Tiger Woods and accident scene responsibility

[zarn02]

The cops are involved because Tiger's neighbors called 911.  Careless driving will probably cost him $250 + the cost of fixing the fire plug.  Tiger just surpassed $1billion in career earnings, so I don't think this $250 ticket will make a big dent in his pocketbook.

I suspect that there's a bit more to this story than "Tiger recklessly backed out of his driveway" -- it was likely some sort of domestic disturbance.  Lots of conjecture now on how his wife may have been chasing him down the driveway with a driver and smashed the windows while he was makin' a getaway.  The ever-reliable National Enquirer has already claimed Woods is gettin' some on the side with a NY night club hostess.  In general, though, this whole thing will be swept under the rug soon.

If you lost control of your car and did some property damage as a result, you'd certainly be liable for the cost of fixing whatever you broke.  Hitting a cliff?  Not much to be liable for in that scenario, as long as no one is hurt. 

Didn't your insurance co. want a police report when you totaled your car?

I do hope it all gets swept under the rug soon. I don't have any particular opinion about Tiger Woods, and I couldn't give a shit less if he is sleeping around. These are issues between himself, his wife, and (maybe) his (alleged) "other woman."

If he wants to take a "careless driving" citation then so be it. He could probably fight it in court if he wanted to admit that he was being chased by his golf club-wielding wife. That seems unlikely.

Barring any admission that someone else was responsible for his questionable driving, I'd say he's liable to pay for the repairs.

That done, he should tell the press to piss off, 'cause we don't need to know.

[bluemoco]

That done, he should tell the press to piss off, 'cause we don't need to know.

Like that ESPN columnist said "... where some athletes provide total media access, Woods grants glimpses into his personal life in teaspoon-sized portions. He is the Kim Jong-Il of sports: viewable, but impenetrable."

Once he's paid his citation, he's going to go underground for awhile. 

[herm]

...he should tell the press to piss off, 'cause we don't need to know.

agreed. especially since no one (but he+maybe wife) know what actually happened. maybe he has narcolepsy...
now,......if it turns out that his career is threatened by this (because its some debilitating disease or such) then stop the press.

[triangleforge]

That done, he should tell the press to piss off, 'cause we don't need to know.

Somehow, I don't think that's going to quite do it for the sponsors who've paid millions on top of millions to associate their products the pre-crash Tiger image. Maybe it's not fair, but it's part of the deal and he knows it better than anyone.

[bluemoco]

Somehow, I don't think that's going to quite do it for the sponsors who've paid millions on top of millions to associate their products the pre-crash Tiger image. Maybe it's not fair, but it's part of the deal and he knows it better than anyone.

True, the sponsors have a keen interest in Tiger's image. 

At this point, though, the only thing he did is have a minor traffic accident.  He's going to be fined $164 and get 4 points on his driving record.   Unless something else surfaces, a traffic accident and some rumored infidelity are not going to cause the sponsors to pull the plug on him.

The man's goin' into a serious "lockdown" mode now.  He's going to lay low, stay quiet, and wait for this storm to blow over.

[sbrguy]

it makes sense he would get a ticket, afterall we hear stories on the board

about people crashing with no other vehicles, and basically going off the road then the police write up the person "because they have to" for losing control of their vehicle even if it waws because there was oil in the raod, etc.

that is why tiger should get the ticket,a ftarll he actually hit and damaged thing.  so the cop should have to "write him up because he has to write it for somthing" as other have mentioned in the past.

[cyrus buelton]

In the state of Ohio, if you are involved in an accident, you do not need to involve the authorities at all.

You just need to exchange insurance information, DL numbers, and that is about it.


But as was said.....someone called 911.


Interested if he can get ticketed considering he lives in a PRIVATE community probably with their own security detail.

If anything, the association could possibly fine him.



I think what the cops want to know if there was some domestic violence involved....which is highly rumored.

[Triple J]

Interested if he can get ticketed considering he lives in a PRIVATE community probably with their own security detail.

If anything, the association could possibly fine him.

Roads are public, whether in a private community or not. He also ran over a fire hydrant...another piece of public property whether in a private community or not.

The hydrant damage doomed him for the cops having to be called. If he would have just hit a tree, then no reason to call anyone.

