Well happy new year! I was out buying fricken sparklers and left my car sitting on the side of the road for all of 10 minutes. I came back and found my car door smashed in. At least I had a witness, but he only got three numbers and the make and model of the truck. He said the guy just looked both ways and took off with wheels squeeling. So I get to ring in the new year without my empeg enabled car. Just thought I'd contribute to the new year happiness that's going around.

P.S. Tthe empeg was fine.

Bummer.

Shouldn't 3 #s & make and model be enough to trace it? Oh well, glad you and the empeg are ok.

My New Year's Eve is so exciting that I'm checking the board every 15 min. just to see if somebody posts.....23:47 CST.

I'm checking the board every 15 min. just to see if somebody posts

Well... ummm... I hate to disappoint, then, so... uh.... here's a post. Happy New Year, when it gets here (it's not on the left coast, yet).

Bummer about the hit-n-run.

That sucks man. Maybe you will get lucky and they will find the drunk uninsured bastard.

Wo-Ho! Highlight of my night.

Actualy I'm darn close to breaking 100 posts, won't that be fun!

and there it is......

I'm a member!

Shouldn't 3 #s & make and model be enough to trace it?

The Cop said "no", but I'm hoping he's wrong. We'll see . . .

> The Cop said "no", but I'm hoping he's wrong. We'll see . . .

Well, if it was a case they cared about it would be. Since it is just property damage they probably won't go to the trouble to work at it all that hard.

Well, if it was a case they cared about it would be.

Yeah. Texas is a pretty big state, but you'd think they could come up with some sort of a short list if they tried. I would probably try to make myself into a bit of a friendly pest in these circumstances....figure out what duty sergeant to bug, drop by the station, that sort of thing...make them want you to go away.

Quelle Bummaire, Jeff.

The best person to make friends wth in this case isn't someone at the police station. It's someone at the department of motor vehicles for the state. They should be able to do a cross-reference without that much trouble. Once you have the full plate then give it to the cops they can do their thing. Today it's just property damage, tomorrow he'll hit someone on a bicycle. Call the incurance company and I'm sure they'd like to help persuade the police to take action as well.

Bruno

Also, another longshot would be to drop the plate number with your phone # at as many area body shops as you can. Again just a longshot, but if it was a local hit & runner, he's got to get his car repaired also. Maybe giving the plate info to your insurance company may help. They may have an investigation agent and finding the guilty SOB may help recoup any financial loss. Just some thoughts.

Call the incurance company

Yup, that's my initial plan. I have USAA and in the past they've been VERY good about taking care of things effeciently and quickly. They might be able to persue this better than I can.

if it was a local hit & runner, he's got to get his car repaired also.

That's what the cop said they'd do (though I doubt they're going to tak to every body shop in the area), however it isn't likely. It was a big F150 that backed into my car and the damage looks like it's from the ball hitch on the back, so he probably didn't have any damage at all.

A small update. USAA tells me that they have about a 50/50 chance of figuring out who the truck belongs to based on the information I gave them. They're also going to talk to the witness and have him answer any questions I couldn't. So at least someone's trying.

Having just gotten back from an empeg-less holiday (in fact, one of the whole reasons I agreed to go for fireworks in the first place was so I could have a chance to drive around and listen to tunes), I'm particularly bummed about driving a rent car. I actually listened to the radio today; it just felt so wrong!

at least someone's trying

And it's disheartening to note that it's only due to self-interest.