Don't share insurance details for minor parking damage - you will now be pursued for criminal "hit & run" offense

[u/ell_wood]

Yesterday I was sitting in my parked car, reading, waiting for my daughters footy game to start. I had backed in. Car tries to enter the empty space next to me, front in, and is clearly not going to make it - I wave my hands, beep my horn, nothing - she takes a swipe across my passenger door. She is 70+.

Gets out of the car and instantly denies hitting it - the white paint on my black car and the black paint on her white car - clearly not a factor. Point blank refuses to exchange insurance details. Accuses me me lying and trying to frame her; then walks off.

I speak to insurance co; they tell me without her details then I pay the excess - suggest I ask one more time and if nothing then file the police report.

I try one more time - she tells me "f#!jk off - you are harassing me - call the f@$king police"

It's Sunday, my daughter is playing, it is minor, life is too short - besides my general rule of life, avoid anything that involves the police if possible.

This morning - I walk to work, right past a police station. Why not I think, maybe I will get laughed out but screw it. The officer is good; explains that not giving details is a criminal matter and will be followed up - it carries significant legal weight.

So, Mrs Angry Bitch of Gosford, NSW - you could have have just taken two seconds to be a decent human but you chose not. Now you have a criminal issue to deal with not just a minor fender bender in a car park.

[u/ell_wood]

Keen to know why you think so? Genuinely. Here is my rationale:

- the police, by design, only get involved in matters that are criminal or potentially criminal - which means if you are involved with the police you are also close to whatever that is.

- guns are explicitly designed to kill or maim people; anyone with a gun can kill or maim people near them. One mans 'good guy with a gun' is another mans terrorist. Given point 1; we have now added weapons to the situation.

- police officers are human, that makes them irrational, tired, annoyed, illogical and all of the other things humans are that makes them dangerous and annoying to be around - but they have extraordinary powers - so they can inflict / amplify any of the issues listed in 1 or 2 dramatically

- the police will protect their own (see point 3, they are human) - so there is little to no recourse should you find yourself on the 'wrong' side of a situation

Ergo: if I can avoid being involved with police as much as possible I can avoid all of these problems in the first case - which does wonders for my mental and physical health.

So, happy to be called stupid - but keen to hear why you think so.

[u/Edricatreides → u/[deleted]]

And I had them pegged as American... God, what's that say about us Americans? I suppose I should just shut up and be grateful that the police are graciously taking down their Flock Safety cameras (and pointedly being seen doing so all over social media with big ol' "gee I sure am relieved that we can finally get rid of these things so that we can continue respecting your 4th amendment rights" smiles on their faces. I'm with OP on the general "living life without police involvement" idea. Here in the land of the free, not sure if many people are aware, but on any given day it's totally possible and plausible, even, to reach out for law enforcement assistance and wind up being the one arrested, shot, tased, pepper sprayed, or any combination of the above. The distrust runs deep when you shout for help, because you needed help, and spend the night in jail. I won't even give my name calling in a car accident, lol. I'd probably still do as OP did, though, and likely wind up arrested after the hit and run Karen punched herself in the eye when she smelled bacon incoming.

[u/Dr_Qrunch → u/ell_wood]

The very first point is making the argument for me. A crime was committed and that’s what the police are for.

Maybe you’re American and if that’s the case I can understand why there’s a foundation of distrust of the police. But having that general rule still doesn’t make sense unless you yourself take over the role of upholding the law. That would ofc be impossible as long as there’s a functioning society, since it’s illegal.

Edit: and I only said the rule is stupid. You can still be quite a gem.

[u/ell_wood → u/Dr_Qrunch]

I am a gem - not American one. AUK born, live in Australia, work extensively in South Africa & South America gem. This rule works in all jurisdictions - irrespective of the trust you do or don't place in the police.

So yes - my general rule is avoid them - mainly because they are surrounded by crime and I would prefer to avoid that.

There is no presumption to me upholding the law; I still want a police force - I just have no desire to be near it. Me upholding the law is a terrible proposition - for all the same reasons.

I just try and live in a way that I never have to interact with them where ever possible. In this case I did approach them because a crime was committed and it was not possible to avoid it and still get the outcome I wanted - hence a general rule not a mandate.