I saw a reckless driver in front of me... should I have called 911?

Question

I was driving and in front of me was a guy who couldn't keep a straight path for 5 seconds. When I saw him make a turn with 40mph and his car almost turned over, I wanted to call the cops but 911 is for emergencies only and 311 was not working(they disabled it or something).

yes I am in the US in a suburb of Chicago

to Steven53: MY license pulled ? I wasn't the reckless driver here. I wasn't the only one in the traffic either, other drivers saw him too, so you're saying that EVERYONE who saw his guy should have their licenses pulled? send me a message if you can't answer again.

Answer 1

First of all, just because it is a traffic crime doesn't mean you call the highway patrol, especially in Illinois.

You can absolutely call 911 in those kinds of situations. An impaired driver puts people and property at immediate risk and needs to be dealt with. Do not call a local non-emergency number either in those situations. Calling 911 will get you directly to the appropriate jurisdiction for the area you are in.

Answer 2

The best way to go about this situation is to: Stay calm, try to write the tag # down, get a mental discription of the vehicle & driver. Try to call either the county police (might have to use 411) or if you are in an area that has a number (like*86) that dails the state highway patrol use that. Use 911 if the situation is utterly deadly and you know it; otherwise you wanna leave those line open for other situations. You can always still call these event in when you get back home and you are more calm. The county can probably use the information and it might help jail the person one day.

Answer 3

Usually if you call 911 or your local PD to report a drunk/reckless driver, they will put out a BOLO (Be On (the) Look Out) for the car you reported if you're able to get a description (red sedan, blue van, white truck) and part of or, even better, a full license plate reading. They'll ask you for that, and where you are...Highway Patrol/Officers in the vicinity will be on the look-out for the guy, and hopefully he will get caught.

In short, yes you should call 911... if you feel strongly enough that it warrants it, it probably does.

Answer 4

I think your mental and you have zero case in court. Lets even go with your crazy theory of getting this person charged with reckless driving, your pictures only prove that YOU were driving too close and that also you were actually on your phone snapping pix instead of driving responsibly. If anything you should be ticketed for tail gating and for using your cell phone while driving. When "normal" people notice an erratic driver near them they usually slow down and just let them pass and get as far away from them as possible. But you did not, instead you continued to tailgate and honk your horn at this person. Also I love how you seriously wrote that a cop told you "its not worth getting the crap beaten out of you", really, thats what a cop told you? Your a liar and a,,,,,,,,. Enjoy your night. Dont forget to give me 10 points for answering this stupid made up questions.

Answer 5

The case you describe IS an emergency. No law enforcement agency in the US would consider that abuse of 911. I assume you are in the US because other countries have different emergency numbers.

Answer 6

I think so (311 wasn't working) so 911 should of been called. I feel that was a emergence. you could of save lives.....

Answer 7

I would've called 911. It seems like an emergency situation!

Answer 8

In my state I think you dial *56 for the highway patrol to report someone. Yes I have reported several drivers.

Answer 9

Of course! You wouldn't want your family members (kids, etc) on the road with that person would you? Let the cops get em!

Answer 10

yes, 911...that guy was like a mad drunk with a loaded gun