Hit and Run but Dashcam Didn't Pick up Number Plate

Lwongfu on 09/02/2025 - 20:09
Last edited 17/02/2025 - 09:10

Hi everyone,

A grey Hyundai hatchback ran a red light hitting the front passenger side of our grey Honda HRV last Saturday night (01/02/25). They failed to stop so we weren’t able to get their details. I'm based in Northwest Sydney.

Unfortunately, there's so much glare on the number plate of the other car when we looked at our dashcam footage that you can't see anything.

We've tried playing around with video editors but have had no luck getting the number plate to be less glare-y. Our dash cam is a Viofo 119 v3 which has picked up number plates at night before but not this time.

Any ideas on how we can get the number plate to show better? We've been told by our insurer that without the other drivers details we need to pay an insurance excess of $1K and don't get a hire car for as long as the repairs to our car take.

Dashcam footage on DCOA here at 4:46: https://youtu.be/IYSyNw1RTsg?feature=shared

Dashcam footage on Hills Police Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15vUcpEF8h/?

Thanks all!

Automotive Dash Camera

Comments

  • zonra on 09/02/2025 - 20:19
    +3

    You'll probably get better advice if you post the footage so people know what sort of quality we're dealing with.
    Edit: nvm, footage was originally posted but edited out.

    • niggardly on 11/02/2025 - 18:35
      -1

      The footage posted on facebook is anonymous, that group doesnt allow it as they claim the Wong is stealing commentors info. The video also had no sound. Plus Wong removed and reuploaded. I think Wong could be dodgy (not sure how).

      Also maybe upload video to AI and try get number plate?

  • Bruceflix on 09/02/2025 - 20:20
    +43

    Wait a minute. You have a dashcam. You are clearly not at fault. And you have insurance.

    You don't belong here.

    Real ozbargainers rely on MS paint diagrams and no insurance.

    But, on point, I hope there's a video techie here that can filter that vid and get a plate for you.

    • boomramada on 09/02/2025 - 20:32
      -5

      OP had a video with personal info, now poor OP need to get a video editing software to mask the OPs personal info, so someone else with good editing software can freeze the each frame for number plates. 😬

    • jv on 10/02/2025 - 09:52
      +5

      Wait a minute. You have a dashcam. You are clearly not at fault. And you have insurance.

      They will lose their rating though and have to pay the excess…

      • derrida derider on 10/02/2025 - 11:48
        +3

        jv, Bruceflix just left the "/s" off the end of that sentence.

        As I've said before, never attempt satire on the internet because someone will always take it literally. Without body language and tone of voice it is very hard to tell when someone is joking.

    • Dr Phil on 10/02/2025 - 20:34
      +2

      We know Op is not at fault

      But the victim must be able to identify the offender to avoid being liable fior the excess on the claim.

      Thats the problem here

  • tenpercent on 09/02/2025 - 20:32
    -2

    Revisit the scene and have a look up. There are police state surveillance cameras all along our streets now. Most major intersections have them now in Sydney. You should be able to request the footage from the intersection where the event took place or perhaps the next one along in the direction the perp was travelling. Perhaps they got a less glary angle. I am not sure who owns/operates the cameras so I couldn't help you where to direct the request.

    • boomramada on 09/02/2025 - 20:34
      +23

      There are police state surveillance cameras all along our streets now.

      Lol police wouldn't do that unless there is a murder involved. That will cost them more than $1000 lol

      • tenpercent on 09/02/2025 - 20:46

        They're probably not directly operated by the police, just at their disposal. I would guess it's whichever department is responsible for roads.

    • wongfu on 09/02/2025 - 20:44
      +1

      We tried but apparently they r just live feed traffic cams that don’t record unless told to by the police. We’ve asked the police to request CCTV from nearby businesses too.

      In the meantime, we’ve been posting on local community FB groups instead now in the hopes someone else has dashcam footage too. We even gave the heads up to local smash repairers and wreckers.

      • Bruceflix on 09/02/2025 - 20:49
        +14

        We’ve asked the police to request CCTV from nearby businesses too.

