The Police gave out my details to another driver. Is this allowed?

poboy on 08/12/2016 - 19:31

Hello,

My father's car had a minor scrape against another vehicle. He stopped and examined the other car and found no damage. It apparently scrapped on the cars rubber section. However there was some minor damage to his car. As there was no damage to the other car, he drove off.

A witness must have taken his details and passed them on to the other motorist. This motorist called the police with my father's details.

The Vic police contacted my father and said that they had to give his address to the motorist.

Isn't this a privacy breach? Are the police able to do this?

Automotive

Comments

  • altomic on 08/12/2016 - 19:37
    +37

    failing to remain at accident. and failing to provide details are both chargeable offences.

    the police have more important things to do than worry about minor scrapes between vehicles.

    what would you like to happen?

    if the other owner had to put in a claim then somehow your fathers details would still remain secret? the police would act as a mediator/middle person?

  • kolorijo on 08/12/2016 - 19:57
    +1

    My father's car had a minor scrape against another vehicle. He stopped and examined the other car and found no damage. It apparently scrapped on the cars rubber section. However there was some minor damage to his car. As there was no damage to the other car, he drove off.

    So he decided that there was no damage to the other car and drove off? Where is the driver of the other car???

    • poboy on 08/12/2016 - 19:59

      It was a parked car.

      • kolorijo on 08/12/2016 - 20:35
        +21

        Maybe he should leave his contact details so the owner of the other car can contact him?

        • apple2016 on 08/12/2016 - 22:43
          +15

          @MITM: just include the car rego if you think some random could swipe the paper note!…

        • backpaqer on 09/12/2016 - 08:34
          +4

          @apple2016: and take photos of your own…

        • ArjaytheGuy on 09/12/2016 - 18:03
          +13

          @MITM:

          if you ever think you've caused damage to another vehicle: take photos.

          if you don't think there's any damage there: take photos.

          that way if they claim anything you have the details/evidence of the state of the vehicle and nature of the damage.

          can also be handy if you include a photo of the vehicle in situ so you can prove when/where the "damage" occurred.

        • razorack999 on 10/12/2016 - 15:25
          +1

          @ArjaytheGuy:

          Very good CONSTRUCTIVE advice

      • nikey2k27 on 11/12/2016 - 13:47
        +1

        Just be happy cop did not charge your dad with leaving the scene of an accident.

  • Diji1 on 08/12/2016 - 20:07

    Your father is an irresponsible driver and acted like a buffoon when he drove into a stationary object. I'm glad he's being held to accountable for his actions although now apparently he's now he's trying to pretend he has non-existent rights to privacy that stop him from being responsible so he's still acting like a buffoon.

    • razorack999 on 09/12/2016 - 08:30
      +21

      Hey pull up. You have no knowledge of 1. the extent of the damage (if any) 2. how it happened 3. how his father acted

      Accidents happen and unless you are completely deluding yourself they happen to everyone. You Me and the rest of the worlds population can and do have accidents.
      Your judgmental comments make assumptions that you are just not in a position to make. The op stated that he stopped and found no damage. Are you saying he is lieing? If so on what basis?
      His non existant rights? What about protection against vindictive pricks like you that take a set against someone? How do we know what the state of mind of this "witness"is ? They could be sane or completely deluded and trouble makers.

      • poboy on 09/12/2016 - 09:37
        +15

        You are correct. People like being angry on forums though.

        • kolorijo on 09/12/2016 - 14:59
          +3

          Because people can stay anonymous in an internet forum. Hopefully everything resolved well for both parties.

      • Domingo on 09/12/2016 - 16:20
        +14

        typical kind of Diji1 comment. Check user history, full of unprovoked attacks like that.

      • juventino on 11/12/2016 - 07:24

        relax. It's Diji1 leaving his brain elsewhere whenever he comments, like always.

    • BestofOZB on 10/12/2016 - 09:26
      +2

      You don't need to be a jerk about it!

    • Rocket6 on 10/12/2016 - 15:51
      +1

      Ease up mate. You have no context and are jumping to some serious conclusions.

    • moo on 10/12/2016 - 19:59
      -1

      Woah, jump to conclusion much? Why be racist for!! :D

  • [Deactivated] on 08/12/2016 - 20:17
    +18

    It is allowed for civil legal action reasons. The other driver must sign a quite extensive form to release the personal info.

    • poboy on 08/12/2016 - 20:58
      +7

      Thankyou for actually answering the question.

