Reporting DUI's to ISP (crime, high school, dangerous) - City-Data Forum

fearnofish · 01-19-2012, 06:18 PM

I have always reported a suspected to the Idaho State Police or local Police Department. I know it is not something everyone would do so I wanted to see what people's opinions were on that.

The phone number to call is *ISP on your cell phone in any area of Idaho. That will get you to the Idaho State Police dispatch center in your region. Just tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, and why you think the vehicle is D.U.I.
You can either elect to sign a citation or not sign a citation. The difference being if you say you will sign a citation you are physically the one signing the citation that would be given to the person. The Officer will sign the citation below you.

Once you sign the citation you will have to fill out a statement stating what you saw, the more detail the better, then appear in court if it goes to court and testify to what you saw.

The Officer will not need to witness the person driving in manner that would normally give him probable cause to stop the vehicle if you say you will sign a citation. They usually will follow the vehicle and try to get their own PC to stop the car to make it more of a airtight case when it comes to court.

If you do not want to sign a citation the Officer will have to get his own PC on the vehicle to stop it and they will take it from there. You may get a subpoena to appear in court still.

I have personally signed the citation on several DUI or wreckless drivers and as long as you don't mind appearing in court and testifying to what you saw it is not a bad process.

Fish Taco64 · 01-19-2012, 07:20 PM

If I see somebody that I believe is a danger to myself or other drivers, then yes, I will report them. A few years ago, a girl I went to high school with was killed by a drunk driver who blew a red light going 90mph in a 45 zone. I have no tolerance for idiots that have no regard for anyone else. If they want to kill themselves, they should do it in a manner that is no threat to anyone else.

mash potato · 01-28-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearnofish

if you say you will sign a citation you are physically the one signing the citation that would be given to the person.

You are a brave soul who is not worried about retribution.

fearnofish · 01-28-2012, 05:15 PM

I dont see how retribution is an issue. Almost all of the time the Officer has enough PC to stop the vehicle on his own so I am just a good witness in court.
We had one fellow figure out we were following him and he stopped in a grocery store parking lot and got out and had a baseball bat but we were two rows over and behind us were two patrol cars. He ended up facedown in the dirt with Police Officers on his back and received more charges for his stupidity.

mash potato · 01-28-2012, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearnofish

I dont see how retribution is an issue.

Since your name is on the ticket, you could be looked up by the ticket recipient.

fearnofish · 01-29-2012, 02:47 PM

You could be ran over by a stray boulder rolling down a mountain too.

Likelihood of either very very low.

I challenge you to find one documented local case of that happening.

mash potato · 01-29-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearnofish

You could be ran over by a stray boulder rolling down a mountain too.

Ah, but the inanimate stray boulder didn't get a ticket with your name on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearnofish

I challenge you to find one documented local case of that happening.

Well, I based my response just on what I see and hear about crime. Sometimes that crime is based on revenge by sick people who have nothing better to do. Do I still need to try to find an example?

Fish Taco64 · 01-29-2012, 08:03 PM

I am more then willing to sign anything they need me to sign and I could care less if the person sees it. I will never let fear stop me from doing the right thing. I won't sit back and take the chance that somebody could be killed because I don't want to put my name on a piece of paper.

MysticalDream · 01-29-2012, 08:35 PM

While we are it, let's report people talking on cell phone while driving, as they have proven talking on a cell and driving is more dangerous then drinking and driving and has resulted in more deaths..

pw72 · 01-29-2012, 09:56 PM

Best thing to do if you see a reckless/possible drunk driver... exit.

Then if you feel strongly about it, report it. But as others have mentioned, be careful about the information you give. Certainly you don't want to end up in court, unless there was an accident you witnesed. I'm all for getting these drivers off the road, but reporting it perhaps brings more hardship than is necessary. Do what you feel is right.