hit and run, how can I find the person with his plate number?

[Linas]

Yesterday some jackoff hit and ran my car bashing out my glass headlight, turn signal, and wiper. Luckily I had a neighbor get the guys tags. I have contacted the police and they said this is nothing they will persue, as I expected... And were unwilling to give the guys info up. My insurance company is going to attempt to track this guy down but no guarantees. Does anyone know of a way to find out more info on this guy with just the plate number? I'd have to say, the internet its letting me down on this. Help me out cheezewiz!!! ;-)

[Floyd Eye]

If you know anyone who is a state employee (DOT, etc.) they have access to the computer database.

Did you give the cops the plate number?

[Horny Toad]

Don't know if these work, but:

License Plate Lookup | License Plate Search

#1 License Plate Search | Reverse License Plate Lookup

[MJ5150]

In the state of Washington, if a DOT employee queries a license plate number without an official reason to do so, they can be terminated. I have a friend who works there, and I had asked him once in the past to look up a plate for me. He said no way.

-Mike

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

In the state of Washington, if a DOT employee queries a license plate number without an official reason to do so, they can be terminated. I have a friend who works there, and I had asked him once in the past to look up a plate for me. He said no way.

-Mike

No such issues here in Missouri. At least there weren't last time I had my buddy do it.

[DblG]

Originally Posted by Linas

Yesterday some jackoff hit and ran my car bashing out my glass headlight, turn signal, and wiper. Luckily I had a neighbor get the guys tags. I have contacted the police and they said this is nothing they will persue, as I expected... And were unwilling to give the guys info up. My insurance company is going to attempt to track this guy down but no guarantees. Does anyone know of a way to find out more info on this guy with just the plate number? I'd have to say, the internet its letting me down on this. Help me out cheez!!! ;-)

Really?? Won't persue a hit and run? That's effed up. What if you were injured??
I bet they'd persue you if you didn't pay the ticket for having a headlight out or not using your non-existant turn signal..

[runmikeyrun]

unfortunately in Chicago the cops probably have more important things to do than pursue someone who didn't actually hurt someone. Just a fact of police in big cities.

[upandb]

I know a dispatcher in the town I live. One time I came very, very close to being seriously hurt by an idiotic driver. In the confusion I didn't get the plate, but I told him about it later on. The first thine he said was "please tell me you got the plate." I guess it depends on the police department :/

[burk48237]

Originally Posted by DblG

Really?? Won't persue a hit and run? That's effed up. What if you were injured??
I bet they'd persue you if you didn't pay the ticket for having a headlight out or not using your non-existant turn signal..

SERIOUSLY?

I'd call them again and tell them that you pay taxes and you expect them to their duty under the law. If they want you to come down and file a report that's one thing. Heck even in Detroit they'll eventially show up. But I know of no state in the Union where leaving the scene of an accident is not a serious offense. If they are unwilling to do anything they aren't doing their job. Are you in Chicago? Or a suburb? If your in a burb with its own PD I'd show up at a council meeting if they want do anything, get badge numbers, seriously. But then again IL is one of the most corrupt states in the nation so it wouldn't surprise me.

[Goatee220]

Let your insurance company handle it. They will pay for your damages and then go after the person. They have databases they can use, like lexus nexus.

[fhm555]

Originally Posted by Goatee220

Let your insurance company handle it. They will pay for your damages and then go after the person. They have databases they can use, like lexus nexus.

If the gods are good, your hit and run driver will have the same insurance company as you do. You gave them the tag number, crook then files a claim where they (naturally) lie about how it happened, then gets busted.

[Jinro]

Luckily I had a neighbor get the guys tags. I have contacted the police and they said this is nothing they will persue, as I expected...

That is bollocks. I got hit and run while my car was parked and I was in class, ergo no plate number, car make/model, nothing. But the police still pursued it. I'd call their lazy donut-eating butts on this one.

