GS2 Reckless Driving and Failure to Report: Item #2
On Wednesday, July 3, 1984 at about 4 pm, I was driving south on Interstate 240 approaching Norris Road.
I was driving a white, 1961 Cadillac Coupe Deville, with the big tail fins, and was in the left lane driving the speed limit.
As I approached the underpass near Norris Road another driver in the right lane, next to me, tried to pass me.
Apparently, he was looking at my car and clipped my right front fender accidentally.
We stopped on the soft shoulder as there was a great deal of south-bound traffic, and minimal damage to my car,
and exchanged license information,
including insurance. We agreed, and I assured the driver, that I would make the report and drive to the mid-town police
precinct to report the accident after we exchanged all of our information. The other driver said he would do the same and did. When I arrived at the precinct at about 5pm
I explained to the attendant officer what had just occurred. The officer said that he was going to charge me anyway
in order to insure that I appeared in court, based on my testimony to him, and in view of the fact that no officer
came to the scene. The accident occurred during the rush hour in heavy traffic.
There weren't any cell phones around then.
The officer charged me with reckless driving and failure to report the accident; payback for being a good citizen and
immediately coming to the precinct house to report the accident. The reckless driving charge was expunged
because the other driver admitted it was his fault and also reported the accident.
They never dismissed the failure to report even though the other driver and I did report the accident right
after it occurred. We knew that if information could be obtained civilly, and that if there were no injuries,
that we could exchange information without an officer making the scene. The officer at the west precinct disagreed.
The officer didn't attend the court hearing either. I was innocent of both charges.
The other drivers insurance company paid for the damages to my car because the driver of the other car was
honest enough to admit that the accident was his fault. The other driver was also charged with failure to report.
The reckless driving charge was dismissed. This was an act of subjugation by forced submission including prejudicial
contention demonstrated by the officer who charged this matter. A very real example, although a minor one, of official oppression.