    • Rocket6 on 10/12/2016 - 15:53
      +2

      Second this - glad someone has actually answered OP properly.

  • whooah1979 on 08/12/2016 - 20:39
    +11

    As there was no damage to the other car, he drove off.

    someone is on the santa's naughty list this year.

  • kolorijo on 08/12/2016 - 20:47
    +17

    Scrapped someone's car, decided that there is no damage to that car, drove off, now he is concerned about his address was known by the owner of the car that he scrapped.

    If I was the owner of the other car I would thank the witness and the police because I can track down the person who is responsible for scrapping my car.

    Too often people scrapped other people's car in the carpark and just drove off.

    • chrisburnett on 09/12/2016 - 08:35
      +9

      I don't think he meant the car was scrapped, rather scraped.

      • kolorijo on 09/12/2016 - 10:58

        my mistake :)

  • outlander on 08/12/2016 - 20:51
    +1

    Isn't that the purpose of registration plates? To connect a vehicle to the owner?
    They didn't even need to go to the police, anybody can get this information, so hardly a privacy breach.

    • MITM on 08/12/2016 - 22:09
      +3

      How do you get owners details from a rego plate ?
      That'd be breach of privacy by the Transport Department - surely.
      Unless you use FOI legislation.

      • Almost Banned on 08/12/2016 - 23:21
        +5

        You can't use FOI to reveal the personal information of another person.

        • MITM on 08/12/2016 - 23:31
          +3

          Exactly - so how does one get a persons info from a rego number ?
          It can't be done.

        • urzu on 10/12/2016 - 09:20
          +2

          @MITM:
          If you don’t know the vehicle owner’s name, but you have the registration number, you can find the owner’s details by requesting a Queensland Motor Vehicle Register search. You need a legit reason (traffic accident) and make a request. Someone analyses the request and provides you or not with the info.

          Sauce: http://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/Find-legal-information/Cars-a…

      • razorack999 on 09/12/2016 - 08:31
        +1

        correct

  • Slippery Fish on 08/12/2016 - 20:51
    +8

    Lol your lucky they did not charge him.

  • t_c on 08/12/2016 - 22:09
    +10

    That's why you should always leave a note and put down a local politicians details, in case some one is watching.

  • MITM on 08/12/2016 - 22:13

    Scraping a parked car is hardly a traffic accident, warranting "remaining at the scene" especially if the driver has parked outside his unit block for the night and won't be retuning till the morning to go to work for example.
    Or at a shopping centre where he/she may be away for hours.

    No damage done - move on with your life.

    • whooah1979 on 08/12/2016 - 22:24
      +6

      Scraping a parked car is hardly a traffic accident,

      drivers in nsw are still required to exchange their particulars with the other party regardless of the amount of damage.

      http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2014104/…
      http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?fuseaction=demer…

      No damage done - move on with your life.

      no damage, great. it will be cheap to settle this case then.

      • MITM on 08/12/2016 - 23:29
        -6

        Your references relate to a car "crash"
        Crash = a violent collision, typically of one vehicle with another or with an object.

        • whooah1979 on 09/12/2016 - 00:32
          +8

          Crash = a violent collision, typically of one vehicle with another or with an object.

          That is your opinion.

          The rr definition is here.

          "crash" includes:
          (a) a collision between 2 or more vehicles, or
          (b) any other accident or incident involving a vehicle in which a person is killed or injured, property is damaged, or an animal in someone’s charge is killed or injured.

          It doesn't really matter now. The party at fault left the incident without leavings their details and was reported to the police. It's now up to the other party to contact their insurer to assess the damage.

    • razorack999 on 09/12/2016 - 08:32
      +2

      exactly

    • HeWhoKnows on 09/12/2016 - 20:24
      +6

      "No damage done" is only an opinion from a quick observation Not an expert's examination! I've had people run into me and claiming no damage, Damage is not always visible with plastic bumpers today. The supporting metal underneath the plastic bumper could be bent or compromised. Clips holding them securely in place could be broken but not immediately obvious.
      Some people think a minor scratch or scrape is no damage but still could cost the owner several hundred dollars to remove!
      Just because you cant see it doesn't mean there is no damage.
      Only a qualified panel beater can conclusively say there is damage or no damage because they know what and where to look.
      As most people have said here. Its totally irresponsible to walk away and not leave your contact details. In fact its an offense!
      To protect yourself from fraudulent claims take photos as at least one other person has suggested.
      Lots of good comments here. Our poster has been put in their place. Well done everyone!

