Allowed to report disconnected brakelights (Ragu?) to local police?

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

What happened today sorta reminded me of the Ragu situation from a few months back.

Today I was just two vehicles behind an Acura (no frickin' kidding here, except it was silver) which CLEARLY had disconnected taillights. Thankfully there was another car in between the Acura and I, and I was following a good safe distance behind the two.

When the point in my journey came to digress away from the Acura's path, I managed to catch up to him in the next lane over and caught a glimpse of the rear Ontario licence plate and immediately jotted it down along with a description of the car (newish model silver Acura, didn't catch the model name). As I passed him, I turned my head over my shoulder and saw he was missing his front plate.

Unfortunately I don't have a dashboard camera, hence why I relied on keen observation especially of his rear licence plate.

Because of the disconnected taillights and missing front Ontario plate, am I allowed to contact my local police to report this driver? Or is it none of my business? I'd feel kind of useless knowing this information and not having been able to prevent something bad from happening.

[ronin1701]

You only have to ask yourself three things:

1. is what you observed of the car illegal?

2. is the method by which you observed the car legal?

3. could someone other than the driver of the car potentially get hurt if the car is allowed to continue running in the observed condition?

If you answers are: 1) yes, 2) yes, and 3) yes, then your course of action should be clear.

"None of my business" is just an excuse to sit on your arse.

[ronin1701]

BTW - did you observe disconnected headlights or tail-lights? Your thread title says the former, the body of your post the latter.

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

You only have to ask yourself three things:

1. is what you observed of the car illegal?

I'm not 100% sure on the law surrounding disconnected brakelights, but my common sense and intuition obviously say yes. Thought I'd check up on here. ;)


2. is the method by which you observed the car legal?

Yes sir. Came close to rear-ending the new car in front of me after I changed lanes and did the shoulder-check to see if he had front plates, but other than that, normal safe driving happened in my immediate environment during that journey.


3. could someone other than the driver of the car potentially get hurt if the car is allowed to continue running in the observed condition?

I was definitely fearing that the car in front of me was going to rear-end the Acura the majority of the time I was safely behind these two. I would have had plenty of time and distance to stop but the guy in front of me following the Acura might not have been so lucky if the Acura suddenly braked. So yes, and not just that potential guy... every minute that passes, that menace is still on the streets.


If you answers are: 1) yes, 2) yes, and 3) yes, then your course of action should be clear.

"None of my business" is just an excuse to sit on your arse.

Excellent response. Thank you. :)

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

BTW - did you observe disconnected headlights or tail-lights? Your thread title says the former, the body of your post the latter.

CRAP, I was discombobulated when I posted. Now I can't seem to edit the thread title. They were definitely taillights/brakelights. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

EDIT - Never mind, I realized I had to go into "Go Advanced" edit mode to be able to alter the thread title. Thanks for pointing this out to me. :)

I've never visited the Automotive forum before so I didn't realize we weren't able to give "thanks" to posts here, but you know you deserved them. Calling the police now.

EDIT 2 - Wow, apparently you CAN give thanks. What's wrong with me today? :lol:

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

Called the police to report it. Huge weight off my chest. The description I gave matched the car they have on file.

I've done my superhero good deed for the day now. And now I slip off into the still of the night until Gothamtropolis needs a hero again.

[Poulet]

What happened to this guy Ragu. Any news?

[jenny_z_z]

What happened to this guy Ragu. Any news?

He was charged.

[my2sense]

Am I missing something here? Did you see him disconnect the taillights? How do you know that they are disconnected and not just blown fuse or burnt out? I'm not sure whether to shake my head at the Acura or the OP. Why not give the benefit of the doubt and flag the driver and let him know that his taillights are out rather than act all gestapo about it? Do you also call the cops when you see cars without DRL (could be easily disconnected...)? I'm also curious why you did a shoulder check to see if he had a front plate and not just look in your mirrors once you passed him?

Somebody take me out of this twilight zone please! Alright, I know that must be a joke post. I can't believe our society has gone downhill this fast! Just in case anyone ask, my taillights and DRL are working fine and I don't drive an Acura!

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

Am I missing something here? Did you see him disconnect the taillights? How do you know that they are disconnected and not just blown fuse or burnt out?

What are the odds that BOTH left and right taillights are dead simultaneously?


I'm not sure whether to shake my head at the Acura or the OP. Why not give the benefit of the doubt and flag the driver and let him know that his taillights are out rather than act all gestapo about it?

Yup, because I'm going to stop in the middle of a busy road during rush hour to inform him. :confused: And doing THAT vigilantism WOULDN'T be acting gestapo?

Anyway, the police are going to give him the benefit of the doubt. They'll look into it. I feel I did the right thing.


Do you also call the cops when you see cars without DRL (could be easily disconnected...)? I'm also curious why you did a shoulder check to see if he had a front plate and not just look in your mirrors once you passed him?