        I wish you luck with that. I've taken dashcam footage into the police of hit and run where the plate is easily read and they haven't bothered to chase it up.

        • tenpercent on 09/02/2025 - 20:59
          +22

          I had my wallet stolen once. The thief used my opal card which meant I figured out which train station they used it. The Police wouldn't even follow up to get the footage to prove who did it and track them down. They also attempted to use my credit card (which I had already put a block on) - which must be some kind of fraud or attempted theft of money. Apparently that was a matter between the police and the credit card company. They never followed any of it up. Police are absolutely useless.

          • wongfu on 09/02/2025 - 21:12
            +6

            @tenpercent: Yeah police didn’t even attend the crash even though by law I thought they were supposed to with hit and runs. They said they were under resourced on the night and told us to come into a station the next day

              • smartazz104 on 10/02/2025 - 08:56

                @Downvoter: They’re still waiting regardless.

              • lonewolf on 10/02/2025 - 11:39
                +9

                @Downvoter: my house was burgled, police didnt care either, eventually rocked up and never followed up even though they were meant to as there was evidence proving it was a tradie that had been in the place a few days prior. We chased up, and they said multple times they will get back to us and never did. A detective was also meant to contact us, they never bothered either. police arent interested except when they can make revenue out if it. If burglaries meant that cops get 50% of the recovered loot back…they will suddenly get involved a lot more.

              • Piranha2004 on 13/02/2025 - 06:12

                @Downvoter: Highway patrol exists for a reason

            • besttechadvisor on 10/02/2025 - 10:14
              -3

              @wongfu: Police don't have to attend by law. You can't leave the scene of a serious traffic incident until you report it to police by law. The exceptions are if you're going directly to the hospital (if you're injured) or police station (e.g. if phone doesn't work). If police say they can't attend, then that's that.

          • ihbh on 10/02/2025 - 14:30
            +1

            @tenpercent:

            Police are absolutely useless.

            YMMV.

            Smoke alarm went off in our house years ago when we were at work. Neighbor probably called fire brigade and they let themselves in and changed the battery and left a note.

            That night the police checked in on us and I thanked them for checking in on us.

            • tenpercent on 10/02/2025 - 15:07
              +5

              @ihbh: Bloody typical. They can find time to check in on someone whose smoke alarm went off and their house didn't burn down and had already been attended to by the fire brigade (who actually did their job) but they can't do stuff like solve crimes. Bloody typical.

              • jackspratt on 10/02/2025 - 16:10
                -3

                @tenpercent: Sounds like you still haven't recovered from the police declining to get involved when someone nicked one of your sourgums when you were a kid.

                • tenpercent on 10/02/2025 - 20:52
                  +3

                  @jackspratt: Looks like we got ourselves a blue boot licker here!

                  No actually.. It was my wallet and its contents including cash, credit card, debit card, license, medicare card, opal card, a gift card. People used to be deported to the other side of the planet for much less. Now they don't even get followed up by the police who do have time to do pointless house calls like busy body social workers. The sad part is the thief will just be emboldened and probably victimise other people and graduate to even more serious crimes.

                  • jackspratt on 10/02/2025 - 21:17
                    -2

                    @tenpercent: Do the cops wear blue boots?

                    Can't say I've ever got close enough to notice, but seems you have.

              • Muppet Detector on 10/02/2025 - 20:44

                @tenpercent: There is a fire station at the end of a street.
                There WAS a scout hall next door to the fire station.
                Scout hall caught fire.
                All fire engines were on other calls.
                By the time an engine was free to attend the scout hall, it had effectively burned down.
                They say location is everything. Scout hall was right next door to fire brigade and it still burned to the ground.

      • ozb1ozb2ozb3 on 10/02/2025 - 09:46
        +1

        Does the intersection have red light cameras?

        I feel for you OP. I hope this resolves in your favour. I also hope there was no injury.

