<p>Agree that S should say nothing to police. It CAN’T help and will hurt him. Agree with Consolation’s post above. </p>
<p>If someone was on my lawn in wee hours of the morning and driving erratically, I would call the police as well. Glad no one was hurt. </p>
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+1 on Consolation’s post here, too.</p>
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<p>Since that’s entirely hearsay (all the dad could testify to is that the daughter told him that the neighbors son was drinking and driving) and since even if the daughter testifies, it’s not very reliable (she was intoxicated herself, and it’s not like they took a breathalyzer before they went, she can’t say for sure he was over the legal limit) I don’t see how they could charge him. What did they do?</p>
<p>My point about being forthcoming with the police was regarding who was driving and the details of the accident. If they decide to pursue this they will want to question whomever he said was driving. So yes, he needs to get his story straight.</p>
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<p>How did the cops even know to show up at your house? </p>
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<p>I don’t know, is it really… I had an experience where I had a minor accident with no injuries and only minor damages to my car, no one else involved, I called 911 to ask if I even needed to report it, they said yes and they would send someone over. 2 hours later with no one having showed up, they called and said no one was coming and not to worry about it. This was years ago and I’ve never heard anything since that. </p>
<p>Another time I got rear-ended with some very minor damage (punctured bumper). We pulled over, the guy gave me $200, we went on our ways. No cops or insurance involved. I couldn’t imagine bothering with calling the cops for something silly like that. Especially because this was in Indiana and I had Michigan plates and the other guy had Minnesota plates. </p>
<p>Dealing with cops is a big hassle for everyone involved for stupid stuff like this. </p>
<p>It’s always been my policy to just sleep it off wherever I am unless someone is completely sober and can drive me home in their car. I’ll go back and get my car the next day. Even if I get a parking ticket, it’s a lot better than getting a DUI, or a friend getting a DUI. </p>
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<p>If he was driving it probably is better to refuse to divulge any information. If that’s the case, they’re not going to be able to charge him with DUI, the worst they could do is fleeing the scene of an accident if the neighbor saw </p>
<p>First of all, we haven’t yet heard all the details. Are these underage kids? Where were they? Who supplied the alcohol? If they are under age, the cops could be aggressive if they chose. And its not hearsay- there were several people involved- the son, the girl, the person who drove the girl home, etc. They all know who was drinking. Agree that they should get an attorney and not say anything without an attorney present, but they should NOT lie to the police. Nothing good comes of that. And if the neighbor called the cops, there is a report. And in this day and age of cameras , there could be surveillance video from someone’s porch, a cellphone photo, etc. So best that the kiddo NOT lie about who was behind the wheel. Maybe the neighbors SAW who was behind the wheel. Maybe the kids got out and changed places, who knows. Obviously the neighbors knew who this was and whose car tore up their lawn, as the police showed up at the right door. So, it is important NOT to lie. Again better to say they dont remember , and definitely, DEFINITELY call an attorney before saying another word to the cops. This could be nothing, or it could get very ugly.</p>
<p>*** maybe there is no “girl” or other driver to take the girl home. Maybe he was alone.</p>
<p>typo</p>
<p>“fleeing the scene of an accident if the neighbor saw”</p>
<p>Since this happened in the middle of night, if he drove on someone’s grass, is he supposed to leave a note? </p>
<p>I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had tire marks on my lawn (from the lawn guy, repair people, whoever). No one has ever “left a note.”</p>
<p>I thought OP said when the police officer showed up at 4:30 a.m. her son spoke to him but was “drunk and half asleep.” So was it obvious to the officer that he was intoxicated?</p>
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<p>Maybe, but it’s pretty irrelevant because no one can say he didn’t drink after getting home.</p>
<p>Just to clarify, any one can look up their own state or wherever an accident occurs:</p>
<p>One state: “As used in this section, “reportable accident” means an accident on a public way or a place where public traffic may reasonably be anticipated, resulting in bodily injury or death to a person or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more. Apparent property damage under this subsection must be based upon the market value of the necessary repairs and may not be limited to the current value of the vehicle or property.”</p>
<p>NJ: "Accidents happen. When one happens to you, New Jersey requires that you report it if it involves injury, death, or over $500 worth of damage to vehicles or property.</p>
<p>If law enforcement is not called to the accident scene and property damage was the only result, you’ll need to send a letter to your local Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) Agency within 10 days of the accident, stating the circumstances and providing as much information as possible.</p>