      • paulojr on 11/12/2016 - 18:23

        I'm amazed too how its so easy for us (including myself sometimes) to think we have expert opinions on every topic! I had a 4x4 rear end my car what felt to be gentle when stopped a traffic lights. I could see no damage myself but took contact details and photos anyway. Other drives 4x4 had some damage but of course was at fault and knew it so wasn't interested in insurance.

        When I had a proper expert look at my car there was nearly a thousand dollars worth of damage!. The damage was not visible to casual inspection unless you looked at bumper at an angle to the light which then showed where the 4x4 bumper had made contact and the real damage as in the safety foam inside of the bumper assembly where it was cracked. (the foam acts as the protective layer that absorbs energy in an impact and keeps you alive.)

        So had I not taken details I'd have continued to drive around with a cracked bumper and increases risk of serious damage if I got hit again.

        No damage done.. yeh seriously I would not conclude that ever again in even a minor collision.. unlikely to ever be true now days with the design of cars. Follow the road rules OP.

  • bargainslut on 08/12/2016 - 22:36
    +12

    A friend of mine once scraped a stationary vehicle, wasn't her fault really as she'd a few pints of ale.

    • Mikinoz on 08/12/2016 - 23:35
      +16

      The Ale was innocent until proven delicious

    • HeWhoKnows on 09/12/2016 - 20:25
      -3

      Yes typical drunk's excuse.

  • lilcheekyone on 08/12/2016 - 23:56
    +7

    Yes the police can. I had someone hit my car on Christmas say 2 so years back I was stuck in a turning lane waiting for the traffic to be free to turn and the car hit me so I got out took a photo of his car and told him to pull over at the carpark just off the main road but the guy drove off (the reason I took a photo of his car is because he reversed back and pretended he didn't hit me and was laughing) so I had a feeling something was up. I went to the police station with his rego (and photo of car) they ended up getting in contact with him. I contacted my insurance company and they said I needed all his detail before they'd fix my car other wise I had to pay my excess out so I went back to the police station and they handed me his name, address and all his details to give to the insurance company. They need the other parties detail for insurance reasons its why the police can give out the information for being in an accident.

    • ozbaragan on 09/12/2016 - 08:35
      +3

      Things must have changed now. I was involved in hit n run like you. My car was damaged and the other driver ran off. I followed her for 20mins while my wife was on the phone with the police. Advised by police to stop following ans go to nearest police station which is Redfern. My insurance wants me to pay excess as well and when I asked for the other party details the officer said she cant release it to me and said the E number is sufficient. Then i just found out from Coles insurance staff who told me that thay they have to pay the police to get the information. That is my experience.this happened in April 2016.

      • ankor on 09/12/2016 - 22:30

        Its very cheap. Get them to pay lol

    • backpaqer on 09/12/2016 - 09:14
      +4

      I've found that police wouldn't give me 3rd party details and would only provide me with their incident number which I could provide to my insurer for them to obtain the 3rd party details.

      However, if you don't have an insurer, then they have to provide the details to you so you know where to send the letter of demand.

      • swapsey on 09/12/2016 - 18:54
        +1

        Great examples, very useful to read for others. There seems to be different rules in different circumstances.

    • HeWhoKnows on 09/12/2016 - 20:26

      Yep. Police don't get involved other than facilitating the claim process.

  • Euphemistic on 09/12/2016 - 06:35
    +2

    Sweet. Its gonna be so much easier to get the details of the person I'm stalking. Damage my car and call the police with their rego!

    • poboy on 09/12/2016 - 09:35
      +2

      The police actually called my Dad first to tell them they had to release his details. So that was a fail safe.

    • johnno07 on 09/12/2016 - 18:46
      +4

      Committing fraud and making false claims to the police because someone doesn't talk to you. You realise you're the shit neighbour in this situation, right? No wonder the guy doesn't give you the time of day.

      • razorack999 on 09/12/2016 - 19:58
        -2

        it was a fictitious scenario..

        • gimli on 10/12/2016 - 18:49

          well the fact that you are a 455 is not fictitious.

  • backpaqer on 09/12/2016 - 09:12
    +1

    dashcams

    • [Deactivated] on 09/12/2016 - 11:15
      +1

      Stationary and unattended?

      • shapers on 09/12/2016 - 13:30
        +1

        Park mode

      • JimmyF on 09/12/2016 - 20:31

        yep…. they have parking mode. record footage when a 'bump' is felt

        • [Deactivated] on 10/12/2016 - 14:07

          Only if they are wired direct to the battery. Not many are.