        • wongfu on 10/02/2025 - 11:02

          Unfortunately nothing :( then again if it had one people might not run red lights in the first place

      • besttechadvisor on 10/02/2025 - 10:11
        -1

        Police aren't going to bother; they've got too much on their plate to worry about a mostly civil matter. Go to the businesses and ask them yourself. Offer them some sort of reward, maybe.

      • pjbargain15 on 11/02/2025 - 08:56
        -2

        Then why don't you apply? Or did you get rejected already? No work and paid well seems like a good deal… Any reason you don't want it?

    • LuvABargainSYD on 10/02/2025 - 16:33
      +1

      If you’re referring to the cameras that monitor traffic incidents, they’re for live monitoring & don’t record but have a look around for homes or businesses with security cameras.

      • tenpercent on 11/02/2025 - 08:45
        +1

        OP: There was a traffic incident involving a car running a red light then smashing into me and (profanity) up my car.
        Me: Maybe the police state surveillance apparatus cameras everywhere have some footage.
        You: Nah they're just for traffic incidents only live monitoring.
        Me: I guess nobody was live monitoring that traffic incident?

        • LuvABargainSYD on 11/02/2025 - 10:12

          I’m not sure how well their crystal ball works though! Just for the record; it’s not police who monitor them either.

        • wongfu on 11/02/2025 - 16:34
          -1

          Yeah bit of a cop out by the cops. The cams in question are here and are run by Transport for NSW: https://www.livetraffic.com/traffic-cameras

          There’s a traffic cam that faces the T-way at the intersection I had the collision. There are others further north and south on Old Windsor Rd.

          There’s also a red light speed camera at the next intersection north (Sunnyholt Rd and Old Windsor Rd intersection but it hasn’t been apparently commissioned yet as it got taken out and put back in recently due to roadworks). If it had been commissioned then the police would’ve been able to get the number plates of the hit and run driver assuming they went through that intersection.

  • wongfu on 09/02/2025 - 20:36
    +1

    I created a new link to the dashcam footage here that’s anon lol:
    https://limewire.com/d/14c73a8b-37b2-45a4-97c5-c3053a9b9038#…

    • tenpercent on 09/02/2025 - 21:01
      +54

      Neat. Limewire still exists?!

    • CodeXD on 09/02/2025 - 21:01
      +23

      wow limewire, thats something I haven't heard of in a while… and here I am… back downloading video from it lol

      • wongfu on 09/02/2025 - 21:04
        +1

        Lol yes I was surprised too. Literally Googled for something that would let me upload a large file anonymously

        • CodeXD on 09/02/2025 - 22:23
          +3

          I asked chatgpt to reduce the glare, but file was too big. By the time I reduced it down, I had already used up my data analysis limit for the day.

          • wongfu on 09/02/2025 - 23:41

            @CodeXD: Thanks for the idea mate. Gave it a go too but no luck. Guess the reflection on the number plate is just too much

          • nobro25 on 10/02/2025 - 18:13

            @CodeXD: Try DeepSeek?

      • ajr5k on 10/02/2025 - 15:19

        First time downloading video from Limewire?

        • CodeXD on 10/02/2025 - 15:21

          and here I am… back downloading video from it lol

    • unhuman on 11/02/2025 - 08:39
      +1

      Why not upload on daily motion or YouTube. Who will download a file and play on personal machine from a site which used to be my fav 20 years ago.

    • DangerNoodle on 12/02/2025 - 17:36
      +1

      Won't help you for this one, but there is a CPL kit available for your camera.

    • 87percent on 09/02/2025 - 21:05
      +11

      Viofo isn’t a potato.

    • lgacb08 on 09/02/2025 - 21:52
      +3

      Potato or not at night you'll be at the mercy of all the lights and glares on the road.

      • mantra on 09/02/2025 - 23:55
        +7

        CPL Filter on dashcam lens will reduce glare and reflections BUT at a cost of light

        THEN you need larger sensors, lower aperture to let in more light BUT at a cost of money

    • CodeXD on 09/02/2025 - 21:04
      +20

      LOL OP has green light going straight

    • cloudy on 09/02/2025 - 23:25
      +28

      I hope you don't have a license

    • pulpfiction on 10/02/2025 - 20:42
      +2

      Haha this person is why these accidents happen.

