Crime & Law Enforcement Issues & Death Penalty/Solen vechile with a accident

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Expert: - 7/24/2006


Question
Off the Record

My son apprently took a car and went into the ditch.
His friend was going to call the police to reported stolen for Insurance purpose.  My son said he will pay for the damages on the car.  A month went by and he told his he will send him money in 2 weeks.  The owner is not impress and said that he is goint to call the police if he didn't come up with the money sooner than that.  Can he still report that car stolen with a small car accident after a month has gone by.  Thank You

Laura

Answer
Laura,

   First of all I have to point out that you said your son "took a car".  Actually he stole it which is a crime.  A person can report a misdemeanor up to a year in most states and a felony for seven years or in certain cases there is no time limit.  I would suggest that you get involved in this and make arrangements for the payment of the money.  I am a little puzzled about why you aren't involved in a situation that could give him a criminal record for the rest of his life.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

Please do NOT ask questions about potential jail sentences that you or your friends may receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer or a parole officer so questions about those subjects will be rejected. I am a police officer with 26 years experience. Can answer questions about crime, police procedure, investigations, criminal law, search and seizure, traffic offenses. Prefer not to answer questions on the death penalty. Please do not ask homework questions. Remember this. The law in every state is different so questions about laws that are specific to your state could be difficult to answer. I also cannot give you legal advice on what to do or not to do in court. I have worked with authors in the past and will be happy to review scenarios or plots with authors to check for believability or accuracy.

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Police officer with 26 years experience. Ten years in patrol and sixteen years in the detective bureau investigating every type of crime including murder, rape, robbery, theft, fraud, missing persons, etc, etc. Also taught at the police academy in areas such as constitutional law, search and seizure, and lineups.

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B.S. in Criminology from the University of Maryland.

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