DC Trawler

Hit, run, whatever

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In the comments on the previous post, mak5 posted the following from DC’s traffic laws (emphasis mine):

District of Columbia Official Code 2001 Edition
Division VIII. General Laws.
Title 50. Motor and Non-Motor Vehicles and Traffic.
Subtitle VII. Traffic.
Chapter 22. Regulation of Traffic.
Subchapter I. General Provisions.
Part A. Traffic Act, 1925.
§ 50-2201.05. Fleeing from scene of accident; driving under the influence of liquor or drugs.

(a)(1) Any person operating a vehicle, who shall injure any person therewith, or who shall do substantial damage to property therewith and fail to stop and give assistance, together with his name, place of residence, including street and number, and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle so operated, to the person so injured, or to the owner of such property so damaged, or to the operator of such other vehicle, or to any bystander who shall request such information on behalf of the injured person, or, if such owner or operator is not present, then he shall report the information above required to a police station or to any police officer within the District immediately. In all cases of accidents resulting in injury to any person, the operator of the vehicle causing such injury shall also report the same to any police station or police officer within the District immediately.

(2) Any operator whose vehicle causes personal injury to an individual and who fails to conform to the above requirements shall, upon conviction of the 1st offense, be fined not more than $500, or shall be imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both; and upon the conviction of his 2nd or subsequent offense, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or shall be imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

Oh! So if a guy hits you in DC, he’s required by law to identify himself to you and provide his contact information? Or, if he gives it to the police instead, the police are required to give it to you? And otherwise, it’s considered fleeing the scene of the accident?

Gee, sorry for calling it a hit-and-run. State Department security agent Mike McGuinn hit me, and then he walked.

Exit questions for Eric Boehlert, et al: If it wasn’t a hit-and-run, why didn’t I know who hit me? Am I trying to start a war between the Secret Service and the State Department? Am I an undercover operative for the Hillary ’12 campaign?

Jim Treacher