This was my first time in my nearly three decades of life I have called the police to report a non-911 event.

And when the Acura was in my blind spot as I passed in the adjacent lane (he was stopping) was the PERFECT TIME to get visual identification on the presence of a front plate. You are right, I could have drove a bit further to wait until his car appeared in my side mirror, but I trust my eyes more than the mirror.


Somebody take me out of this twilight zone please! Alright, I know that must be a joke post. I can't believe our society has gone downhill this fast! Just in case anyone ask, my taillights and DRL are working fine and I don't drive an Acura!

What does this have to do with anything? I came here looking for constructive advice.

[KL]

Am I missing something here? Did you see him disconnect the taillights? How do you know that they are disconnected and not just blown fuse or burnt out? I'm not sure whether to shake my head at the Acura or the OP. Why not give the benefit of the doubt and flag the driver and let him know that his taillights are out rather than act all gestapo about it? Do you also call the cops when you see cars without DRL (could be easily disconnected...)? I'm also curious why you did a shoulder check to see if he had a front plate and not just look in your mirrors once you passed him?

Somebody take me out of this twilight zone please! Alright, I know that must be a joke post. I can't believe our society has gone downhill this fast! Just in case anyone ask, my taillights and DRL are working fine and I don't drive an Acura!

Back in about late 1990's, one night I saw an early 70' Monte Carlo coming up behind me wihtout the headlights on, the car went by me somewhat quickly but not blindingly fast, I decided I wasn't going to put myself at risk to speed up to inform the driver of this.

Imagine my shock when I read the next day about the driver of a car matching the car I saw the night before, which was few and far in between by the late 1990's, fired shots out of the car a little bit later that evening when the police tried to pull him over!!

[BluePhirePB]

Am I missing something here? Did you see him disconnect the taillights? How do you know that they are disconnected and not just blown fuse or burnt out? I'm not sure whether to shake my head at the Acura or the OP. Why not give the benefit of the doubt and flag the driver and let him know that his taillights are out rather than act all gestapo about it? Do you also call the cops when you see cars without DRL (could be easily disconnected...)? I'm also curious why you did a shoulder check to see if he had a front plate and not just look in your mirrors once you passed him?

Somebody take me out of this twilight zone please! Alright, I know that must be a joke post. I can't believe our society has gone downhill this fast! Just in case anyone ask, my taillights and DRL are working fine and I don't drive an Acura!
I agree.

This one time I got an email from a Nigerian prince asking for money. He must have been down on his luck. So I politely emailed him back to ask for his details, if he had references and how much he wanted. He replied promptly and he seemed legit. I sent him $2,000 and he said he would return it shortly. It's been over a year. I'm sure it's legit and he's just busy.

[joshmxpx]

Anyway, the police are going to give him the benefit of the doubt. They'll look into it.

this will definitely get filed in their high priority special circular filing cabinet...

[DJ_Peanuts22]

Called the police to report it. Huge weight off my chest. The description I gave matched the car they have on file.


What kind of record did they have on file?

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

What kind of record did they have on file?

What I probably meant to say is that the description of the car and the licence plate number I told them was sufficient and accurate for them to retrieve a result in their database search that matched my information. Jeez, I was really out of it when I was starting this thread last night, wasn't I? Here I am confusing RFDers to no end here. :lol:

[Bomberman07]

something similar happened to me. I was on highway 20, it was like midnight so dark outside and there's no light on the highway at this place. So I took the exit and stoped at a gas station instead of risking an accident with this jackass.

[slomo]

Good for you OP, for you have resisted to do the only thing necessary that good men should do nothing.

[ronin1701]

What happened to this guy Ragu. Any news?


He was charged.

Sorry, what's this story on Ragu? When I google search, all I get are hits re: spaghetti sauce :lol:

[dragon_drift]

Sorry, what's this story on Ragu? When I google search, all I get are hits re: spaghetti sauce :lol:

try ragu dashcam

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

Ragu is the internet/RFD nickname/shorthand for Raguruban Yogarajah: http://www.google.ca/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=5&gs_id=32&xhr=t&q=raguruban+yogarajah&pf=p&newwindow=1&safe=off&sclient=psy-ab&oq=ragur&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=79ff5e69f7a9d4b0&biw=1680&bih=921

He practically became a meme on here for some time, featuring the aforementioned jars of his "namesake" spaghetti sauce in funny situations and animated GIFs. :lol:

[ronin1701]

try ragu dashcam


Ragu is the internet/RFD nickname/shorthand for Raguruban Yogarajah: http://www.google.ca/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=5&gs_id=32&xhr=t&q=raguruban+yogarajah&pf=p&newwindow=1&safe=off&sclient=psy-ab&oq=ragur&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=79ff5e69f7a9d4b0&biw=1680&bih=921

He practically became a meme on here for some time, featuring the aforementioned jars of his "namesake" spaghetti sauce in funny situations and animated GIFs. :lol:

Ah OK, thanks.

