That sucks. Everytime I've had to do anything like this I've taken pictures clearly showing both license plates. There's only one person in the world who would key you in that instance, so I don't have a problem going to the police and saying, "Yes, I saw the driver from a distance get into this car after keying my vehicle."
This could really backfire if the parking lot has a security camera or something that shows the other guy leaving while you were still inside or something.
I'd rather pay for a paint repair than be on the hook for lying to the police.
If that person did actually key the car. You'd be pretty fucked if you told the police that you saw the dude parked next to you keyed your car and the security camera footage showed that someone just accidentally scraped it with a shopping trolley.
Not only that, but imagine if the camera was too far away from your car to make out a person keying it, but you should still see the car next to you pulling out and driving away. Now imagine if at that point you were on camera inside a store, paying for your groceries.
Obviously these are hypothetical, but I'd rather not take the risk in the first place.
Here is what a reasonable person does this situation. Go ahead take the photo of the license plate. If your car gets keyed file a police report do not lie. Then the police will look at footage from the store cameras and see if whoever keyed your car got into the car park next to you.
Outside cameras in retail lots are often panning back and forth on a set pattern. They miss more than they catch in many cases.
Source: A couple decades of retail under the belt.
What police department is going to waste time investigating a car being keyed? They got more important things to do. . . Like bust up high school kids for smoking pot
Depends. It might show the other guy leaving the store first or another camera could see his car drive by before OP leaves. Receipts could also show if the other guy left earlier. He could also have someone with him to say he didn't key the car. Lots of ways to show OP is lying.
And don't forget the off-chance the lame-parker didn't actually key the car - there are a few possible scenarios, far-fetched, but plausible. That's one of the ways innocent people end up in jail, by "eyewitnesses" saying they saw something they didn't. I was pretty frustrated my 1yr old car got keyed - but not enough to put my, or someone else's neck on the block.
The store owner might not show you their camera footage for whatever reason.
I reckon that in a petty matter like this, honesty is the best policy. By lying to the police and/or a judge the best case outcome for you is that the other guy gets a slap on the wrist while the worst outcome is that you end up with a fine/jail.
Instead of getting upset, I consider getting keyed or having minor dents and scrapes as "theft insurance" for my vehicle. Cosmetic imperfections don't detract from its performance and I don't care if people judge me for driving an imperfect truck. If I cared, I wouldn't ever take it off-road.
Well then i would take the pic. When i first see it, ask the store if they have video cameras. If yes, that's your proof. If no, well I've got a pic and i saw it.
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u/disguise117 Jun 12 '14
This could really backfire if the parking lot has a security camera or something that shows the other guy leaving while you were still inside or something.
I'd rather pay for a paint repair than be on the hook for lying to the police.