Will a minor scratch and run incident result in detention?
2 Answers
Minor scratch and run incidents generally result in detention because it involves fleeing the scene. If the driver does not flee, detention may not occur. According to the new traffic laws, fleeing after a vehicle scratch accident results in a 12-point deduction of the driver's license. The party fleeing a minor accident bears full responsibility for the incident and must cover the vehicle repair costs, but it does not constitute a traffic offense. Insurance penalties for hit-and-run drivers include: 1. No compensation for accident losses, requiring the owner to bear all repair costs; 2. Even if commercial third-party liability insurance is purchased, no compensation will be provided; 3. The insurance premium for the fleeing vehicle will be increased the following year as per regulations; 4. If compulsory traffic insurance is purchased, the insurance company must compensate for the compulsory insurance portion.
I've been driving for many years and have seen quite a few cases of minor scrapes where the driver just took off. Generally speaking, if it's just a small bump or scratch with no injuries, the police won't detain you immediately—at most, you might face a fine and some penalty points. For example, if you scrape someone else's car paint and flee, and get caught on camera, you could be fined a few hundred to two thousand yuan, and might even have your license suspended for a few days. But fleeing is just plain stupid—it only makes things worse: insurance companies will refuse to cover repair costs if they hear you ran, and your car's resale value will drop when you sell it later. My advice is to stop if you hit a car, take photos as evidence, and either settle it privately with the other party or report it to the traffic police to avoid unnecessary trouble. Safety is the top priority—don’t ruin your reputation to save a few minutes. Remember, the law isn’t just for show; small mistakes can pile up into big ones, and then you’re really in trouble.
