to the bike that was noticeable. But that's what they said. I said OK, and never heard anything more about it.

Felt kinda bad for an older person to lose their license, but on the other hand, it probably had to be done before someone else got seriously hurt.

 

[PILOON]

Couple of years back while driving home I saw puffs of smoke rising from a house.
I stopped for a better look and sure enough flames were showing plus more black smoke also saw 3 people jump out of a window. By this time I was taking pictures as well.
I had called 911 early and was on hold as they were verifying my authenticity B4 taking action.
Those delays ate up about 20 mins* B4 the fire trucks showed up from less than a 1/2 kilometer away, that is about a 5 min drive.
House was a total loss.
LEO's requested my photos for evidence but I never heard of any follow up.
Not even a thank you.

That fire was very close to a high school and I strongly suspect the three people were teens from it.
Their agility and general appearance suggested such.

* local fire dept is volunteer and regulations are that the engine only leaves when a full crew is on board, hence the delay.

 

[Sigarms]

When you witness something egregious like that, you have to show your face and prove your convictions of what you saw. After all, you were the one who got the ball rolling on this. Now its you who has to make their case. Youre the lead witness. The defendant has a lot to lose in money and freedom.
Think of it this way, if our justice system allowed anyone to just phone-in accusations of crimes ay any level, we’d have a lot of false accusations of crimes. It allows citizens to destroy each other’s lives by false accusation.

I don't disagree with you, but it's just like I told the DA.

1 - Red car hit church van
2 - Red car stayed in parking lot for 10-15 minutes with another guy out of his car talking with the lady (no clue at this point what she looked like).
3 - Red car left, I couldn't believe it, so I pulled out of the parking lot to follow.
4 - Car caught on fire somewhere, couldn't believe it.
5- Followed car so many miles on back road to driveway where it pulled into (out of sight from the road, did not follow).
6 - Call 911, took troopers an hour to get to end of driveway where I was waiting.
7 - Troopers took my statement.

Now, if I called it in, and the description of the vehicle looked like I told them and they saw the damage of the church van (about 3 miles away), the red car had white paint (from the church van I would assume) and the lady apparently didn't pass a sobriety test, I'm sorry, other than the facts of 1 through 7 above, nothing is going to change nor added to what I reported. Pretty cut and dry IMO.

At this point, I can't even remember how many doors the car had (2 or 4 door), have no clue who the guy was that stopped, nor can't even remember the lady or where the fire was in the car, other than thinking it was the engine (and I could be wrong there).

I phoned in a crime, and the state police verified that it did happen, apparently arrested the person and take my statement. Should be enough IMO as this isn't a murder who done it case.

 

[Boss 302]

Book em Danno!

 

[Hay Dude]

I don't disagree with you, but it's just like I told the DA.

1 - Red car hit church van
2 - Red car stayed in parking lot for 10-15 minutes with another guy out of his car talking with the lady (no clue at this point what she looked like).
3 - Red car left, I couldn't believe it, so I pulled out of the parking lot to follow.
4 - Car caught on fire somewhere, couldn't believe it.
5- Followed car so many miles on back road to driveway where it pulled into (out of sight from the road, did not follow).
6 - Call 911, took troopers an hour to get to end of driveway where I was waiting.
7 - Troopers took my statement.

Now, if I called it in, and the description of the vehicle looked like I told them and they saw the damage of the church van (about 3 miles away), the red car had white paint (from the church van I would assume) and the lady apparently didn't pass a sobriety test, I'm sorry, other than the facts of 1 through 7 above, nothing is going to change nor added to what I reported. Pretty cut and dry IMO.

At this point, I can't even remember how many doors the car had (2 or 4 door), have no clue who the guy was that stopped, nor can't even remember the lady or where the fire was in the car, other than thinking it was the engine (and I could be wrong there).

I phoned in a crime, and the state police verified that it did happen, apparently arrested the person and take my statement. Should be enough IMO as this isn't a murder who done it case.

Its cut and dried, yeah. The seriousness of the charge by the DA against the defendant is not. The simple act of you showing up I to give testimony adds to the seriousness of the nature of the charges and helps make their case.
Look at it this way, if the DA presented testimony from you as “Joe Blow called and said X-Y-Z” then it wouldnt carry the weight of hauling your butt downtown and giving testimony in person.