Another Officer Hit and Run

[WannaBeaChippie]

HAYWARD ? A California Highway Patrol officer was hurt helping a stranded driver on northbound Interstate 880 when a hit-and-run driver struck an idling patrol car, according to CHP reports.

Two officers were standing near the front-right side of their patrol car at 2:16 a.m., making plans to transport the disabled vehicle when what officers described as a green Nissan Pathfinder hit the left side of their car, pushing it forward and striking one of the officers, according to CHP.

The injured officer was treated and released at Saint Rose Hospital for a moderate back injury, CHP said. The officer's name wasn't available Sunday.

CHP is looking for the driver of the Pathfinder. Anyone with information is asked to call authorities immediately at (800) TELL-CHP.

[AyatollahGondola]

Does anyone here believe that hit and run is on the rise in general?
And does anyone here believe that extending the licensed driver privilidge to illegal aliens would cut down on hit and run?
I do understand that this particular incident is not known to be related to an un-licensed driver at present.

[1982]

I doubt that giving illegal immigrants licenses would help. First of all even if they had a license that doesn't mean they have insurance, think about how much medical cost are if you are uninsured so if you hit someone that is going to cost you a lot out of pocket. Second and most importantly, DUI. Regardless if you have a license if you are drunk you probably don't want to go to jail, pay thousands of dollars, do community service and have your license suspended. Look at the time of this collision, 2:16 am. I would be much more apt to believe a drunk caused that collision at that hour. But to answer your original question, I don't believe giving illegal immigrants licenses would cut down on hit and runs.

[WannaBeaChippie]

Does anyone here believe that hit and run is on the rise in general?
And does anyone here believe that extending the licensed driver privilidge to illegal aliens would cut down on hit and run?
I do understand that this particular incident is not known to be related to an un-licensed driver at present.I think that the hit and run statistics are on the rise..especially in this state alone. In 2001 the hit and run percentage increased 19% from 1999, that's a serious increase I believe I'd have to check the UCR for the stats in 2005. But, annually statistics show aleast 300 people are killed in Hit and Run Accidents in California, and to add to that alot of people flee the scene of the accident. That's a crime...and some of it comes from drivers being unlicensed, uninsured, DUI of alcohol or drugs. Some might even be operating stolen vehicles, whatever the case is it's on the rise and CHP officers are out on the road more than average, and they are exposed to more of whats happened above. It's scary...and very dangerous. This below is an old sfgate article on hit and runs, but it explains alot about the reasons these accidents occur.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/07/27/MN292165.DTL

[AyatollahGondola]

Well thanks for the link, although that article is over 3 years old I never saw it before and I did some hunting for them in the past. I can't imagine that anyone who had a propensity or reason to run from a TC would treat a LEO with any greater sense of compassion. Probably make them run faster and harder. I used to maintain a thread on our website called hit and run. the problem was that most of the calls do not provide for much info in the way of who or why. I mean, you can piece together some facts and draw some probable conclusions, but for the most part, the only statistics available to the public are numbers and areas. So I went to court and sat in on some calendars.

[WannaBeaChippie]

There was a hit and run today on an industrial highway...tss:biggrin:shock:ubt: it just keeps happening like a viscious cycle.



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/baycitynews/a/2006/12/13/hitrun13.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

[AyatollahGondola]

So what is the best solution to curtail hit and runs?
Or is there one?

[PapaBear]

So what is the best solution to curtail hit and runs?
Or is there one?

When you determine that hypothisis please publish it and we will all benefit from the end result. I personally know of no "best solution!" There are too many intrinsic factors that cause one to run after an accident - alcohol (too much), insurance (lack of), no driver's license, undocumented person(s), stolen vehicle, in the wrong area at the wrong time, fear, suspended license, unregistered vehicle, revoked driving priveleges, etc.

[AyatollahGondola]

That's what I figured too

[23112]

Does anyone here believe that hit and run is on the rise in general?
And does anyone here believe that extending the licensed driver privilidge to illegal aliens would cut down on hit and run?
I do understand that this particular incident is not known to be related to an un-licensed driver at present.

Screw giving illegals a license. They're all law-breakers, anway, because they don't come into this country in a lawful manner. That first unlawful act of illegal entry puts them in a position to break innumerable other laws: driving without a license, failure to pay taxes, failure to conduct business lawfully, ad infinitum... Citing them and taking their vehicles gets their names (or fake names, since identification is rarely presented) on paper and puts a kink, although temporary, in their plans. I think giving illegals licenses is a great way to say, "You already don't give a crap about our existing laws, so let's reward you with a privilege you shouldn't have in this country."

