I received a letter from the police today stating that my vehicle had been involved in a collision on or about 5pm April 19 at Kilburn.
That was news to me because I was in Queensland at the time and my vehicle was locked in a long-term car park in Melbourne!
The letter went on to say it’s a legal requirement to report accidents to police as soon as possible or within 24 hours at the latest unless there are exceptional circumstances.
“The driver of the vehicle is directed to attend any SA Police Station in person as a matter of urgency to report the collision,” the letter said.
I rang the enquiry number and explained my circumstances.
The officer was friendly. He said a parked car had been struck by another vehicle and someone had left a note giving my vehicle’s registration and a phone number.
He went on to say the phone number had proven to be dead.
To close the matter from my point of view however, I was required to attend a police station and give identification.
I went immediately to the Mount Gambier station and told them the story. I also gave the officer a copy of my airline travel booking.
Stating the obvious, I said it appeared someone had given false details. “Surprise surprise,” was her comment, as though this happens all the time.
I’m fairly innocent, I suppose, but I was shocked. I would never think to mislead anyone like this.
What probably happened is there were witnesses to someone colliding with a vehicle.
Rather than flee the scene, the driver must have acted contrite and scribbled a note for the absent owner, thereby mollifying observers.
Of course, he gave false details which a casual passer-by would not have thought to verify.
Lowlife.
These articles might be of interest:
I agree. Lowlife.
Great line by Peter5044 on Twitter in reply to this: “Perhaps it was Tom K’s 61st traffic infringement?”
Tom Koutsantonis is the former South Australian Road Safety Minister who had to quit the portfolio after it was revealed he had committed numerous motoring offences.
Is your vehicle a two-seater convertible sports car? Could it be possible the garage attendants fired it up and tore around Australia while you were away? I’ve seen things like this happen in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
It seems you get a letter when you are a bit dodgy or innocent of any crime, but you might be a suspect.
In your case Michael you were inconvenienced by a lowlife.
Perhaps the police do get it wrong, sometimes? but even when you are squeaky clean you still have to have proof.
I remember finding a $50.00 note on the footpath about 3 years ago. Being an honest concerned citizen, I took it in to the police station…it might have been valuable to the poor person who lost fifty bucks; I never did learn if anyone claimed it.
I was required to identify myself and disclose contact details.
Guess it got spent at a staff Xmas party.
Having posted this, (the Xmas thingo) I am expecting a letter too!
Maybe I’ll head for the hills about, NOW.
Delmer, that thought occurred to me when I figured the significance of the date.
Kilburn is in Adelaide, so for that to have happened, someone would have driven the car more than 800km from Melbourne. Unlikely, considering it was in the same parking spot and had cobwebs on it when I got back. The theory is good though.
Ebony, police have to be naturally suspicious, I suppose.