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  1. #1

    Default Golf Cart Accident in Catalina Island

    My question involves an injury that occurred in the state of: california

    I was vacationing in Catalina Island, city of Avalon in the Hamilton Cove private condominum community in November of last year, thanksgiving weekend. We rented golf carts from the rental community as that is the only way to get around town. We didn't read all the golf cart restrictions, and it seemed like a very safe thing to drive, and in the spririt of holiday adventure, I let my mother-in-law drive the golf cart I rented. I was in the passenger seat, and she was driving the vehicle. Also, she lives in India, was visiting us, and does not have a driver's license in this country. She got into an accident with the golf cart veering off into the left side embankment, slid down the slope and ran into a barbecue stand at a picnic spot. There was some damage to the golf cart, and very minor injury to her. I was not injured. Immediately, the rental agency supervisor showed up, and insisted on getting the Sheriff to come and file a case report.

    When the Sheriff arrived, I panicked since I allowed a person without a license to operate the golf cart. I filed a false report to the officer that I was riding the vehicle and that I'll take care of fixing the damage to the vehicle. I thought everything was fine and that with me taking care of the financial responsibility everything would be fine. However, the next day, the Sheriff came by and asked my other members of my family to have both me and my mother-in-law to come to the police office - I was not home then. When I went there, I suspected something was wrong, so when the Sheriff's supervisor asked me what happened, I admitted that I filed a false report, I asked for forgivenness, and that I will take care of the damage, and that the whole thing was a vacation adventure all gone wrong.

    The officer listened to me patiently, and myself, my mother-in-law and my wife's brother listened to his advice and statement patiently in a very cordial and pleading way. In anycase, the officer insisted on giving me a citation for both allowing an unlicensed person to drive as well as filing a false report. When I got the citation, I have the code 14604A 29 code and my mother-in-law has code 12500A 29.

    I do not have the citation for filing a false report - I've been most afraid of getting a misdemeaner charge on my criminal record. How can I confirm what the actual charges are, and what can I do to plead guilty and not have the misdemeaner recorded on record?

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Golf Cart Accident in Catalina Island

    Where are you from?

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Golf Cart Accident in Catalina Island

    Quote Quoting cataliona2010
    View Post
    How can I confirm what the actual charges are...
    You mean, what is VC 14604(a)?
    Quote Quoting VC Section 14604. Use of a Vehicle by an Unlicensed Driver Owner s Duty
    (a) No owner of a motor vehicle may knowingly allow another person to drive the vehicle upon a highway unless the owner determines that the person possesses a valid driver's license that authorizes the person to operate the vehicle. For the purposes of this section, an owner is required only to make a reasonable effort or inquiry to determine whether the prospective driver possesses a valid driver's license before allowing him or her to operate the owner's vehicle. An owner is not required to inquire of the department whether the prospective driver possesses a valid driver's license.

    (b) A rental company is deemed to be in compliance with subdivision (a) if the company rents the vehicle in accordance with Sections 14608 and 14609.
    Quote Quoting cataliona2010
    View Post
    and what can I do to plead guilty and not have the misdemeaner recorded on record?
    I would suggest consulting a Las Angeles County lawyer about the charges, and to have your lawyer try to work out a resolution that avoids a conviction.

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