[WannaBeaChippie]

The hit and run rates can be reduced if the Move Over law could be enforced more efficiently, even if the law was included in the DMV driving tests...people would know that they have to move over, just like stopping at a stop sign.

Is there a law against cellphone usage while driving?

I just believe that the hit and run rates are high here in California because there are not enough rules to keep people in check. People in California drive really fast and they don't pay attention.

[23109]

Is there a law against cellphone usage while driving?
Effective July 1, 2008 there will be.

[CGMK]

I just believe that the hit and run rates are high here in California because there are not enough rules to keep people in check. People in California drive really fast and they don't pay attention.


Have you ever been to New York City? Here the maximum speed limit on any road is 50, you can't talk on your cell, no right on red, there are red light cameras everywhere, and so on. Do you really think more rules will "keep people in check" over there? Maybe stricter enforcement? I think new laws will be taken worth a grain of salt...just like out here. Any given past month I've seen more horrific accidents on my two mile commute to work; versus, all the wrecks I have come across in my 19 years in California . So basically, all these laws out here cannot fix stupid.


The day I flew out to take the written test, there was a whole mob of cops in front of my house. It turned out there was a city bus that wiped out four cars and left. The one day I park across the street and this happens. :cool: I feel lucky because my car has only been hit three times, and keyed once, in the last two years. N.Y. drivers are 20 times more whacked out than California drivers any day.

[Mac]

...I just believe that the hit and run rates are high here in California because there are not enough rules to keep people in check. People in California drive really fast and they don't pay attention.
1.) Laws and rules are only useful if people obey them. There's already a law against hit-and-run - but it doesn't stop people from doing it.

2.) "You can't legislate stupidity."

[bcjack]

Comedian Ron White says it all:

"You can't fix stupid"

[HD1]

Screw giving illegals a license. They're all law-breakers, anway, because they don't come into this country in a lawful manner. That first unlawful act of illegal entry puts them in a position to break innumerable other laws: driving without a license, failure to pay taxes, failure to conduct business lawfully, ad infinitum... Citing them and taking their vehicles gets their names (or fake names, since identification is rarely presented) on paper and puts a kink, although temporary, in their plans. I think giving illegals licenses is a great way to say, "You already don't give a crap about our existing laws, so let's reward you with a privilege you shouldn't have in this country."


Hmmm painting with a broad brush here???:shock: I know many "illegals" that pay taxes, work hard and conduct business lawfully??? You must know of others. While I don't advocate giving licenses to drive away like candy, I have seen my share of bad licensed drivers as well, as we cite them daily. Not to say that unlicensed drivers , whatever race they are, don't try my patience as they stop in the 1 lane and open the door?:hitwall: I would be very hesitant to blanket ALL illegals as hit and run drivers. My 2 cents:closed:

[gabriel]

Hmmm painting with a broad brush here???:shock: I know many "illegals" that pay taxes, work hard and conduct business lawfully??? You must know of others. While I don't advocate giving licenses to drive away like candy, I have seen my share of bad licensed drivers as well, as we cite them daily. Not to say that unlicensed drivers , whatever race they are, don't try my patience as they stop in the 1 lane and open the door?:hitwall: I would be very hesitant to blanket ALL illegals as hit and run drivers. My 2 cents:closed:

I agree, when I lived in San Diego I knew of many drivers who crossed the border legally to work and drove around San Diego conducting business. They too paid their taxes and respected the laws of the state, in the same token I knew of many drivers who weren't licensed and drove like maniacs on the San Diego freeways.

[snowdog]

Screw giving illegals a license. They're all law-breakers, anway, because they don't come into this country in a lawful manner. That first unlawful act of illegal entry puts them in a position to break innumerable other laws: driving without a license, failure to pay taxes, failure to conduct business lawfully, ad infinitum... Citing them and taking their vehicles gets their names (or fake names, since identification is rarely presented) on paper and puts a kink, although temporary, in their plans. I think giving illegals licenses is a great way to say, "You already don't give a crap about our existing laws, so let's reward you with a privilege you shouldn't have in this country."
I thought the thread was about hit and run:rolleyes: There will still be plenty of hit and run violations if the illegal immigrants were all deported. They don't have a copyright on breaking this or any law.

The hit and run rates can be reduced if the Move Over law could be enforced more efficiently,
Is there a law against cellphone usage while driving?
Are you aware of the elements required to enforce the move-over law?

Effective July 1, 2008 there will be.
It will still be legal to drive while using a cell phone,, it is only required to be hands-free.