        • JimmyF on 10/12/2016 - 22:32

          @Ninjastud: thats a installation issue. If you take the lazy way, then yeah you get no recordings.

        • Mintee on 11/12/2016 - 16:33

          @Ninjastud: Or a Cellink Battery B which is what I got 20 hrs on standby pre much :)

  • Dibbers on 09/12/2016 - 09:21
    +1

    At the end of the day there was no damage right ? So what's the problem ? Why would the other person try and contact your Dad anyhow if there was no damage to his vehicle ???? Unless there was…and now your Dad is peeved he has been caught out?

    • razorack999 on 09/12/2016 - 10:21
      +6

      in an altruistic world everyone is selfless and doing the right thing. But the real world is full of people out for themselves and trying to get a freeby. it is not outrageous to suggest that the guy took the opportunity to try to get some dings or scrapes fixed at the fathers expense. I know that my car has plenty of dings from supermarket doors and trolleys etc. I assume others have as well. not everyone is honest

    • Ughhh on 09/12/2016 - 15:05

      There could've been internal damage, or damage that is hard to see from an untrained eye like (I assume) Ops father and many others.

      • ArjaytheGuy on 09/12/2016 - 18:08

        yeah… sometimes damage isn't immediately obvious (or visibly obvious).. for instance the closing of a door could be affected or something like that (probably not in this case… but you never know).

  • pepitovfr on 09/12/2016 - 11:16
    +2

    PSO (here in Victoria at least) can also access car rego information.

    I've had them call me about my car which was parked in a train station.

  • Gershom on 09/12/2016 - 11:40

    I do not believe there is damage on one car but not the other. I'm calling bullshit.

    • MeesusEff on 09/12/2016 - 13:59
      +4

      actually i might believe that. years ago, i accidentally rear-ended a car at the traffic lights, my car wasnt damaged apart from a bit bent number plate, but for some reason, the other car's back bumper's paint was all falling out??? we swapped contacts and arranged a meet up place at uni to pay for the damages, but he never showed up or picked up the phone! Was a super weird (lucky?) experience, thinking that he was probably an international or unlicensed student.

    • Maverick-au on 09/12/2016 - 19:26
      +1

      I do not believe there is damage on one car but not the other. I'm calling bullshit.

      And judging by the state of many cars on the road and the attitudes of the drivers towards other vehicles one persons idea of no damage is different to others.

      It's a shame the police are not investigating this further as drivers who leave the scene of an accident deserve everything they get.

  • CandyMan on 09/12/2016 - 19:01

    Short answer yes
    Further more you must exchange details with the other driver even in minoe accidents

    I know … it sucks

  • MrFrugalSpend on 09/12/2016 - 19:26
    +2

    In Queensland you only have to stop at the scene and provide details if the incident resulted in injury or damage:

    The driver of any vehicle involved in an incident resulting in injury to any person or damage to any property is required to stop at the scene and may also be required to provide their name and address to certain people (including police and the driver of the other vehicle) (s 92 Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (Qld)). If any person is injured, the driver is required to remain at the scene and give assistance. The driver must report the accident to police if a person is killed or injured, or if property damage is likely to exceed $2500.

    https://queenslandlawhandbook.org.au/the-queensland-law-hand…

    Depending on the state, if he legitimately believes there was absolutely NO damage done at all, he can leave without giving details.
    Try driving in Paris, they still believe 'bumper bars' are for exactly that (There's hardly an undamaged car in Paris and it is perfectly normal for locals to back into a park until they 'bump' the car behind, then drive forward until the bump the car in front). If you don't believe me, look on YouTube:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaKCBw6GxBs
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkCyepivokQ
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8B6mn9EzHs
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN6MqsBombA

    • whooah1979 on 09/12/2016 - 21:02
      +1

      Try driving in Paris, they still believe 'bumper bars' are for exactly that

      Their Gallic laziness combines with their Latinate voluptuousness with the result that they would rather eat and make love with their faces than fight.
      gen. webb.

  • brokenglish on 09/12/2016 - 19:58
    +1

    From VicRoads:

    Crash responsibilities
    A summary of what you need to do if you are in a crash.

    If you are involved in a crash you must:
    -stop immediately
    -give help to any injured person
    -provide your name, address, registration number, and vehicle owner’s name to others involved in the crash, or their representative, and to the police (if they are there)
    -if anyone is injured and the police are not at the crash, you must report the crash to the nearest open police station
    -if there is any property damage and the owner (or Police) is not there, you must report the crash to the nearest open police station.

