Hit and run question

[Rhythm of Life]

I just got off work to see two dogs get hit in front of my place. The driver drove off but was caught by a bystander. He is an illegal immigrant.

Animal control said that there was nothing illegal done. Is this true?

I'm sitting here typing this with blood up to my forearm trying to figure this **** out. How can we let someone like that drive away?

This is in Northridge, CA on Reseda Blvd is it matters.

[Stockton]

Not knowing exact details...but wouldnt the dogs owner actually be at fault? I really don't know. Sad way to lose your pet.

As for that douche bags citizenship... not sure how that has to do with hitting someone's dog. Dunno?

[silversix]

He's illegal. Our laws don't apply to him.

So yeah, he didn't do anything illegal

[ShootinMedic]

It sucks but what were the dogs doing in the road?

[Rhythm of Life]

Basically what happened is the guy in the number 2 lane sees the animals and stops, he honks and puts on emergency flashers, illegal drives straight through in the number 1 lane hitting the dogs and drives off. A bystander on a bike chased after him and threw his bike into the bed of the mans truck and forced him to come back.

These dogs are bigger than my 3 year old cousins, I mean if this guy can't see two dogs how could he see small children?

The dogs got loose from an apartment complex (we assume) but we never found the owners so who knows what happened. They appeared to be some pure bred mastiffs.

[BigDogatPlay]

Nothing in the Vehicle Code that I know of that criminalizes leaving the scene after plowing an animal loose in the road.

Sucks for the dogs and their owner. And yeah the notion of the driver not being able to see kids does come to mind.. All the more is the pity.

[yzErnie]

No crime, not even a hit and run. The dogs have no right to the roadway and the driver has no obligation to stop. The owner of the dogs, if ever located, would be responsible for any damage to the vehicle that hit the dogs.

[Kody the Enforcer]

No crime, not even a hit and run. The dogs have no right to the roadway and the driver has no obligation to stop. The owner of the dogs, if ever located, would be responsible for any damage to the vehicle that hit the dogs.

Got to agree with Ernie on this one, even though as a dog lover this makes me sick.

[Alycon]

No hit and run here. Domesticated animals have to be on a leash less than 6' long in LA county. Dogs have no right of way on roads and the dog owner is liable for all damages. The fact the drive was an "illegal" has no bearing on the facts in this case. He is, in fact, in violation of Federal laws, but who are we kidding.

[Notorious]

Nothing illegal as far as the CA Vehicle Code. Lots of problems with the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) but we know that's not being enforced.

Here's something that Mayor Villagotraitor of Los Angeles seems to have missed, along with the mayors and police chiefs of any sanctuary city... CA Penal Code 834b:

834b. (a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding any person who is arrested if he or she is suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.

(b) With respect to any such person who is arrested, and suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws, every law enforcement agency shall do the following:

(1) Attempt to verify the legal status of such person as a citizen of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted as a permanent resident, an alien lawfully admitted for a temporary period of time or as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of immigration laws. The verification process may include, but shall not be limited to, questioning the person regarding his or her date and place of birth, and entry into the United States, and demanding documentation to indicate his or her legal status.

(2) Notify the person of his or her apparent status as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws and inform him or her that, apart from any criminal justice proceedings, he or she must either obtain legal status or leave the United States.

(3) Notify the Attorney General of California and the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service of the apparent illegal status and provide any additional information that may be requested by any other public entity.

(c) Any legislative, administrative, or other action by a city, county, or other legally authorized local governmental entity with jurisdictional boundaries, or by a law enforcement agency, to prevent or limit the cooperation required by subdivision (a) is expressly prohibited.

[Rhythm of Life]

Bummer

[Spanky8601]

20002. (a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident
resulting only in damage to any property, including vehicles, shall
immediately stop the vehicle at the nearest location that will not
impede traffic or otherwise jeopardize the safety of other motorists.
Moving the vehicle in accordance with this subdivision does not
affect the question of fault. The driver shall also immediately do
either of the following:
(1) Locate and notify the owner or person in charge of that
property of the name and address of the driver and owner of the
vehicle involved

Actually, the dog is considered property like a horse or cow. So the driver is required by law to comply with 20002 (a) VC.

If the dog is not on a leash the owner more than likely is gonna have to pay for damages.

[Notorious]

The dog would be property if it is domesticated and with a tag identifying it as such. Hitting a wild stray would be akin to hitting any other animal while driving. You really can't pull over and try to ascertain who owns that pigeon or rabbit or possum or whatever it was that ran out in front of your car.

[BigDogatPlay]

Actually, the dog is considered property like a horse or cow. So the driver is required by law to comply with 20002 (a) VC.

By a letter of the law read of 20002, I think you are probably right. However the dog owner still has responsibility to control their animals, and using your logic the dog owner's failure to control is the PCF if we were to stretch hitting a dog to be a reportable collision.

I think that unless the dog can be imputed to have a monetary value, as it must be to trigger a grand theft charge for instance, I would submit that it would be a stretch to bring it into the same category as livestock.

[pepsi2451]

Was he at least arrested for driving without a license?