Investigated for Hit-and-Run When Somebody Else Was Driving
My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Los Angeles, California
Drove across the country from Ohio to Los Angeles for a one time audition. My friend drove my car and will be driving my car back (I am suspended and do not have insurance). A week ago my car was parked in an ally with no cameras, I was outside with said friend when we saw a truck back into the front of my car. The guy in the truck and I exchanged information and we both mutually agreed to not go through the police or our insurance. No significant damage was dealt, not even scratched paint.
A week later a deputy left me a message, "Yeah I got a guy here who says, I guess, last week you hit the back of his truck on the highway and agreed to pay him last Friday and didn't show up to his house with 1,900$ to fix it privately. Get back to me or him soon before I have to write up a report on you for a hit and run."
I verified that the officer was real, but he wasn't in the office when I called to speak to him directly. I'll call him back with the truth tomorrow, which is I absolutely did not hit him on the highway - because I wasn't driving - and I wasn't on a highway when this collision occurred.
When the police officer hears this conflicting story, I shouldn't be charged with a crime right? What would the officer likely suggest to both parties involved or what would the officers next step be? I mean this other guy could always sue me, but there will be no grounds for that and I'm pretty sure he will have to fly to Ohio to sue me right? Thank guys.
Re: Will I Be Fine Under the Eyes of the Law
You already have a thread about this situation. Just ask any new questions you have in that thread.
Re: Investigated for Hit-and-Run When Somebody Else Was Driving
It really doesn't matter if your friend was driving the car at other times. Your story is that the car was parked at the time of the accident. Nobody here can promise that the officer will believe you but, as has already been explained to you, under your version of events you met your obligations under VC 20002 even if you were a driver. As you describe the officer as agreeing that you met your statutory duties, even if he does not fully understand the hit-and-run statute, there would be no case to be made under VC 20002.