What would you have done?
Discussion
Sorry folks, may be a long one!
Last night, about 10.40pm, Chris and I are in the garage working on the M, when from outside there is this screech followed by an almighty crash. We heard a couple of cars approaching at a bit of a pace beforehand, so ran out thinking there would be two cars. Turns out its just the one, an E plate Orion that's gone sideways into a lampost on the main road through our estate.
Now, it was damp, but wasn't raining then, so he must have been coming at a hell of a pace to lose the back end. He's managed to turn the car sideways, and swing it into a lampost just behind the NSR wheel. The shock of the thing caused the lamp at the top of the post to shatter, dropping debris all over the road. The car itself was a hell of a mess, the dent went in somewhere between 12 and 18 inches, bits of bumper and light all over the shop too.
I went straight round to see if the driver was ok, he was just sat in the drivers seat, in a bit of a state of shock, he took the seatbelt off, and I took the keys out of the ignition as he got out. He said he was ok, but looked a little glazed and wobbly, as you may well do after an impact like that, or as you might do if you had just come from the pub up the road...
Chris called 999, because of our suspicions and the debris on the road, but was told because the car wasn't blocking the whole road, they couldn't send someone out. In the meantime, matey boy had insisted he had to get the car somewhere, as it wasn't his, but his cousin lived nearby.
By this time there are a couple of other people about, and the kid is getting more and more wound up and jumpy. I call directory enquiries, get the number of Leighton Buzzard police station, and speak to someone there, who apparently dispatches someone immediately. As I was on the phone, he gets back into the car, and steers to make it look as if he's coming into my road, when he just turns back out of it and accelerates away, lights off, not sounding good! How it drove at all is beyond me.
I gave the number plate to the operator on the phone, and she took my details.
The whole nature of this doesn't seem right to me - was he underage? He seemed 17-18 to me, maybe a little younger. Was he insured, taxed, drunk, had he stolen the car? Who knows. But what would you have done in that situation. No-one really wanted to hold on to his keys, as I've heard in the past of people getting charged with some form of theft of whatever, but considering the circumstances, and the fact that he must have been doing 50-60mph in a 30 limit to lose it like that puts doubts into my mind.
What thinketh the jury?
Cheers,
Tony
Last night, about 10.40pm, Chris and I are in the garage working on the M, when from outside there is this screech followed by an almighty crash. We heard a couple of cars approaching at a bit of a pace beforehand, so ran out thinking there would be two cars. Turns out its just the one, an E plate Orion that's gone sideways into a lampost on the main road through our estate.
Now, it was damp, but wasn't raining then, so he must have been coming at a hell of a pace to lose the back end. He's managed to turn the car sideways, and swing it into a lampost just behind the NSR wheel. The shock of the thing caused the lamp at the top of the post to shatter, dropping debris all over the road. The car itself was a hell of a mess, the dent went in somewhere between 12 and 18 inches, bits of bumper and light all over the shop too.
I went straight round to see if the driver was ok, he was just sat in the drivers seat, in a bit of a state of shock, he took the seatbelt off, and I took the keys out of the ignition as he got out. He said he was ok, but looked a little glazed and wobbly, as you may well do after an impact like that, or as you might do if you had just come from the pub up the road...
Chris called 999, because of our suspicions and the debris on the road, but was told because the car wasn't blocking the whole road, they couldn't send someone out. In the meantime, matey boy had insisted he had to get the car somewhere, as it wasn't his, but his cousin lived nearby.
By this time there are a couple of other people about, and the kid is getting more and more wound up and jumpy. I call directory enquiries, get the number of Leighton Buzzard police station, and speak to someone there, who apparently dispatches someone immediately. As I was on the phone, he gets back into the car, and steers to make it look as if he's coming into my road, when he just turns back out of it and accelerates away, lights off, not sounding good! How it drove at all is beyond me.
I gave the number plate to the operator on the phone, and she took my details.
The whole nature of this doesn't seem right to me - was he underage? He seemed 17-18 to me, maybe a little younger. Was he insured, taxed, drunk, had he stolen the car? Who knows. But what would you have done in that situation. No-one really wanted to hold on to his keys, as I've heard in the past of people getting charged with some form of theft of whatever, but considering the circumstances, and the fact that he must have been doing 50-60mph in a 30 limit to lose it like that puts doubts into my mind.
