Is it okay to scratch someone else's car at night and leave?

[LeIvan]

It is not okay. This behavior constitutes hit-and-run after a traffic accident. Hit-and-run after a traffic accident: Hit-and-run refers to a motor vehicle driver who, while being involved in a traffic accident, deliberately flees the scene, making it impossible to determine the civil, criminal, or administrative liabilities arising from the accident, with the intent to evade or escape responsibility. Manifestations of hit-and-run after a traffic accident: Knowing that a traffic accident has occurred, the perpetrator drives away or abandons the vehicle and flees the scene; the perpetrator is suspected of drunk driving or driving without a license and, after reporting the incident, fails to fulfill the obligation to remain at the scene for handling, abandons the vehicle and leaves the scene, then returns; although the perpetrator takes the injured to the hospital, they fail to report the incident and leave the hospital without reason; although the perpetrator takes the injured to the hospital, they leave the hospital after providing false names, addresses, or contact information to the injured or their family members; the perpetrator flees during the investigation period; the perpetrator leaves the scene and denies the occurrence of the accident, but there is evidence to prove they should have known about the accident.

[VanBrooklyn]

I did this once last winter when it was snowing and visibility was poor. While reversing, I scraped a car parked on the roadside. Thinking no one would see it so late at night, I just drove away. The next day, the police came knocking—the surveillance footage caught everything clearly. Looking back now, I really regret it. Not only did I have to pay 3,000 yuan for the paint repair, but I also got 6 points deducted from my driver's license. What hurt the most was the other car owner, with red eyes at the police station, calling me 'lacking public morality'—that feeling was worse than the fine. Later, I learned that this counts as a hit-and-run, and in serious cases, it could even lead to detention.

[AllieRose]

Last week, I saw this topic being discussed in the neighborhood owners' group. Old Zhang mentioned that his neighbor scratched a car and drove off, but was caught by the dashcam. The car owner reported it to the police the next day. The police easily found the license plate number by checking the surveillance footage. According to traffic laws, such hit-and-run behavior entails full liability, and insurance won't cover the costs. Old Zhang made a good point—nowadays, cameras are everywhere, even roadside fruit stalls have surveillance. It's not worth risking legal trouble to save a few hundred bucks on repair costs. If it's deemed a hit-and-run, having a criminal record would be even more detrimental.

[NathanFitz]

From a legal perspective, leaving the scene after a traffic accident can be categorized into three scenarios. If it's just a minor scratch and the car owner isn't present, leaving contact information is considered ethical behavior. However, as you mentioned, scraping someone's car at night and leaving without taking responsibility, if caught on surveillance cameras, could be considered hit-and-run. According to Article 99 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, fleeing the scene after causing an accident that does not constitute a crime is punishable by a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 yuan and may result in 12 penalty points. If the accident causes injuries or fatalities and the perpetrator flees, criminal liability will be incurred.

[DiAddyson]

The correct approach involves three steps: immediately pull over to the side, place a note with your contact information under the windshield wiper; take panoramic photos of the accident scene with your phone, focusing on the contact points between the two vehicles; you must report the incident to your insurance within 48 hours. My colleague followed this procedure last time when they scraped a delivery tricycle, and the other party, appreciating the good attitude, only asked for 300 yuan for paint touch-up. If you flee the scene directly, the other party may report to the police, leading to full self-funded compensation and a mandatory visit to the traffic police station for a statement, which could take at least two full days to resolve.

[SanFinn]

Last month, my daughter scratched a BMW parked at the supermarket entrance while riding home from school. She was so scared that she immediately rode her e-bike back home. That night, I took her to apologize to the car owner, who instead praised her for being honest. Actually, minor car scratches happen frequently, but fleeing the scene changes the nature of the incident. What the police officer said that day is still fresh in my memory: 'A few hundred dollars can fix the car paint, but you can't restore a person's integrity.' Later, when it came time to compensate, the BMW owner voluntarily gave us a 20% discount and even told my daughter, 'Having the courage to take responsibility for your mistakes is braver than scoring full marks.'