    • Maki on 11/02/2025 - 09:58
      +5

      What car do you drive? A grey Hyundai hatchback?

  • AustriaBargain on 09/02/2025 - 21:10

    There probably shouldn't be a turn with care at that intersection when oncoming traffic comes up over a hill.

    • wongfu on 09/02/2025 - 21:14
      +6

      Sorry to clarify - the other guy ran a red light. It isn’t a turn with care

      • Eeples on 10/02/2025 - 23:06

        Ran a red or ran a red arrow?

        • johnno07 on 11/02/2025 - 06:39
          +5

          Yes.

          • Eeples on 11/02/2025 - 07:38
            -4

            @johnno07: I’m not wholly convinced a red arrow was run as at nighttime (less busy times) typically traffic lights change their functionality to not have the red arrow.

        • wongfu on 11/02/2025 - 16:39
          +2

          They ran a red arrow

    • wongfu on 09/02/2025 - 21:21
      +23

      The other guy ran a red light. It isn’t a turn with care. We went through the footage with the police the next day to file a report and they deemed us not at fault.

        • wongfu on 09/02/2025 - 21:43
          +7

          Our car wasn’t drivable but we managed to move it out of the intersection (Old Windsor Rd and Miami St, Glenwood) and onto Balmoral Rd, Bella Vista.

        • try2bhelpful on 10/02/2025 - 07:11
          +22

          Really stupid idea to try to chase the car.

        • smartazz104 on 10/02/2025 - 08:57
          +16

          You should quit while you’re behind.

        • nobro25 on 10/02/2025 - 18:15
          +3

          If OP chased them. OP could potentially cause an accident.

        • Muppet Detector on 10/02/2025 - 20:48
          +2

          He's not freakin Batman!

    • OMGJL on 10/02/2025 - 00:39
      +15

      I see, this is why I see so many morons on the road —- they don't even know the road rules and think they have every right.

    • kaleidoscope on 10/02/2025 - 16:24
      +2

      found the offender!

    • Succulent on 11/02/2025 - 08:16
      +2

      No one in the right mind would be willing to go through the hassle of car repair process, despite of them costing $0. Would you rather live your life following the usual routine, or with your routine disturbed with a caveat of you wont pay a single dollar, you might try a different car temporarily, you need to waste your time dealing with ppl who potentially hit and run, do not have insurance, insurance admin, police admin, potential cause of injury, death, perma damage on car.. you get the idea..

    • Muppet Detector on 11/02/2025 - 15:59

      Gotta be a defence lawyer, eh?

  • CaptainJack on 09/02/2025 - 21:17
    +4

    Interesting, i would've thought if you can prove you're not at fault with the video then it's not your problem the other driver didn't provide their details.

    • wongfu on 09/02/2025 - 21:36

      Yep exactly what we assumed after we went looking for the other driver after they didn’t come to us but had no luck.
      Our car wasn’t drivable but we managed to move it out of the intersection (Old Windsor Rd and Miami St, Glenwood) and onto Balmoral Rd, Bella Vista. I think our insurer and the police maybe expected us to chase after the hit and run driver to get their deets…

      • Xyzzy on 10/02/2025 - 08:43

        Who is your insurer?

        • wongfu on 10/02/2025 - 11:27
          +5

          Youi - they’ve been taking us around in circles. We even asked them about the hire car option when we got the policy and I think they only mentioned that you have to be not at fault. We’ve asked them to review the call but they’ve sat on it for a week and they might just say well you should’ve read the PDS.

          If they had told me on the call something like ‘keep in mind if the other car doesn’t stop to exchange details you need to pay the excess and you won’t get a hire car’ I would’ve likely changed that option on the policy. I’ve never been an accident and I’ve had my license for more than 14 years. Unfortunately life lesson from this is going to cost me no car for apparently at least a month :(

          • tenpercent on 10/02/2025 - 15:13
            +1

            @wongfu: I would think that if they told you they will provide a hire car if your car gets wrecked as long as you are not at fault then that becomes part of the contract. ACL might help you here but I can only see the remedy being them reimbursing your bill for a hire car / uber rides / taxi fares. So you'd have to risk paying out of pocket first.