Now I understand why you referenced an Acura in your initial post :idea:

[akira1971]

When I drive our manual shift car, I hardly use the brakes as well (that includes stoplights sometimes where I sit in neutral without brakes). For a little fun on a daily rush hour commute, I try not to use the brakes all the way home. The Star's Jim Kenzie said he's done it before on his Motoring show, but I haven't been successful yet. But are you going to report me as well? Point is, how do you know for sure his brakelights were disconnected? I don't need to explain to the police that comes knocking on my door about my driving technique.

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

Because the Acura came to a full and complete stop at several traffic lights along our common journey. The fact that brake lights never came on during the entire drive was a concern to me.

How do you not use the brakes during rush hour? I can imagine coasting along in a manual car in other scenarios but brakes seem absolutely essential in the rapidly fluctuating chaotic stop-and-go environment that is rush hour.

[trixstar]

so what driver was it?

[CanadaGooseForumAdmin]

Interestingly enough, the police asked me the same question on the phone (not necessarily with sole regards to ethnicity as us RFDers might like to imply and joke, but any information about what they looked like). I wasn't able to see through the darkened glass to be able to identify anything about the driver, and plus I was also primarily looking out for the front licence plate to verify if I had correctly seen the characters on the back plate.

[thetim]

What are the odds that BOTH left and right taillights are dead simultaneously?

Yup, because I'm going to stop in the middle of a busy road during rush hour to inform him. :confused: And doing THAT vigilantism WOULDN'T be acting gestapo?


I think it's entirely possible for both lights to be burnt out - I saw someone the other day, and either only their left or their centre brake light was functioning. Many, many people never check out their lights at home/wherever to see if they're all working.

And - just waving at someone to roll their window down, or going "Hey there - wanted to let you know your lights are out" isn't vigilantism - it's being courteous. Of course, some people probably won't bother fixing their stuff, and they should be kicked off the road, but...

[trixstar]

I generally see a lot of drivers from a certain ethnic background that have burnt out tail lights along with the burnt out 3rd brake lights.. What are the odds of having 3 lights out a once with the same type of ethnic background?

[Bomberman07]

I generally see a lot of drivers from a certain ethnic background that have burnt out tail lights along with the burnt out 3rd brake lights.. What are the odds of having 3 lights out a once with the same type of ethnic background?

lol, chance are thin

[my2sense]

What are the odds that BOTH left and right taillights are dead simultaneously?

If the tail light fuse is blown then both tail lights will be off.



Yup, because I'm going to stop in the middle of a busy road during rush hour to inform him. :confused: And doing THAT vigilantism WOULDN'T be acting gestapo?


Granted I don't know how busy rush hour is where you live, but here in Vancouver, rush hour is pretty much slow going. Letting someone know that their tail lights or that their blinkers are still on is not vigilantism, it's called being neighbourly and helpful. Of course, that is only if you're going in with the mindset that they are not aware that their tail lights (or blinkers) are not working and not that they are deliberately trying to screw someone over.


Anyway, the police are going to give him the benefit of the doubt. They'll look into it. I feel I did the right thing.
...
What does this have to do with anything? I came here looking for constructive advice.


I don't know why but this post just reminds me of the beginning of the Eastern Bloc Stasi citizen spies from days of old as I'm pretty sure they felt they did the right thing too. I'm not saying you're a citizen spy but it just feels like that the direction we're going. People see something that is out of the norm (broken tail lights) and assume that there is criminal activities about (must be Ragu) so let's call the cops right away rather than see if they can help ("Hey, you're tail lights are not working").

My society comment is referring to my believe that these kinds of actions are turning us into an apathetic, paranoid, and anti-social society. Maybe my post was a little snarky (and I apologize for that) but my constructive advice is don't jump to conclusions and be more neighbourly if you want to help next time. I've let at least 2 people know that their tail lights were blown in the past and just yesterday told one guy that his left blinker was still on during stop/go rush hour traffic. He didn't realize that it was on (listening to music) and was quite thankful. I'm pretty sure that your Acura owner would be just as thankful if you (or someone else since you couldn't safely) had told him.

[Shaner]

There`s no reason to think this guy is another ragu. Chances are a fuse is blown or both are burnt out and the driver has no idea. What are the chances both are burnt out? Perhaps not likely, but it wouldn`t shock me, these things happen. If it`s a fuse, then it makes sense for both to be out at the same time.

Chances are the police won`t do anything about it. At best, they`ll send him a letter notifying him that they received a complaint about his brake lights. Next time, just quickly yell out the window at him that his brake lights are out. In all likelihood, he has no idea.