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Legal matters

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Original poster

Filing a false police report

25 replies

Joeshmo · 06/08/2023 20:27

Hello. My adult son reported our car stolen to the local police department and later revealed to me that he crashed it into a rail and fled the scene. It was 3am and the anti lock brakes freaked him out on a turn and totaled the car. No insurance claims to file so it's not monetary motive. He just didn't want to let his parents down.. meanwhile police are out searching for a stolen car. What charges is he facing if he confesses. What would he be charged with if he remained on site and told the truth. Yes he destroyed the railing.Any advice and thank you

OP posts:

Oneweektogo2023 · 06/08/2023 21:40

Well he could get 6 months in prison if he reports it after the fact especially as he has damaged property albeit railings somebody is responsible for the repair bill. Where is the car now? Is it off the road parked up? Is it locked? I don’t know what to advise really. They’ll suspect drink or drug driving definitely. It’s not a good situation to have to navigate. CCTV will have captured many images of him driving but it depends how serious the police investigate it.

penelopepipsqueak · 06/08/2023 22:02

Why country are you in - you say police dept which makes me think US ?

If your in uk, then it's not obligatory to have the car examined by CSI . It would just be recovered and released to the insurance company or if no claim disclaimed for disposal.

Tell him to keep his mouth shut . And never ever to do it again

He can't be prosecuted for drink or dig driving after the event as there is no evidence . No one could prove he was drunk or anything else at the time .

Why did he have no insurance ? The uk law is clear - you cannot drive without insurance of at least 3 rd party . He's been stupid but it would be more stupid to say something now .

He needs to disclaim the car or there will be storage fees to pay .

VeniVidiWeeWee · 06/08/2023 23:03

In the UK,the most serious would be perverting the course of justice.

Potentially a life sentence, but unlikely in this case.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 06/08/2023 23:08

@penelopepipsqueak

"He's been stupid but it would be more stupid to say something now ."

If someone, the police, insurance company asks, and he lies, a world of hurt lies in wait.

ErrolTheDragon · 06/08/2023 23:13

Why did he have no insurance ? The uk law is clear - you cannot drive without insurance of at least 3 rd party .
She said no insurance claim, not no insurance.

dogsweetdog · 07/08/2023 07:00

Why would there be no insurance claim?

Surely if you HAD had the car stolen and the police found it crashed into railings you'd be claiming for repairs/replacement?

Icedlatteplease · 07/08/2023 07:14

The owner of the railings will be making an insurance claim.

TiredandLate · 07/08/2023 07:19

Are you in the US? You should specify as laws will differ.

Felix125 · 07/08/2023 10:05

If you did not give your son permission to drive the car, then he is looking at theft or TWOC of your car Aggravated if he has crashed it. Driving without insurance (if he is not insured to drive it in the first place), Does he also have a licence?

The police may also want a statement off you to say he did not have permission to drive it, hence proving the theft/TWOC.

Be aware though if you do want to provide that statement, you could be looking at use/cause/permit offences. ie - allowing the car to be driven by an uninsured driver.

As others have said - it depends if you are in the UK.

Original poster

Joeshmo · 07/08/2023 16:55

Thank you. Because of the hur no one was around so he left by girlfriends car when he was gone police had it towed.
And it's been two days that they've had it and haven't called to let us know its recovered. They are probably holding it for fingerprinting I assume. And yes there is liability Insurance only. So it won't pay anything for the car. However it will pay for the rail I'm sure.
There were no cameras at the site. So it's best to just let it go versus confession?

OP posts:

Original poster

Joeshmo · 07/08/2023 17:01

Yes in the US. And yes on insurance, only liability. He has nothing to gain by this lie except me finding out. He just wanted to spare me the pain.. he's a good kid. Whose lack of driving experience almost cost him big..

OP posts:

Original poster

Joeshmo · 07/08/2023 17:16

There is no financial gain only my son and I were going through a really bad time and he didn't want to add more fuel to our problem so he made up this lie. Yes the car was towed with an officer present. Our local police haven't called to notify us of its recovery yet. It did happen in another city. And if we contact the tow yard, then the lie is revealed please advise on this as I know tow yards are crooks

OP posts:

GloomySkies · 07/08/2023 17:19

You'd be better asking on Reddit or similar. Most people on MN are UK based.

Original poster

Joeshmo · 07/08/2023 17:27

City property

OP posts:

Original poster

Joeshmo · 07/08/2023 17:35

We have liability ins only. So that's the minimum requirement in the US. It was his car he destroyed and the city street railing. And now as a parent I need advice because he confessed to me he lied about the car being stolen. And he wants advice from me whether he should go and correct his false police report

OP posts:

Soontobe60 · 07/08/2023 17:40

Did he have his phone with him at the time? If so, he can be tracked via phone masts, so if the police go looking, then he could be in a heap of trouble. It really sounds like he was driving under the influence TBH. Also, his girlfriend could be in trouble for aiding and abetting.

Original poster

Joeshmo · 07/08/2023 17:49

No he wasn't under the influence, after the accident he immediately woke me up with the story and I escorted him directly into the police department. He was fine. I understand why he lied, he's a good kid and it's only he and I and we just had the worst blowout that week. (Wow I see the light bulb here) and he didn't want to further fuel our fire.

OP posts:

amylou8 · 07/08/2023 17:59

You'd probably be better asking on a US site as most of us here are in he UK, and you won't get the correct advice.
In the UK he could be charged with making off from the scene of an accident and perverting the course of justice. It would likely be assumed he was over the drink drive limit. The potential is for a hefty prison sentence, but would more likely be some sort of community order for a first offence.

Original poster

Joeshmo · 07/08/2023 18:04

Thank everyone , I just need advice on whether to go and confess the truth or leave it.

OP posts:

IDKYICarebut · 08/08/2023 01:46

I thought you were US

I wouldn't confess . Leave it . No insurance claim so no need for csi. Disclaim the car and leave it now .

IDKYICarebut · 08/08/2023 01:47

If you confess- world of pain

As it stands no o E can prove anything so leave it

IDKYICarebut · 08/08/2023 01:49

I work in law btw . It's not ethical really but to save your son - say nothing. Leave it now .

Hawkins009 · 08/08/2023 01:51

Reading

Lonecatwithkitten · 09/08/2023 05:39

I can not comment on the legality.. but for the ABS system to kick in he pushed that car right to it's limits.

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/08/2023 06:13

IDKYICarebut · 08/08/2023 01:49

I work in law btw . It's not ethical really but to save your son - say nothing. Leave it now .

You 'work in law'? That's very vague. Not a lawyer then. And based in the UK or the US, because it matters?

OP who pays for the railings? A false insurance claim? The City? Or you? Because someone will be and it's much worse if money is involved. He's also dragged his girlfriend into it.

I'd get some legal advice where you are geographically. Hopefully he can own up and face a small amount of music. It's much better to learn to do things right rather than learn how to avoid consequences and feel guilty and worried about being found out.

Flip