Any Legal Experts out there?

[dereliiict]

Quick issue:

I got a knock on my door at midnight last night, while trying to have a quiet evening with the fiance, from the local friendly police department. Apparently, a church down the street called them, stating that they had followed my car to my house and gave the address...the offense? Doing donuts in their parking lot.

Sounds funny, could be plausible, except it isn't. I told the officer this, and he responded with, "It's your word against a church's."

Now I live in the heart of the Bible Belt South and specifically in a very corrupt county that currently has major organizations fighting for the resignation of much of our force due to excessive brutality and the like...

Likely that knock on my door will be the end of it; however, if not, then does anyone know what avenues I have of defense, especially since they obviously have no proof?

[nrubenstein]

Quick issue:

I got a knock on my door at midnight last night, while trying to have a quiet evening with the fiance, from the local friendly police department. Apparently, a church down the street called them, stating that they had followed my car to my house and gave the address...the offense? Doing donuts in their parking lot.

Sounds funny, could be plausible, except it isn't. I told the officer this, and he responded with, "It's your word against a church's."

Now I live in the heart of the Bible Belt South and specifically in a very corrupt county that currently has major organizations fighting for the resignation of much of our force due to excessive brutality and the like...

Likely that knock on my door will be the end of it; however, if not, then does anyone know what avenues I have of defense, especially since they obviously have no proof?

Ignore it unless they try to charge you with something. Then hire a lawyer. It'd be extremely difficult for them to make anything stick and there is nothing preemptive that you can do.

Edit: Note that I am not a lawyer, although I do have a LOT of exposure to them.

[jP4]

^And he did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[M3TROY]

Ignore it unless they try to charge you with something. Then hire a lawyer. It'd be extremely difficult for them to make anything stick and there is nothing preemptive that you can do.

sound advice, there is NOTHING they can do what so ever unless they have you on camera.
to save yourself a little headache and to keep the peace you may want to extend an olive branch to the church and pay them a visit.
just explain to them that it wasnt you but your still sorry for what was done and that you would never zhit where you eat.
this may save you from another visit from your local


im not a attorney but i do play one on the internet :p

[WhyNot]

go to the parking lot and do donuts

[AndrewBird]

What would they even charge you with? Trespassing on private property? Vandalism?

Most cops around here i think if they caught you doing it would just tell you to leave.

[10Toes]

go to the parking lot and do donuts

this

[gtdragon980]

If there is no factual evidence, they cannot do a thing. It was just like when I once overtook some lady in minivan, crossing double yellow lines, because she was driving 10mph under the speed limit. She followed me to the bank and called the cops. Cop shows up, asks me if I did it, I called her crazy and said she was following me for no reason, cop said drive safe and left. They cannot press charges without proof.

[dereliiict]

go to the parking lot and do donuts

This is what my Alpha mind tells me to do.

to save yourself a little headache and to keep the peace you may want to extend an olive branch to the church and pay them a visit.
just explain to them that it wasnt you but your still sorry for what was done and that you would never zhit where you live.

And this is what I decided to do. Unfortunately none of the ministers were in, so I left my name and number.


Thanks guys for the quick responses. I appreciate the input.

[smitche]

Burden of proof would fall on the church. You have nothing to worry about. Go burn a cross on their lawn. :hitler:

[lolcantturn]

move to a forward-thinking state

[slammin.e28]

Buy the ministers some Krispy Kremes.

[SmokeE30]

If there is no factual evidence, they cannot do a thing. It was just like when I once overtook some lady in minivan, crossing double yellow lines, because she was driving 10mph under the speed limit. She followed me to the bank and called the cops. Cop shows up, asks me if I did it, I called her crazy and said she was following me for no reason, cop said drive safe and left. They cannot press charges without proof.

Don't be so sure, I know a guy that got pulled over and ticketed in NJ(he's from PA) because a car he passed in a no passing zone called it in. He was under the impression that without any evidence or the cop seeing anything there was nothing police could do, we'll the cop gave him a ticket anyway saying he could fight it in court if he wanted probably just because he was from out of state and unlikely to take it to court. So yea cops can do whatever they want, that's why we have courts because cops arnt responsible for knowing the law that's a whole separate job that requires a lot more knowledge.

[Thizzelle]

shit on their door steps. They have no proof otherwise cop probably would have wrote you a ticket right there.

[Thizzelle]

Don't be so sure, I know a guy that got pulled over and ticketed in NJ(he's from PA) because a car he passed in a no passing zone called it in. He was under the impression that without any evidence or the cop seeing anything there was nothing police could do, we'll the cop gave him a ticket anyway saying he could fight it in court if he wanted probably just because he was from out of state and unlikely to take it to court. So yea cops can do whatever they want, that's why we have courts because cops arnt responsible for knowing the law that's a whole separate job that requires a lot more knowledge.

that's why you do written declaration and mail that shit in