If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For ‘Em?

[tharpdevenport]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

Like I said, it depends on state or local laws. Here in the state of Florida, you are automatically at fault if you rear-end somebody, which is unlawful and therefore a crime. I had the officer tell me myself after I was rear ended.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

You don't generally have to stop if someone's called the police. Running could look suspicious, but there's no legal requirement to stay. They will probably go to your house instead, though, probably with an arrest warrant.

Shopkeepers have the right to detain you if they suspect you of shoplifting. Under certain circumstances, anyone can actually make a citizen's arrest. But that's not the same thing as saying you legally have to stop and wait.

If you are involved in an accident, you have to stop, see if you need to render aid, exchange information with the other person, and call and/or wait for the police depending on the circumstances. But that's not because it's the scene of a crime. This is usually true even if the accident was the other person's fault.

There was an event in a relatively close by Walmart a few years back where there was a tornado warning and the Walmart decided to lock everybody in the store and not let them leave (for their own safety). The police showed up and had to smash the door to let them out. They told them a) you can't do that! and b) it's technically kidnapping to do that.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

Like I said, it depends on state or local laws. Here in the state of Florida, you are automatically at fault if you rear-end somebody, which is unlawful and therefore a crime. I had the officer tell me myself after I was rear ended.

Technically that's not true (link). You are assumed to be negligent, but you can still introduce evidence that someone else was at fault instead. I also haven't seen anything to suggest it is a crime, just that you can be sued for it. It is a moving violation to follow someone too closely (with similar logic to the presumption of negligence for a rear end collision), but there's no presumption of guilt in that situation (nor could there be).