GD Drunk Drivers

[pr_capone]

Had one plow through my front lawn around 3:10 this morning. I hoped out of bed and grabbed my wallet & phone and went off after them. Found the car in an apartment complex parking lot torn to shreds.

Called 911, gave the tag number, description of driver, and 40 minutes later not a cop to be found anywhere.



*pics of damage soon to follow

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

It's about intent, and it's a slam dunk case if he filled the mailbox itself with cement. He knew his mailbox was probably going to get hit again, and did something knowing full well it had the potential to cause injury to who was doing it.

This is correct. This guy took the law into his own hands. Why not videotape the bastards & press charges?

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by RedNeckRaider

We have different reactions, I would have grabbed my gun

Wow. Bad call. I hope that's a joke.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by RedNeckRaider

I added the because I was jk. Besides I would never shoot anyone outside of the house, not because I am against it, because of pain in the ass laws that do not allow shooting people who deserve it~

Ah, I didn't read far enough.

[Jilly]

so.....should I just mail you a check or what?

Just kidding...I would never drink and drive and ruin someone's yard or mailbox.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Omaha

If this were true, and it's not...

I don't think some of you understand how our legal system works. There is NOTHING that can stop someone from suing you, and at that point you're leaving everything you have in the hands of a jury. And even if you win, you're still out the time and money you've spent defending yourself.

It's. Just. Not. Worth. The. Risk.

Originally Posted by Omaha

the boulder would cause the same exposure.

Sure, if it were actually large enough to do any significant damage. Calling it a boulder was a poor choice of words on my part, it sits less than a foot tall and would cause tire damage at the very most.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by SDChiefs

Because you have the right to protect your own stuff. They are committing a crime by vandalizing the mailbox. If they didn't do it, they wouldn't be injured. Why in the hell would the law protect a criminal over a law abiding citizen? I know they do all too often but that just shows how fuct our penal system is.

Then set up a camera and bust them. No problem with the penal system here. You don't get to take the law into your own hands. Someone already said it: No vigilante justice.

[SDChiefs]

Originally Posted by Omaha

Then set up a camera and bust them. No problem with the penal system here. You don't get to take the law into your own hands. Someone already said it: No vigilante justice.

Its not vigilante justice. Thats like saying if you put up a brick wall around your house and someone crashes into it and dies, you should be held responsible. You should be able to put up any damn mailbox you want if it is on your yard.

[SDChiefs]

An even better analogy would be people who put razor wire on top of their fences to keep people from breaking in and breaking the law. Its to protect their things and it is ok. Why would a mailbox be any different?

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I don't think some of you understand how our legal system works. There is NOTHING that can stop someone from suing you, and at that point you're leaving everything you have in the hands of a jury. And even if you win, you're still out the time and money you've spent defending yourself.

It's. Just. Not. Worth. The. Risk.

Hmmm, I may have misunderstood your original point. However, if your concern is avoiding frivolous lawsuits, good luck. That’s a pretty tall order. They’re frivolous, so you don’t even have to do anything wrong to have one pop up.

As far as your mailbox goes, I agree that you can’t turn it into a weapon, but, if you want to make it sturdy so it doesn’t fall down, no problem there.

[RNR]

Originally Posted by SDChiefs

An even better analogy would be people who put razor wire on top of their fences to keep people from breaking in and breaking the law. Its to protect their things and it is ok. Why would a mailbox be any different?

Because razor wire is very ineffective when it comes to stopping cars~

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by SDChiefs

Its not vigilante justice. Thats like saying if you put up a brick wall around your house and someone crashes into it and dies, you should be held responsible. You should be able to put up any damn mailbox you want if it is on your yard.

You don't see the difference between putting up a brick fence & boobytrapping your mailbox????

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Omaha

You don't see the difference between putting up a brick fence & boobytrapping your mailbox????

It's amazing how many people in this thread can't seem to make the distinction.

[SDChiefs]

Originally Posted by Omaha

You don't see the difference between putting up a brick fence & boobytrapping your mailbox????

Putting cement in a mailbox so it doesn't fall down is ones way of protecting their property. Same as a brick fence. Its not booby trapping. Theyre not putting IEDs around the mailbox.

[HemiEd]

See, this is a good example of the crack down on drunk drivers.

People aren't any good at it anymore. This kind of stuff never used to happen.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Omaha

This is correct. This guy took the law into his own hands. Why not videotape the bastards & press charges?

While I agree in the case described. The guy filled the inside of his mailbox with concrete. It was a trick, and he was trying to deceive people.

In the real world and what most people do to reinforce a mailbox won't be an issue. If you have a large brick or concrete mailbox, someone is going to get hurt potentially if they hit it. Even if you have a heavy duty pipe reinforced mailbox, you will be fine. If you install a special steel post down 10 meters into the ground that can be seen on the outside as not a typical wood post, I would have a hard time thinking a jury would find you to to be liable to pay for alot of damages. If you try to conceal it and make it look different than it is and there is malicious intent then I think there would be an issue.