What thinketh the jury?
Cheers,
Tony
You did the right thing IMHO all things considered. The cops have the plate, so they can trace the owner and see the car, then trace the driver and go from there....
Holding onto the keys you might have gotten away with as you could claim you were trying to prevent a crime (i.e. suspected Drink Driver) but I would not have kept the keys either just in case you did not get away with it.. Madcop??
Holding onto the keys you might have gotten away with as you could claim you were trying to prevent a crime (i.e. suspected Drink Driver) but I would not have kept the keys either just in case you did not get away with it.. Madcop??
Just been and taken a photo of the scene - the car was coming from the direction of the RAV4, and hit the lampost nearest the camera, with the debris underneath it. He actually mounted the curb about 15m up the road from the post - it's a wonder he didn't roll it!
>> Edited by bigtone on Saturday 23 November 14:22
>> Edited by bigtone on Saturday 23 November 14:22
Could have thrown the keys into the brush to give the local constabulary time to arrive...
"Gee, I had them here just a minute ago, but with all the excitement..."
I don't know the laws in the UK, but if that had happened in my neighborhood here in FL, USA, and there were several witnesses to the scene, we would have held him for the police. In circumstances such as this (public property damage plus dangerous driving plus suspected driving under the influence), citizens do have the power of detention (especially if it happens in a neighborhood with a "watch" program which I am part of...)
ErnestM
"Gee, I had them here just a minute ago, but with all the excitement..."
I don't know the laws in the UK, but if that had happened in my neighborhood here in FL, USA, and there were several witnesses to the scene, we would have held him for the police. In circumstances such as this (public property damage plus dangerous driving plus suspected driving under the influence), citizens do have the power of detention (especially if it happens in a neighborhood with a "watch" program which I am part of...)
ErnestM
I can't see holding onto the keys as a problem. Its not theft if you had no intention of not returning, and you never drove the car so end of story. Throwing the keys into a lake or a bush you can't be done for as far as I am aware, but would still like to hear madcops view as to that as confirmation.
Well it seems that something has happened - I called Beds Council this morning to let them know the lampost wasn't working (phone number and reference strapped to the side of it), to be told they already knew, and had dispatched engineers to remove the fuse and clear debris over the weekend. I explained the police were called, and they already knew that too - maybe progress was made afterall!
Not sure if this has been mentioned previously but the police will look into this - they do take these things fairly serious (except if they have to go around escorting those laughable Green Goddesses around all the bloody time!). They can work out the paint of the car and compare it with the actual car - taking into accout they have the number plate....
Whether they get a conviction is debatable, but it will certainly shake up the scrote enough to make him think twice (wishful thinking?). They know where he lives, what the car is and where the accident was - and they have proof of the car being there..... even if it is fixed..... So pretty damning really....
Personally think you did the right thing though. Taking the keys is a good idea, but lets be honest, you just dont know these days and the police are best equiped to cope with these situations...No harm done...
Oh, and on a similar note, a local paper van back home at my mums crashed into the lampost outside her house. Council chased down the company and the individual to make them pay.... they originally tried to deny it, but considering they failed to hide the badly smashed Sherpa van, they kinda gave the game away.... And the person driving did pay, the full amount too.... And that is from a labour council too..... Good though, one of the rare things they have done right in Middlesbrough....
Cheers,
Paul
Whether they get a conviction is debatable, but it will certainly shake up the scrote enough to make him think twice (wishful thinking?). They know where he lives, what the car is and where the accident was - and they have proof of the car being there..... even if it is fixed..... So pretty damning really....
Personally think you did the right thing though. Taking the keys is a good idea, but lets be honest, you just dont know these days and the police are best equiped to cope with these situations...No harm done...
Oh, and on a similar note, a local paper van back home at my mums crashed into the lampost outside her house. Council chased down the company and the individual to make them pay.... they originally tried to deny it, but considering they failed to hide the badly smashed Sherpa van, they kinda gave the game away.... And the person driving did pay, the full amount too.... And that is from a labour council too..... Good though, one of the rare things they have done right in Middlesbrough....
Cheers,
Paul
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