[Rufino]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the support. I’ve followed up with the police station, but the hit and run unit is closed today. Believe it or not, I’m a fairly recent graduate of law school and brought up many of the above mentioned points to the officer (i.e. red light cameras, strict liability when it comes to operating a vehicle, etc.). Truth be told, he didn’t have an answer. I didn’t tell him I was a lawyer, because I don’t think it should make a difference. I’m some what naive, but I still believe we are all offered the same protection by the law. Anyway, he kept asking me “What do you want to do?” Followed by – If you can’t ID the driver, I can’t do anything. Seemed contradictory at the time and even more so now. I really think he wanted me to say – Fine! Whatever! I’ll just go home. But I didn’t. I said – I want you to write up a report. File that report and go after the jerk who hit me. I’ll stop by the office on Wed. to pick it up. Even if he can’t go after the driver – which I plan to get to the bottom of – I want a report. What really upset me was how he reacted when he found out I was riding a bike. When the officer showed up, he seemed genuinely concerned. When he found out I was riding a bike, he seemed dismissive.

Finally, even if nothing comes from the official law enforcement unit, I plan to do something about this. I rarely facebook and never tweet (don’t even have an account), but I have friends that are junkies. DC is a small city and word travels fast. I’m sure if I could get 100 friends to post something on-line with this guys tag number. From those 100 people, magnified exponentially – something will turn up. Good old fashion social pressure. Green Saturn 4 door SUV w/ DC tags…CV ####

[Rufino]

Hi Everyone,
This is my first time posting and, actually, I just signed up today. I moved to DC in June and decided it would be best to ride my bike to work. On my way home today, I was hit by a car, as it was attempting to make a left turn. I definitely had the right of way. The driver was trying to beat the light and in an attempt to do so, hit me, knocked me off my bike, and (worst of all) took off. I managed to get up and get the tag number. I called the police gave them all the information. When the officer showed up, I repeated all the information (including – type of car, style, color, model and tag number). The officer asked me if I saw the driver. I let him know a general description, but he said that was not enough to do anything. The officer even told me that there was a car registered that matched my description 100%. I find it hard to believe that someone can get away with a hit and run so easily. The officer just repeated – unless you can identify the driver, there is nothing we can do.

Please let me know if anyone has encountered this before.

Thanks!

[Author]

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