            • factor on 11/02/2025 - 09:05
              +1

              @tenpercent: The definition of "not at fault" for most insurers is that you can provide the name and address of a person 100% responsible for the damage.

          • PleasureMe on 11/02/2025 - 08:49
            +5

            @wongfu: Youi are the worst insurer. I don't know why so many people go with them. They are useless and always try to look for a way to not have to pay. Do not fall for their ads. Go with a longstanding insurance company like AAMI, QBE, Allianz, etc. Don't go with the cheap ones like Youi, Budget Direct and all the other names that have only popped up in the last few years. They cut corners to make themselves competitive with the longstanding major insurers.

            • 2025 on 11/02/2025 - 12:56

              @PleasureMe: Just checked Allianz QBE and AAMI PDS, in all cases you need to provide driver details to get excess waived, not sure how this helps OP

            • flubba86 on 11/02/2025 - 13:25
              +5

              @PleasureMe: My wife got dropped as a customer from Youi. She was paying the higher premium for lower excess charges. In 2014 she was involved in an accident (not at fault), made a claim, got her car fixed. Later that year her premiums went up. Then in 2015 she was involved in another accident (again not at fault), she made another claim, got her car fixed again. Later that year her premiums went up again. Then when time came to renew her policy in 2016, they said they can no longer insure her.

              • nwa on 12/02/2025 - 00:24
                +2

                @flubba86: That's normal behaviour from those companies. On home insurance after I made a claim they increased the rates and didn't pressure like before to renew. If I made another claim then they wouldn't renew. All they want is to collect premiums with no claims.

    • boomramada on 10/02/2025 - 09:04
      +1

      If that is the case, we all can use OP's video to get away from insurance excess :)

    • derrida derider on 10/02/2025 - 11:56
      +2

      That is naive - read your PDS. Basically it says that they only waive the excess if they can make another party pay it. It is not about you not being "at fault" at all.

      • wongfu on 10/02/2025 - 12:37
        +3

        Youi’s PDS says you need to be not at fault first. What I don’t get is how you're supposed to get a hit and run driver’s details. As other Ozbargainers have said it’s not worth chasing them down especially in a non-drivable car.

        • bp2000 on 10/02/2025 - 15:19
          +5

          Yeah it's insane. What's more I was getting insurance quotes recently and the wording when putting your history now is "accident where the excess wasn't payable" not "no fault". So you may be the safest driver in the world it seems but one hit and run and for all intents and purposes you were at fault.

          So garbage.

        • derrida derider on 13/02/2025 - 14:24

          Yes, but you are talking about what insurance companies SHOULD do, while I am pointing out what they DO do.
          Unfair or not, that is how it works.

    • John Dough on 10/02/2025 - 18:45
      +5

      I think OP should be rather insistent and have this escalated up the chain at Youi.
      We buy insurance (and dashcams) to not have to deal with these idiot drivers.
      They take your money, but "sorry, you have to pay the excess as the stolen car/scene runner didn't leave their details"
      I'll never use Youi (not that I ever would as they are SO expensive compared to others)

      Do all insurance companies have this policy? It's got me rage posting 😆

      • CaptainJack on 10/02/2025 - 19:43

        It does seem very odd to me that a 'comprehensive' policy won't fully cover you if the other driver decides to do a runner - that's kind of the exact situation sort of situation you buy comprehensive for. But if that's what they make you agree to in the PDS, I guess there's not much you can do.

        (I drive a beater car and just use 3rd party so I'm not looking at it too closely).

    • Jono05 on 11/02/2025 - 13:17

      Who pays for the repairs then? That’s why you need to identify the at fault party.

      • CaptainJack on 11/02/2025 - 13:25

        It depends what is in the PDS.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join