As a member of the Canadian criminal justice system, my advice is to use
the police statement to back up your claim and go to court on the matter.
Is driving without valid insurance a criminal offence in your state? It
recently came out that over 10,000 driver licences were sold in British
Columbia mostly to wealthy Oriental immigrants. The only way to make the
streets safe is to have these people incur the relevant penalties for their
crimes when they further break the law. I'll step down from my soap box
now. ;)
As my drivers ed teacher used to tell us, driving is a priviledge not a
right. Okay, okay, I'll get down from it. I guess the point I am making is
that she shouldn't be driving because she violated laws that state that the
penalty is to have her licence revoked for the actions she took.
Mark Milotay
At 03:57 PM 06/03/98 -0800, Justin Wagner wrote:
>
>I'm looking for some opinions here...
>
>You may recall, my car was backed into a few days ago. (It was parallel
>parked on the street, and the driver of a van, walked right by my car,
>seeing it was there... got in her van... and backed right into me.
>Obviously, just not thinking, and careless mistake.)
>
>You may also recall... the father of the driver claiming "YOU GET
>NOTHING, YOU HIT ME"... and after giving me minimal "insurance"
>information, ordered his daughter away...which led to me calling the
>police, etc. etc.
>
>Anyways...
>
>Turns out... They do not have current insurance.
>
>I called the driver, she is now taking her father's line, "I didn't hit
>you"...
>
>And the van had been full of their entire family... I have no doubt...
>that they will all now take that line, if asked to bear witness... I'm
>sure their father has taught them all well how to be liars.
>
>The question is...
>
>I have insurance, he doesn't.
>
>I had asked for $300.00 to settle the damage, but I'm sure it will be
>over $500.00 if I were to get an estimate.
>
>If I notify DMV of the accident... and report that it is over $500.00 in
>damage, she will lose her license for a year... regardless of any court
>decision regarding "fault"... BUT...
>
>If I make that report... MY insurance company will see it... and
>probably (in my experience) raise my insurance in the future. (I have a
>clean record, but let's just imagine that I got a speeding ticket or
>something later this year...to add to this.)
>
>I could also simply go straight to my own insurance company... where I
>do have coverage if the other driver is not insured... (I don't have
>comprehensive, otherwise.) ...but, once again... this will only lead to
>higher insurance costs in the future... (one way or another...)
>
>I was planning to paint my car later in the year anyways... I feel like
>I should just take a bite... and let this thing go... let her karma
>follow her... rather than stress myself... risk higher insurance
>costs... and... risk possible harassment from their family... (as I
>wouldn't be surprised if these people... who have no honor nor
>integrity, might just seek to reprisals for whatever I, the evil
>american dog, may do...
>
>comments?
>
>
>--Justin
>
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