[azureblue]

#1. take a lot of pix.
#2. collect all broken off parts
#3. Look for parts from his car, and look for paint transfer from his car to your car. Take close ups of it, and, if there are paint chips that have fallen off, collect that.
#4. Get an affidavit from your neighbor who witnessed the H&R and took down the plate #. Make sure it has the date and time of the H&R
#5. Get a cost of repair est., and get it from the dealer - that is, top dollar, with from the car makers' parts, with their paint shop, and how long it will take them to do the work..
Also, make sure you get a written quote for the cost of a rental car, while yours is in the shop, for the rent of a car that is comparable to your car, not some econobox. And assume the repair shop will take a week longer than the say it will take.
#6. Send all of this to your insurance company, and tell them the cops are refusing to arrest the guy or provide you with the H&R guy's address. Sometimes, depending on how cozy you are with your ins. company, they will get the address and call the H&R. And maybe give it to you, if you tell them that you are considering suing him. Note that if you get compensation from your insurance company, and you successfully sue the guy, the ins. company will want to recoup the money they paid out from your suit.
#7. Find a lawyer who will write you an "intent to sue" letter,and make sure the letter says that the H&R will have to pay for your legal and court fees, plus lost wages, and other incidentals. Have the letter cite criminal code number for the H&R.
#8. Take COPIES, NOT THE ORIGINALS, of the whole pile down to the police station, show it to them, and ask the cops arrest this guy for H&R. Now this can get dicey, but, if they refuse, do not press it. Say " I'm just following instructions from my attorney, and also collecting information to give to my insurance company." Ask them them to give you the address of the H&R guy, is you tell them that you are preparing to sue him in civil court. Make sure you get the cop's business card, a couple, actually, - tell them you need it to give to your insurance company and your attorney, in case they need to talk to someone. No need to be hostile or aggressive, and do not react if they do. Your response to any aggression on their part is to simply say, "well, I'm just following advice and getting my ducks in a row, for my insurance claim, and in case I have to sue this guy. Nothing personal, of course, and thanks for your time."
#9. Usually, once they see that you have collected all the evidence, (and they know you are talking to an attorney and your insurance company) they will go ahead with the arrest. If not, don't sweat it. You have gone there and tried, and CYA.
#10. Go home and tell your insurance company what happened when you went to the police station. At this point, the insurance company can get the address of the H&R guy. Hold off on suing the guy until you see what your insurance company has to say, but tell the insurance company to tell the guy that you are considering suing him if he does not pay up fully and promptly, and that you have been to the cops about this.
#11. You really don't want to put the guy in jail. What you want is for him to "make whole"- pay up, in full, and quick. But remember your insurance company has the last word on this. And you can probably sue the guy in small claims, without an attorney.

[pacojas]

I'm sure the DMV will have the persons personal info via the plate numbers.

I thought that was protocol in a H&R!

[gttim]

I had that happen before. Cops did nothing. Insurance company was just going to pay for it out of my Uninsured motorist coverage, but the claim didn't exceed the deductible. Nobody cared. Nobody could be bothered. I ended up paying out of pocket for repairs.

And you wonder why people don't bother stopping.

[MatticusMania]

Happened to me last week!

I was driving home from work and was rear ended by some girl in a sedan. I went to pull over and noticed that this girl had get going. Oh heel no! I followed her, and she was actively trying to get away. I tried to get the plate #s but I couldnt find a writing utensil, and then she slipped away. I pulled over to check out the damage and there was only a dent in my bumper, but still!

[Jinro]

In my case, as soon as I discovered my car was damaged, called the police, and I took pictures. Patrol car comes up, writes down information, files report, gives me copy of report. I go to a body shop and find that it's $2,200 in damages. Take the police report and the repair estimate to my insurance company--they covered all of it. And the police spent two weeks investigating.

[MatticusMania]

I didnt bother with mine, since it was only a dent in my bumper. Im presuming thats why the girl didnt stop, but still, common courtesy when you hit someone is to pull over and exchange info. Its likely I could have had personal injuries. My neck was sore the next day.

[lunarpollen]

You definitely need to file an accident report, even if the police don't want to investigate it. This way, there is an official record of the incident that you can provide your insurance co. with.

[agent77]

.....And the police wonder why everyone hates them.