Hit-And-Run Laws in Missouri

[jypsy_rose_lee]

I was wondering if a hit and run is a felony in Missouri? My son didn't know that he had back out and hit another car until he went to get something out of his trunk, he then went and made a police report with in 24 hours.He was givin a date to appear in court. He was due to be off probation in Feb of this year, I'm wondering if this is a felony, and if it is then does the probation office concider trafic violations a violation of probation?
My son went to the store where the car was at, and found the employee who owned it. The employee didn't seem upset there was just a small dent in the bumper. Thank you!

[lwpat]

I fail to see how this is a hit and run. He notified the owner and made a police report. Since this was on private property I don't see why any charges were filed. Have you paid to get the car repaired? If so get a full notarized release from the owner and take it to court.

[aaron]

The statute provides that it could be either - your son should be able to get clarification from his probation officer.

1. A person commits the crime of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident when being the operator or driver of a vehicle on the highway or on any publicly or privately owned parking lot or parking facility generally open for use by the public and knowing that an injury has been caused to a person or damage has been caused to property, due to his culpability or to accident, he leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident without stopping and giving his name, residence, including city and street number, motor vehicle number and driver's license number, if any, to the injured party or to a police officer, or if no police officer is in the vicinity, then to the nearest police station or judicial officer.

2. For the purposes of this section, all peace officers shall have jurisdiction, when invited by an injured person, to enter the premises of any privately owned parking lot or parking facility for the purpose of investigating an accident and performing all necessary duties regarding such accident.

3. Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident is a class A misdemeanor, except that it shall be a class D felony if the accident resulted in:

(1) Physical injury to another party; or

(2) Property damage in excess of one thousand dollars; or

(3) If the defendant has previously pled guilty to or been found guilty of a violation of this section.

[seniorjudge]

Q: does the probation office concider trafic violations a violation of probation?

A: Generally, yes.

[aaron]

I was assuming above that he is on probation for the hit-and-run. If he's on probation for another offense and is charged with hit-and-run, he should get help from a criminal defense lawyer.

[lwpat]

he leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident without stopping and giving his name, residence, including city and street number, motor vehicle number and driver's license number, if any, to the injured party or to a police officer, or if no police officer is in the vicinity, then to the nearest police station or judicial officer.

I still don't see how this is a hit and run? According to the OP, he complied with the law.

[jypsy_rose_lee]

Thank you for your replies! My was son placed on probation five years ago for stealing. Neither of the vehical owners wanted to have charges filed, but I would say that they were filed. He reported the accident nine hours later. As his mother I'm wondering how anyone can hit a car, and not know you hit something, unless he did know, but thought he hit something else like a pole or shopping cart.

[seniorjudge]

I still don't see how this is a hit and run? According to the OP, he complied with the law.

...
1. A person commits the crime of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident when being the operator or driver of a vehicle on the highway or on any publicly or privately owned parking lot or parking facility generally open for use by the public and knowing that an injury has been caused to a person or damage has been caused to property, due to his culpability or to accident, he leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident without stopping and giving his name, residence, including city and street number, motor vehicle number and driver's license number, if any, to the injured party or to a police officer, or if no police officer is in the vicinity, then to the nearest police station or judicial officer.
....


...My son didn't know that he had back out and hit another car until he went to get something out of his trunk, he then went and made a police report with in 24 hours....

Sounds like he violated the statute.

[aaron]

I think lwpat's emphasis was on "knowing that an injury has been caused to a person or damage has been caused to property".

There are reasons why something like this could result in charges. Without knowing more all we can do is guess.