What Would You Do?

"Kailand09" (kailand09) 02/12/2014 at 19:23 • Filed to: What Would You Do?

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Let's play a game called "What Would You Do?" I drive quite a bit whether it be between cities, or to and from school. In that time, I find myself in driving situations in which I really question what my next move should be.

Today I had been driving on local roads to try and avoid the expressway traffic, and found myself behind a red Chevy Impala with no license plates. He wasn't driving particularly recklessly, but I questioned what I should do in such a situation.

Sure, he could be one of the hit-and-run types that we see in fuzzy security cam footage. But what if he is just a guy who is under unfortunate circumstances and Orlove'd his car when his license plate fell off?

Either way, I sat behind him for a number of miles wondering if I should ring up the po-po and tip them off about the guy without his license plates. I decided that I generally hope the best in other people, and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

What would you have done in a similar scenario?

Brian, The Life of > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 19:25

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Nothing. There are legit reasons for someone to temporarily not to have a license plate.

b33g33 > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 19:26

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Call

DollaMoneyAve > Brian, The Life of 02/12/2014 at 19:29

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Such as?

Kailand09 > Brian, The Life of 02/12/2014 at 19:30

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This was my thoughts.

The problem is, I have been in a hit-and-run by someone with no plates. Sometimes, it can't hurt to call and find out it's due to legitimate reasons instead of finding it to be someone who shouldn't be behind the wheel.

Brian, The Life of > DollaMoneyAve 02/12/2014 at 19:30

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Just bought the car and the previous owner kept their personalized plates.

Kailand09 > b33g33 02/12/2014 at 19:30

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I definitely thought about it.

I mentioned in the other comment, I was once in a hit-and-run by a guy with no plates, so I'm pretty conscious of those who don't have them.

911e46z06 > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 19:35

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Don't report anything unless it's endangering someone. You call and report someone with expired tags or something, a guy has to pay a couple hundred bucks and deal with a serious pain in the ass. Makes the world a shittier place. Snitches get stitches.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 19:36

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Call. If I've learned anything from watching COPS it's that there's a good* chance the person driving at night with busted lights, no lights on, no turn signals, no plates... what have you... is either high on something, wanted for something, or driving a stolen car. Worst case scenario, you inconvenience a law abiding citizen for a little while.

*COPS isn't the best source for statistics, but yea...

DollaMoneyAve > Brian, The Life of 02/12/2014 at 19:40

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If you're going to do a private sale and you want to drive it away, you meet at the DMV or notary place and do the transaction there. Old plates off, new plates on. I can't think of any reason to drive with no plates unless it's a brand new vehicle, and in that case you still get the paper window sticker with your a temporary number on it.

Brian, The Life of > DollaMoneyAve 02/12/2014 at 19:41

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You're overthinking this.

Computerbudda > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 19:44

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Did he have a "wife-beater" shirt on or no shirt at all? Call it in, else, leave in peace.

DollaMoneyAve > Brian, The Life of 02/12/2014 at 19:45

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You're underthinking this, Brian. I TAKE THIS SHIT SERIOUSLY!

Deputy Kovacs > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 19:47

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I'm surprised nobody has picked up on the Steve Jobs pic with the SL55. I guess oppo doesn't read.

Kailand09 > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 02/12/2014 at 19:47

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I definitely get your point too. I was pretty close to calling the cops. Next time I likely will, but guess he got a chance! lol

chicagoE36 > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 19:47

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Kailand09 > 911e46z06 02/12/2014 at 19:48

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This was the ultimate reason I didn't call. He wasn't driving in any way that made me think I should call, and the car wasn't super beat or anything either.

Lets Just Drive > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 19:48

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The entitlement to operate a motor vehicle is a privilege not a right, however; in many cases it is an absolute necessity.

This is where we encounter the inequity of the automobile - those who need a vehicle in their daily lives yet, for whatever reason, are prohibited from owning and operating the same.

In many parts of the world, the laws and regulations (and associated costs) which govern who can and cannot own and operate a motor vehicle are utterly draconian and, as is so common with matters of law and enforcement, too inflexible to address the issue of problem drivers with repeat offenses and those who've become entrenched in financial or legal problems which prevent them from legally employing an automobile in the course of their daily duties.

The individual ahead of you, he could have been a hit and run murder monster or he could have been an individual unfortunate enough to be caught between a rock and a hard place. It's such a hard call.

The legal eagle in me says, "Call it in." But the humanist in me says, "You don't know the whole story." And making that call could mean that rather then a rational inspection of events, a rabid violation-loving cop may show up and royally fuck up the day of an otherwise honest individual.

I've been in that boat, caught up in the struggle between the fiscal and the legal, despite my utter need to have a vehicle at my disposal. I am not a problem driver, in fact I have an exemplary record, but due to events which conspired to exacerbate themselves, I find myself the subject of a critical eye while others, known repeat drunk drivers for example, continue to drive unfettered by Johnny Law.

There will come a time when we redefine what constitutes a necessity and a luxury, when we realize that food, water and air aren't enough to ensure successful survival in our modern world. We regard these things as luxuries; access to the internet, cars and cellular phones and modern medicine because we've been taught from an early age that needs are determined as those things which we need to survive, not thrive.

Anyway.

Kailand09 > Deputy Kovacs 02/12/2014 at 19:48

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ROFL. I was also surprised.

Kailand09 > Computerbudda 02/12/2014 at 19:49

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NO wife beater, though it is cold here so I hope not. LOL

Kailand09 > Lets Just Drive 02/12/2014 at 19:53

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Really well thought out response, and you really captured what was going on my head as well. Legally, the guy shouldn't have been driving. Humanist said who knows what happened.

I have been in a hit and run by a non-plated guy in a beat pickup truck. It really made me think pretty hard whether or not to call, as I had been in a situation where no plates were quite detrimental.

In the end, I was able to assess that he wasn't currently endangering any other motorists, and he was following all road going laws. Due to his decency, I decided he likely was in a hard spot.

Brian, The Life of > DollaMoneyAve 02/12/2014 at 19:53

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K, last one: Some punk stole his plates that afternoon while he was having a knosh at the Cracker Barrel.

See? Legit!

911e46z06 > DollaMoneyAve 02/12/2014 at 19:55

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Plates got stolen, just bought the car, just switched registration to a different state and the plates haven't come in the mail yet, delivery between dealerships.

Leadbull > Brian, The Life of 02/12/2014 at 19:58

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Or... they could be invisible.

/science

Leadbull > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 20:05

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For those interested in Steve Jobs:

http://www.cultofmac.com/126338/why-ste…

I'm sure other states have similar laws. Brian is absolutely right about there being legit reasons for this to occur.

I'd give the guy the benefit of the doubt, myself. And I WOULDN'T dial 9-1-1 if he wasn't doing anything actively dangerous.

Brian, The Life of > Leadbull 02/12/2014 at 20:06

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therevengeofthesaab (really likes pre-2005 hondas right now) > Kailand09 02/12/2014 at 21:06

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Stay away, he could have AK 47's in the trunk......

Arben72 > DollaMoneyAve 02/12/2014 at 22:40

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I drove my car legally with no plates for 2 days. Previous owner kept the old plates and I don't like chicagos dmv, so I drove with. Suprised I didn't get pulled over in a pretty much straight piped wrx in a 200 mile drive, but there was nothing illegal about driving with no plates.