Drink driving...

[ummmm]

Writing a car off. No insurance. No license. Ran from the scene. Has previous for the same offence (and others I think)

The owner of the car has said they have until tomorrow to hand themselves in.

That is all the details I have at the moment.

So, if he hands himself in what, of those offences, will he be charged with? Do they take the previous into consideration? (I'm presuming the DD can't be proved if he still hasn't been caught?)

[Zacs-Master]

Surely up to the police not he carbowner to say when they should hand themselves in. Sorry, bit befuddled.

[Zacs-Master]

Damn, ' not the car owner'

[ummmm]

If he doesn't hand himself in, the car owner, who obviously knew who was driving, will go to the police.

[ummmm]

I think the car owner is trying to be nice and giving him a chance to do the decent thing.

[karenmac60]

Dunno, but he probably won't get much Ummmm. I got run over by a drunk driver who had no licence, no MOT, no insurance, left the scene, kicked up hell when he was arrested (his mum turned him in) and was charged in all on 8 different counts. He got a £1400 fine that he was allowed to pay up and a nine month ban - which didn't really matter since he didn't have a licence anyway. None of the charges related to him running me over btw - he'd have got the same for hitting a parked car.

[ummmm]

That's bad Karen...!!! :-(

[karenmac60]

It's shocking ummmm, the way the law treats crimes against people versus crimes against property disgusts me. There's very little value put on life, but do something that leaves someone out of pocket and it's a different story.

[ummmm]

I got knocked over on a pedestrian crossing....8.30am...by someone who was using his phone. I know he got a 2 year ban...not sure about the fine. He was insured!!!

[karenmac60]

This is why I always get ticked off when people class driving offences as not being real crimes or the government's way of getting more money. Folk forget how lethal a car can be - they'd never use a chainsaw while drunk/texting/not paying proper attention, but a car can be a helluva lot more dangerous.

[Andyvon]

My wife was hit by a stolen car when she was walking along the pavement years ago and no one ever answered for that. The driver got out, looked at my wife, then just drove off again. The two witnesses were too far away to be reliable and the 15 year old regular car thief who the police were sure was the driver denied it was him. Perhaps it wasn't. However, my wife has needed full time care from me ever since.

My mother and stepfather were in the police years ago and I asked this a few times. How can someone who commits lots of motoring offences just walk out of court with a few paltry fines? The answer was always that income has to be taken into account and if the person isn't working and has just a few pounds a week coming in they won't be fined as much as someone who can afford more.

I remember a case that hit the national headlines near here at Beaconsfield in 1987. A man hit a gypsy girl walking along a road one night carrying a baby. The man left the girl in the ditch and drove off with the baby on the front seat. Three miles away he threw the dead baby over a hedge into a field then went home. The girl was found next morning with broken legs and a broken back and the baby was found later. There was a nationwide search and the driver came forward a week later. He'd tucked the dmamaged and bloody car away in a lock-up.
The driver had no licence, MoT, tax or insurance and he admitted to being drunk at the time. He said he thought he'd hit a deer and the baby on the seat was a bundle of rags which he threw away. He walked out of court with a £100 fine! When I asked my mother why, it was because they couldn't prove he was drunk, there were no witnesses so they had to take his word for everything and he wasn't working so he was fined minimal amounts! I had to appear in the same court a week later for my only ever court appearance (for speeding) and I was fined £150!

I wouldn't be surprised if the individual involved here Ummm ends up paying a pittance on the same basis. If there's no proof then there's not too much that can be done.

[New Judge]

Of course before any charges are to be brought there is the small matter that there has to be some evidence that the alleged miscreant was actually driving.

[Andyvon]

That's perfectly true NewJudge. When the police were insisting they knew it was X was driving the car but he wouldn't admit it - I've always thought that perhaps he wasn't! Although he was a regular car thief perhaps that time it wasn't him. The same with Ummm's question.

[ummmm]

Hmmm....I don't want to go back with that Q NJ. My intention of this thread is not to try and get him off it..!

He's not long off tag...he's not learning a lesson!!

[ummmm]

He was driving Andy....

[Andyvon]

If there's proof then Ummm I hope he gets whatever he deserves. Unfortunately, people like that aren't taught lessons by this society. We have what's classed as a 'free society' - but it's only a society that gives freedom to those who want to break the rules. When repeat offenders sneer, walk out of court laughing, then continue to prey on the law-abiding members of the community there is something very wrong with the society that allows that.

[ummmm]

Yes...I agree Andy. Apparently no one seen him take the car...no one seen him crash the car!!!

Would they go by finger prints?

[Andyvon]

I think experienced rogues know all about gloves and 'dabs' Ummm. There could be DNA and other advanced forensic tests now but they are very time consuming and expensive. Most police forces just wouldn't consider it an efficient use of resources.

[ummmm]

Would it make a difference if he just waited for the police to come to him?

He does work full time...so he won't be hard to find.

[Andyvon]

Without knowing many details it seems that the car owner is being particularly generous in giving this individual time to hand themselves in. I suppose the police will eventually visit the owner and/or the driver when time and paperwork allow. The owner must make sure they are in the clear of course. If it were me I would be inclined to wait for the police to come to me but without really knowing any details I can't say much more.

[exdc]

What does the owner of the vehicle intend saying to the police being as the driver had no licence / insurance etc?