    • razorack999 on 09/12/2016 - 19:59
      -3

      it wasnt a crash, and there was no property damage

      • brokenglish on 09/12/2016 - 20:02

        That's what I thought as well until a police car pulled off from the road and one of them asked me how I managed to get my license and referred me to that link.
        I was in a similar situation as OP's papa, I hit a car that stopped suddenly while giving way.
        No damage to my car but the car I hit had a 10mm dent on its rear bumper…
        This was just last week.

      • HeWhoKnows on 09/12/2016 - 20:30
        +3

        Rubbish. That is only an opinion.Not an expert examination. Rules still apply. Read Accident or incident into crash.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/12/2016 - 14:09

        Rubbish. Damage to property is irrelevant. There was damage to at least one and probably 2 cars.

        • Mintee on 11/12/2016 - 16:32

          … wrong reply :S

      • trongy on 11/12/2016 - 15:05

        The legislation uses the term collision, the VicRoads web page uses crash to mean collision.

        The owner of the other vehicle is claiming that there was property damage (to the vehicle).

        • [Deactivated] on 12/12/2016 - 09:19

          Property damage and vehicle damage are two separate things (legally)

    • HeWhoKnows on 09/12/2016 - 20:29

      Same in all states

  • Randxyz123 on 10/12/2016 - 01:18
    +1

    Isn't this a privacy breach? Are the police able to do this?

    Not a privacy breach and yes they can do that!!

    Be glad he wasn't charged with leaving the scene of an accident and failure to give name and address.

  • slow on 10/12/2016 - 06:37
    +2

    Some idiot drove into me last year and drove away. I got his rego and went to the police. They contacted him and asked his permission to hand me his details, which he gave. I then had to sign a form and they gave them to me. They said if he refused I could still get them but would have been a longer process.
    It turned out fine as he was quite apologetic and lied that he thought there was no damage which he why he drove away.

  • BertieBrown on 10/12/2016 - 10:31
    +1

    I would imagine regardless of the sort of accident you're in, if you drive into another car then you should stop and provide details. Just common sense I reckon; you're Dad could have missed some damage on the other vehicle without realising etc.

    We were in a major accident, weren't at fault, and the cops gave us the other driver details on a little card at the scene, this being in SA.

  • codyy on 10/12/2016 - 11:43

    There is no such thing as accidents only collisions, caused by distraction/driver experience or inexperience and a range of other factors.

    • razorack999 on 10/12/2016 - 14:32

      no one decides to hit another car on purpose- unless they are lunatics

  • PurchaseAnxiety on 10/12/2016 - 14:37
    +1

    I was a victim of a hit and run a few years back. I got the rego details and description of the car. The police rang me a few days later saying they haven't been able to get in contact, so they gave me the blokes address, and I wasn't sure exactly what they wanted me to do with it. But I'm going to say that yes, they have every right to give out the offenders details once they have done everything they can.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/12/2016 - 15:37

    100% allowed

  • lostn on 11/12/2016 - 15:47
    +2

    You're supposed to exchange details at an accident anyway. You don't have a right to go without ever giving your details to anyone.

    Whether the details were given to that party by you, or by the police, what difference does it make? The details were given to them. In this case, even though you say there was no damage to the other car, I think that party had a right to know. We only have your father's word that there was no damage. You can't rule out that someone with a better eye checking more thoroughly could find damage.

    This is technically still hit and run. You don't get to make the judgment call yourself that there was no damage therefore they don't need my details.

    You're actually lucky the police only gave his details out and didn't go any further.

    Just suck it up. If they don't find any damage on their vehicle, this whole episode will be forgotten and everyone can move on with their lives. You didn't give up any sensitive information like bank account numbers or credit card numbers. No harm was done to your father. You're making it out to be more than it is.

  • fusion17 on 09/01/2017 - 13:40

    My parked car was damaged by some Learner trying to reverse park in Hurstville. Side mirror, wheel, and 2 panels scraped.
    The "teacher" set a great example by driving off without leaving any details.

    Luckily someone saw the incident and left their contact details as a witness and the rego/description of the car. I hope this is enough to catch those crooks as the damages will cost me at least 2.5k.

    I asked aami if i should file a police report but they said its not necessary and it wont make a difference.
    A case of beer or whiskey is in it for the good Samaritan if i don't have to pay.

    Would love to get the contact details of the car that hit mine though…didn't think it was possible.

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