Scratching a car in a parking lot

OK, I know that if you scratch a car in the parking lot, you're supposed to wait, and if the car doesn't come back in a reasonable amount of time, you're supposed to go to the police.

My parents were visiting from the US, and followed the American procedure of leaving a note with telephone numbers, and heard nothing more -- until the police stopped them on the way to the airport and demanded a EUR 600 on-the-spot fine. The whole thing sounds pretty fishy -- if this was such a big offense, why didn't they (or the car owner) call the numbers on the note they left? And if they found my parents based on some rental-car homing device, why did they wait until the last minute? It really feels as if someone was trying to screw my parent over.

My husband looked online and couldn't find anything about what the usual fine or treatment for such a thing is, except for items that seemed to have more to do with a real hit-and-run (i.e., 3 year's prison), rather than a parking lot scratch.

Anyone experienced something similar?

As you can imagine, they have no interest in coming back to Germany!

germans and cars. touchy subject. yep its technicaly fahreflucht and treated with more seriousness than war crimes. bit heavy handed really but forget getting an appology. if your insured you could get an anwalt onto this.

Coming from London, what your parents did i.e. leaving a note with contact details, far surpasses anything that I've experienced. In fact in London it's kind of accepted that your car will be scratched at one time or another, and an admission of error is something that would never happen, unless you catch the perps red handed.

Seems completely bizarre that the police should stop your parents en route to the airport and fine them 600 Euros. Did they have a dragnet out? Unless of course your parents scratched the 'Big Boss's' car!!

Weird.

And the lesson to be learned from this...unless there are witnesses that can indentify you, don't hang around and don't leave a note...

The few times i have hit a car leaving nothing more then a small stratch . i leave a note . the insurance pays anyway. The few times cars have hit me they have not left a note i don't feel upset rather a bit sad for the guy who thinks hes a smart alec . i also think of the saying " what goes around comes around"

Here is what you do.

When caught red-handed, with a small crowd watching etc, get yourself a large piece of paper and a pen and write the following:

"Sorry I scratched your car, I have no intention of owning up, but a small crowd has formed so I am pretending to leave my contact details. Have a nice day".

and leave it under the windscreen.

If you damage other people's property it must be reported to the police. Failure to do so results in a "hit and run" incident. This is a very serious offence here.
Why didn't the victim call your number? Why should he/she? Their vehicle was stationary. They go to the police to see if anyone has reported this. Just think - you could have been taken into custody!!

Yes Germany is a strange and difficult place until you get to know the rules. I've been here for nearly 20 years now -my how time rushes by when you are having fun

Yeah, well tell that to the asshole that left a 3 foot scratch on my brand new (only 1 week old) Z4. Just pisses me off. I've only had it one week!! Looks like someone walked by it with a large bag over their shoulder and scratched it from the door all the way to the back of the car. Bastards!

kitkat64 hey it might have been an accident

Check this out!

http://www.scoala-de-soferi.ro/driving.htm

What's your point? Yes, probably it was accidental - but the fact still remains that someone did around 800€ damage to my new car and now I will have to pay for it. And, NO!, insurance does not cover the first 500€.

watch the shortmovie cause it's really gooooood...

fits to the topic perfectly!

okay. just trying to cheer you up. it is not 800 euros however..

You do absolutely not have to report any kind of accident to the police unless a person has been physically hurt. You do however immediately have to contact the person whose car you damaged, and you may do so via the police if no other means are available.

Thanks Julia - the reason I am so pissed off is because it's one of those BMW leased cars - I only have it for 6 months, and when you turn it in, it had better be pretty f*cking perfect or they charge you for it. One scratched wheel from hitting a curb - 800€. In this case, the scratch is pretty deep so it will require repainting of the whole back quarter panel - I'll be lucky if it's only 800€.

This is the last time I'm doing this BMW lease thing. It is so freaking stressful!

Could've been worse, you could have almost run over a cyclist again and left a dent

Hey wait! He (the cyclist) ran over ME!

Just a bummer. Brand new, dark blue Z4. It is so pretty, but now it has this big ugly scratch in it...