The domestic violence thing is a whole different issue...and like you said, may have been the actual reason the cops were called.

[bluemoco]

Looks like there is more info emerging from Tiger himself:  He's issued a statement indicating he has made some 'transgressions'. Yet another woman is coming forward with details of a relationship in Us Magazine. 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/02/tiger.woods/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

That might explain why his (hot) wife was upset.   

[cyrus buelton]

Roads are public, whether in a private community or not. He also ran over a fire hydrant...another piece of public property whether in a private community or not.

I don't agree.


I live in a private community.

The city doesn't plow my roads.

they are private.

Now, there is probably an agreement in place which gives the Police authorization.

You can own a shopping center and have it 100% private or you can sign an agreement with the local PD to allow them to patrol, etc.


We had a recent issue where someone was involved in a car accident in a hospital parking lot, private proper. Local Police would not fill out an accident form as they said no jurisdiction. Can't recall what state.


I am sure Tiger's 'hood has an armed guard and security vehicles. 24x7

[Autostrada Pilot]

Local PD here will do a police report, but will not issue a citation, on private property (parking lots, etc).

[Triple J]

I don't agree.


I live in a private community.

The city doesn't plow my roads.

they are private.

Commercial parking lots are a different story, as are cond/apt parking lots. They are not subject to local traffic laws, and you can't get a ticket in them. They are not streets, just parking lots.

Streets on the other hand are subject to local traffic laws. All streets.

All developments are on private land. The developer buys the land, and puts houses on it. When designing the subdivision, be it gated (i.e. private) or not, the developer must comply with local ordinances regarding roads, open space, etc. Although the roads are technically on the private land, they are given to the city upon completion, and are subject to their inspection during construction. Same goes for all of the utilities (i.e. water sewer, storm drain).

It is irrelevant if your streets aren't plowed.

[herm]

The only places in the United States where local law enforcement has no jurisdiction of any kind is in our national parks.

irrelevant fact #2 - tiger would not have been living in that community if the house he bought from my great aunt had not burned down.

[zarn02]

The only places in the United States where local law enforcement has no jurisdiction of any kind is in our national parks.

irrelevant fact #2 - tiger would not have been living in that community if the house he bought from my great aunt had not burned down.

[dropstharockalot]

Commercial parking lots are a different story, as are cond/apt parking lots. They are not subject to local traffic laws, and you can't get a ticket in them. They are not streets, just parking lots.

Streets on the other hand are subject to local traffic laws. All streets.

All developments are on private land. The developer buys the land, and puts houses on it. When designing the subdivision, be it gated (i.e. private) or not, the developer must comply with local ordinances regarding roads, open space, etc. Although the roads are technically on the private land, they are given to the city upon completion, and are subject to their inspection during construction. Same goes for all of the utilities (i.e. water sewer, storm drain).
It is irrelevant if your streets aren't plowed.

Highlight added - While what you've described is typically the case, it isn't always true.  It is entirely dependent on the locality, the utility, and the development.

The municipality that I work for allows private drives that are not required to be dedicated to the public in any way.  These drives are often identified as access easements, and convey access rights only to the listed parties â€" utility providers, emergency services, government vehicles, and residents and invited guests.  It's basically a big shared driveway, and not a public road at all.  If Tiger's subdivision is as super-exclusive as the press would lead one to believe, it is quite possible that what would appear to be a typical road is not right-of-way and therefore, not open to the public at all.

Likewise, we also deal with private utility providers.  The water lines in several of our subdivisions are property of a collective (a water utility started by the developer specifically to serve the developments when the public utilities in the area couldn't provide water).  This collective has many of the rights that a public utility would have, but isn't required to serve anyone based on typical utility provision statutes.  And since it's within one of those goofy subdivisions with the private roads, the lines and hydrants are in easements too â€" not within public right of way, and not in any way public property.
So, even though it's rare, it's possible that Tiger ran over a private hydrant on a private drive and not public property on a public road.

While being chased by his furious,golf-club wielding  smokin'-hot Norwegian supermodel wife.

Because he had an affair.

With the hair-pullin', cheap-shottin' University of New Mexico soccer babe.


BOOSH!