What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Oregon
Last night after picking up pizza, I drove through an alley. I turned thinking the alley went through to the next street. It did not, instead, it was a single lane dead-end. I needed to turn around. A car pulled in behind me. I had to move forward and back multiple times to turn around. It was dark. I didn't see anything behind me. The last time I backed up I felt a tiny bump, like I just 'kissed' whatever was behind me. I finished turning around and passed the car waiting to pull in.
Today, a county sheriff deputy came to my home and asked where I had been driving the night before. I reviewed with him that I went to the grocery store, then to pick my son up from basketball practice, then to pick up the pizza, etc. I didn't know what he was talking about. Finally, after some discussion with the deputy, I realized I must have bumped something in the alley, and the person waiting behind me saw it, took down my license plate number, and reported it to the authorities.
The deputy and I looked at my back bumper. (Plastic bumper.) There was a very small green line. Turns out I 'kissed' an old green metal heating/air conditioner unit. The deputy cited me for an Oregon 811.700, failure to perform duties of a driver, because I didn't report it. I go to Circuit court in January.
I went to the alley and took pictures. There is no damage, or mark where my car bumped the heating unit. However, the metal housing moved a few inches (it was not bolted down) that caused a small, 90-degree-angled PVC pipe to move. This is the only damage. I think the PVC pipe houses the electrical cord.
I plan to contact the store owner & landlord tomorrow to take care of damages. The deputy says the fine could be up to $2500. Will this go on my driving record? How should I handle the court date in January?
Last night after picking up pizza, I drove through an alley. I turned thinking the alley went through to the next street. It did not, instead, it was a single lane dead-end. I needed to turn around. A car pulled in behind me. I had to move forward and back multiple times to turn around. It was dark. I didn't see anything behind me. The last time I backed up I felt a tiny bump, like I just 'kissed' whatever was behind me. I finished turning around and passed the car waiting to pull in.
Today, a county sheriff deputy came to my home and asked where I had been driving the night before. I reviewed with him that I went to the grocery store, then to pick my son up from basketball practice, then to pick up the pizza, etc. I didn't know what he was talking about. Finally, after some discussion with the deputy, I realized I must have bumped something in the alley, and the person waiting behind me saw it, took down my license plate number, and reported it to the authorities.
The deputy and I looked at my back bumper. (Plastic bumper.) There was a very small green line. Turns out I 'kissed' an old green metal heating/air conditioner unit. The deputy cited me for an Oregon 811.700, failure to perform duties of a driver, because I didn't report it. I go to Circuit court in January.
I went to the alley and took pictures. There is no damage, or mark where my car bumped the heating unit. However, the metal housing moved a few inches (it was not bolted down) that caused a small, 90-degree-angled PVC pipe to move. This is the only damage. I think the PVC pipe houses the electrical cord.
I plan to contact the store owner & landlord tomorrow to take care of damages. The deputy says the fine could be up to $2500. Will this go on my driving record? How should I handle the court date in January?