<p>You’ll also need to notify your insurance agent."</p>
<p>That;s an example of how it’s worded.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry the OP is going through this and do hope she’ll come back on and provide an update when able. The important thing is that no one was injured. Huge teachable moment here.</p>
<p>Regarding whether or not an accident is reportable, I’ve had a police officer tell me that, as long as no one is injured and the parties exchange information (not as relevant here with only one party present), calling the police is not necessary. The officer indicated they just aren’t staffed to respond to minor (non-injury) accidents. I just looked up the law in my state (CA) and it’s not quite as clear as the officer conveyed to me:</p>
<p>“Report the collision by completing a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR 1) to the DMV within 10 days if there is more than $750 in damage to the property of any person, or anyone is injured (no matter how slightly) or killed.”</p>
<p>I believe this happens as part of the process when a claim is filed with an insurance company as I have never completed an SR 1. Having said that, if the parties agree to not go through insurance, I assume the accidents are rarely reported.</p>
<p>With the OP’s son, in hindsight, he (the girl?) should have left a note on the neighbor’s porch/door if actual damage was done to the property but, as she describes it, I can imagine that was not on their radar at that moment.</p>
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<p>Indeed, if the police want to pursue this, they will need to know who was driving. And the OP’s son is under no obligation to tell them. The police can investigate all they want, but neither the OP’s son, nor anyone else who was involved, needs to help them.</p>
<p>Everyone here seems to be agreed that the OP’s son needs to take responsibility for the damage to the truck. But how exactly does it help him to get himself, or one of his friends, arrested?</p>
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<p>He has no obligation to tell them. But if he does tell them, which apparently he has done, he has the obligation to tell the truth. And if he lied, he has the obligation to correct the lie.</p>
<p>The police could easily put this one at the bottom of their pile. However if you **** them off they will be less inclined to do so. No one is saying that the boy should admit to being intoxicated, but who was driving the vehicle is a basic question that they will expect an honest answer to. Declining to answer such a question will only make them more adamant about getting to the bottom of the whole thing. Police officers usually will not accept being dismissed like that. They’ll just want to nail him.</p>
<p>In my experience pulling a “chris christie I know nothing” is one sure way to get the spotlight shining on you.</p>
<p>Didn’t the OP already say that he talked to the police. I thought he told the police the girl was driving but he wouldn’t disclose her identity, which aggravated the cop. Not a good start.</p>
<p>I’d say it’s time to talk to an attorney before your S sees or speaks with the police again. That is what I would do, no question. </p>
<p>The common sense way to tell if your son was driving is to go out to the truck, sit in the driver seat, and see if you as a woman can see the mirrors and touch the pedals. A female would have adjusted the mirrors and seat unless your son is 5’5".</p>
<p>Would you not have heard another car open and shut its door if another car had followed him to pick up the female driver? </p>
<p>Personally I would have a huge problem if he lied.</p>
<p>IMO the people here calling police officers “cops” and suggesting that you foot the bill for a lawyer are enablers. I’m not saying that about you, OP. Do you folks know the origin of “cops” and that it is an insult and usually criminal vernacular?</p>
<p>It sounds as if your neighbor saw or heard the accident and called the police. The truck is probably easily recognized. If your son took driver’s ed he knows what he is supposed to do in an accident. Leaving the scene is evidence that he or she had something to hide.</p>
<p>My three teenagers have not done anything similar but I can promise that we have discussed hypotheticals if/when they come home drunk, have an accident, allow someone else to drive their vehicle. My kids are no better than yours but they had to sign parent/child contracts to get their licenses.</p>
<p>You didn’t tell us your son’s age. If he’s 21 it’s okay for him to drink but not drink and drive. If my child is under 21 and I catch them drinking they will lose their car. Our state makes it very easy for a parent to withdraw a driver age 16-18’s driver’s license. </p>
<p>You originally posted at 2:40 a.m. The times on this forum are somewhat wonky at times, but did he come home past 2:00 a.m. on a school night? Again, if he’s an adult, that’s one thing but if he’s in high school that’s way out of bounds. In my county he would be arrested for a curfew violation.</p>
<p>Osprey, calm down. Using the term, “cop” is not an insult. No one is an enabler. Talking to a lawyer is entirely sensible. You need to get off your soapbox.</p>
<p>The son did a minimal amount of damage to the neighbor’s yard. If he owns up for the damage he/his friend did and was TRUTHFUL why would he need a lawyer @$330/hour?</p>
<p><a href=“need legal advice...leaving the scene??? - Parent Cafe - College Confidential Forums”>need legal advice...leaving the scene??? - Parent Cafe - College Confidential Forums;
<p>Reread the thread. How do you know it was minimal? Wasn’t there damage to a publicly-owned utility pole?</p>