Knocked over a traffic sign

loosecannon460

In a catastrophically idotic move, I mixed up the gas and the break, causing me to skid over and knock over a traffic sign (not a stop sign, but I think a "don't park here due to fire laws or something". No one was hurt, my car is not damaged and I didn't see anyone call the cops, I got some stares and was laughed at, but no threats of legal action. I tried to reposition the signs, but failed and a guy told me to just move on. I drove back home. Did I just commit a crime? I'm still really worried.

CarbonNano Tube

O shit son that's straight out of a movie!


Yea its a crime but since no one cared or took down your information nothing will probably happen!

Crashtard

Nobody can prove you did it, and if there's no damage to the sign it's no big deal anyway.

bbmartini

i would just call the town hall or department of public works to inform them that a sign is damaged, but I'd say you're in the clear against any legal action

loosecannon460

Thanks for the replays, I was scared shitless for a while. I'm gonna avoid driving around that area for a while, though.

Durandal Infinity

OK that is hilarious. New driver I assume?? but yeah no problem. YOu can be nice and call the town/village and tell them that the road sign is knocked over.

Synthetic Orange

Glad this has been solved, but you're going to have to see an admin about having your name changed now.

loosecannon460

Thanks again to all of you. I'm not a new driver, which makes this all the more embarassing. I spazzed out I guess.
I'd be more than happy to change my name, any suggestions?

Mods: feel free to lock this if its cluttering everything up, or we can change the name of the threat and make a general driving troubles (tickets, fender benders, knocking over signs) thread.

desperaterobots

Uh, I'm hardly a new driver and I rammed a guy at a McDonalds drive through because I spazzed out and pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. He was paying at the window at the time. I got out and just said "My bad!" He wasn't fussed and there was no damage, but it really shook me up and made me look like a total fucking retard. A fat, McDonald's eating, bad driving retard.

malkoth

If it makes you feel any better I did the same thing only I hit my grandparents garage door... good times

Cptn Pants

I did the same thing and jumped on of those cement things they put at the end of parking spaces, effectively getting my old CRX stuck with the front wheels up in the air trapping my car in the spot till i could go home and barrow the pick up truck and wench it off the cement thing.

CoJoeTheLawyer

I once went backed halfway through the garage door after forgetting to open it.

to answer the OP's question/concern, technically you vandalized public property, but since no one saw that gives a damn, you should be ok. If you feel extra law-abiding, you can call the local municipallity and report yourself, and most likely they'll fine you for the cost of replacing the sign ($150 - $175)

noobert

Don't worry about it man.

Just call the department of roads and transportation or whatever it is over there and let them know that you saw a sign knocked over.

loosecannon460

Thanks again for the replys. Here is the update.
Everything is cool now. Looking back, it was probably hilarious for anyone who was present to watch the whole ordeal.
The lesson? Just because there is no other cars in your immediate vincinity doesn't mean you can zone out.
Oh and desperaterobots, I had actually driven out of a Mcdonalds' parking lot before hitting the sign. The Mcgriddles were therapeutic though.

Szechuanosaurus

Technically it's damage to public property. The only time you ever need to report a traffic accident is if it results in damage to public or private property (other than your own) or if anyone is injured. So yeah, you should report it. I doubt anyone is going to be surprised if you don't, I'm sure roadsigns get dinged all the time, and I can't see anyone else reporting you for such a minor issue. But you know, legally, you have a responsibility and all that and the police could technically charge you if they had evidence you did it but didn't report it or whatever. I wouldn't be considering buying a one-way ticket to Venezuela just yet though (although saying that, they're having a jazz festival in a few weeks, so if you wanted to get out of the country while the heat cools down, I could think of worse places to be).

Also, being called loosecannon makes this thread hilarious.

sabyul

I knocked down a sign one really rainy day when I lost control of my car (too dumb/slow to think to pump the brake / apply ebrake).

A cop was nearby and helped me get myself back on the road. Didn't mention the sign at all, and never heard about it again.

Ziac45

My one friend was leaving the parking lot of the old gamestore, and theres a pretty big ditch if you go straight, but the parking lot turns around the building to lead to the road. Now after months of going there, he forgets to turn and slams straight into the ditch having his car tilting on into the air. No rain, no bad weather nothing. He just forgot about it.