[WannaBeaChippie]

I thought the thread was about hit and run:rolleyes: There will still be plenty of hit and run violations if the illegal immigrants were all deported. They don't have a copyright on breaking this or any law.


Are you aware of the elements required to enforce the move-over law?


It will still be legal to drive while using a cell phone,, it is only required to be hands-free.

As far as the Move Over Law is concerned I don't know; all I know is that it's supposed to be a rule that drivers move over when an officer is on the side of the road with the caution lights on assisting a motorist...but I'm not perfectly sure...as a matter of fact I might not really have any idea.

[David]

1.) Laws and rules are only useful if people obey them. There's already a law against hit-and-run - but it doesn't stop people from doing it. So true.

The California Legislature can (and does) crank out new laws at a breakneck speed, but that doesn't magically fix crime.

What can really reduce crime and keep people behaving well is having officers out enforcing the laws, not the Legislature running around making more laws.

[futurechp]

As far as the Move Over Law is concerned I don't know; all I know is that it's supposed to be a rule that drivers move over when an officer is on the side of the road with the caution lights on assisting a motorist...but I'm not perfectly sure...as a matter of fact I might not really have any idea.

Even with the laws, some people just don't show any respect to any type of authority figure. I was on a ride along last week and the officer I rode with started a traffic break because his fellow officers were shutting down a lane up ahead on the highway for CalTrans. All the traffic slowed down except one car. This car caught up to the patrol vehicle and just drove about 5 mph faster than the officer and just passed him by. :noidea: Unbelievable what some people will do.

So even with more laws, some people still break them. How many officers here, when pulling someone over, will ask them to take the next exit and pull into a parking lot? I've seen it done but I don't know how many actually do it.

[23112]

Hmmm painting with a broad brush here???:shock: I know many "illegals" that pay taxes, work hard and conduct business lawfully??? You must know of others. While I don't advocate giving licenses to drive away like candy, I have seen my share of bad licensed drivers as well, as we cite them daily. Not to say that unlicensed drivers , whatever race they are, don't try my patience as they stop in the 1 lane and open the door?:hitwall: I would be very hesitant to blanket ALL illegals as hit and run drivers. My 2 cents:closed:

I didn't think it was possible for an illegal alien to pay taxes, since they can't have a valid social security number. I never said they didn't work hard. However, can you lawfully conduct a business if you don't pull your permits, licenses, and pay taxes? I don't think so. I realize that numerous people conduct business in this state illegally, but the illegal alien has no choice but to do so because he/she is not legally supposed to be doing so.

FYI, I never blanketed all illegals as hit and run drivers--in fact, I never even linked illegal entry into this country with hit and run driving. I simply thought that it was a ludicrous idea to issue licenses to illegals in an attempt to reduce 20001's and 20002's--as AG asked: And does anyone here believe that extending the licensed driver privilidge to illegal aliens would cut down on hit and run? As was already pointed out in a previous post, numerous factors lead to someone leaving the scene of a collision.

[futurechp]

I didn't think it was possible for an illegal alien to pay taxes, since they can't have a valid social security number. I never said they didn't work hard. However, can you lawfully conduct a business if you don't pull your permits, licenses, and pay taxes? I don't think so.

23112 - If you are an illegal alien, you can still pay taxes. All you have to do is file for a TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) and the government has no problem assigning one of those :biggrin: . Once you have that you can pay taxes and run most things, including a business, through that TIN. Unfortunately most illegal aliens do not do this because some don't want to pay taxes and others are just not aware of how to do it. I am a real estate broker in the bay area and many illegal aliens buy homes. And if they buy homes legally, this is one of the things that lenders require from them to prove their income and taxes paid.

[23112]

23112 - If you are an illegal alien, you can still pay taxes. All you have to do is file for a TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) and the government has no problem assigning one of those :biggrin: . Once you have that you can pay taxes and run most things, including a business, through that TIN. Unfortunately most illegal aliens do not do this because some don't want to pay taxes and others are just not aware of how to do it. I am a real estate broker in the bay area and many illegal aliens buy homes. And if they buy homes legally, this is one of the things that lenders require from them to prove their income and taxes paid.

I stand corrected on this--thanks for the info. On the one hand, I'm shocked, but I'm also not surprised that Uncle Sam wouldn't reject the opportunity to make a little extra money.

[Mac]

... How many officers here, when pulling someone over, will ask them to take the next exit and pull into a parking lot? I've seen it done but I don't know how many actually do it.
This is delving into the realm of tactics and officer safety, so there won't be any public discussion of it.

[futurechp]

This is delving into the realm of tactics and officer safety, so there won't be any public discussion of it.

Sorry I was just curious but I fully understand.