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    fishfamily5's Avatar
    fishfamily5 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jun 12, 2009, 06:51 PM
    If you call 911 and tell them you think someone is
    Driving drunk. Can you be sued for slander?
    tickle's Avatar
    tickle Posts: 23,796, Reputation: 2674
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    #2

    Jun 12, 2009, 07:40 PM

    I don't think you can be sued for slander if it is a legitimate claim. You are performing a function of public safety. You can be sued for public mischief if you are just fooling around though.

    Tick
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #3

    Jun 12, 2009, 07:45 PM

    Also 911 calls are supposed to be confidential. So its unlikely the driver would ever find out you called unless the police feel you submitted a sake report.
    fishfamily5's Avatar
    fishfamily5 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Jun 13, 2009, 06:12 AM
    Thank you both for your answers. No, it wasn' t called in as a joke, it was a real concern. ANd as for the 911 tape, well the lawyer and the person charged with dui have heard it.
    excon's Avatar
    excon Posts: 21,482, Reputation: 2992
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    #5

    Jun 13, 2009, 06:17 AM

    Hello f:

    You CAN be sued. Anybody can sue anybody for anything... Can you lose?? I don't know. Were they drunk? Do you KNOW them?? If you do, that adds another layer of intrigue.

    excon
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
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    #6

    Jun 13, 2009, 06:20 AM

    If he has been charged with DUI, then the police have evidence that he was driving under the influence. They are not going to charge him just on the basis of a 911 call.

    Since telling the truth is a defense against slander, I doubt if he can win.
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
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    #7

    Jun 13, 2009, 11:41 AM

    Of course they can sue you, and 911 tapes once a person is charged can be given as evidence.

    Part of the case will be what you saw the other driving doing. But since you are not trained in DUI, the driver should not have been stopped until the police officer also saw the driver doing those things.

    The blood level of the driver arrested should be all the proof you need to protect yourself.

    Their lawyer is trying to scare you so you will withdraw your statemetns or not show up in court.
    tickle's Avatar
    tickle Posts: 23,796, Reputation: 2674
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    #8

    Jun 13, 2009, 12:25 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck View Post


    Thier lawyer is trying to scare you so you will withdraw your statemetns or not show up in court.
    Yes, if you don't show up in court as a witness, then the judge will throw it out, plus if the police officer doesn't show up, ditto. I know its scary, but if that guy was driving under the influence, then he could have killed someone. Good you were a witness. Don't let them scare you off.

    Tick
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
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    #9

    Jun 13, 2009, 12:39 PM

    As a police officer I saw it again and again, we arrested a person inside the persons house , I handcuffed them in the persons bathroom

    But the family members did not appear as witness in court, they were too scared to testify. So the guy walked out of court free.
    twinkiedooter's Avatar
    twinkiedooter Posts: 12,172, Reputation: 1054
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    #10

    Jun 13, 2009, 01:25 PM

    No. You called 911 due to what you observed the driver doing. If they were weaving all over the road and were a menace to other vehicles or pedestrians, then they were drunk. That is not slander. That is calling in your observations of the driver's erratic behavior behind the wheel of a car which could be construed as the driver being drunk.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
     
    #11

    Jun 13, 2009, 01:31 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by twinkiedooter View Post
    No.
    The OP was can they be sued, not will the other party win a suit. Anyone can be sued over anything. But if it turns out that what was reported to 911 was factual, then they won't win the suit.
    fishfamily5's Avatar
    fishfamily5 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #12

    Jun 13, 2009, 05:01 PM
    THanks everyone.

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