What do I do about suicial players getting me wanted?

[HighwayStar]

Lapaki13 intentionally ran in front of my truck today near Sofia. He was standing in the road and then ran into my path when I swerved. This lost me my driving, boating, pilots and truck licences instantly.

Then Lewis came and arrested me for it. I told him that a troll player was responsible for my apparent crime but he ignored me and threw me in jail - thus taking away my rebel licence too.

Are crimes still crimes in this instance? Can I get some compensation? I'm down $783,000 thanks to this nonsense.

 

[Denzel]

Well for a start LewisUK was in the wrong, manslaughter is a fine and murder you get sent straight to jail according to the fine system.

2. Murder / Manslaughter
 
a) Attempted Murder: 30000 USD
b Attempted Murder on a police officer: 45000 USD
c) Murder: Jail
d) Murder of a police officer: Jail
e) Manslaughter: 15000 USD
 
He should of just fined you if he didn't agree with your pardon. If the cop who restrained you is reasonable enough they will often let you off with a $1 ticket to get you off the wanted list (Has happened to me numerous times).

 

[HighwayStar]

So what should I do now?

 

[TinyBigJacko]

In the short term, speak to Asdrubael or Wilco and tread moderately carefully. With a bit of good grace and sensible 'in-character explanation', you might well get your gear back.

In the future, things will change. I've already changed it on the development server, and it's in testing right now (along with some other side-game stuff that I'm toying with). Basically, in the future, you will NOT immediately lose your vehicle license when you run someone over. You will still be wanted (of course - you killed someone!) but you will be expected to plead your case well to the officer who catches you. Things like whether you handed yourself in, or waited to be caught, may influence his decision. Things like whether you say "a troll player did it" in game, or "that suicidal fool was trying to get himself killed - there was nothing I could do to avoid him" (see the difference? There are no 'players' or 'trolls' in your local high street in RL, are there?).

Further to this, in the future if you ARE sent to jail with an outstanding Wanted for Vehicular Manslaughter, you'll lose your vehicle licences - but not your rebel licence. We want the penalties to fit the crime, and previously, they didn't, but that's changing.

IMO, Lewis's jailing you was pretty stiff, but maybe your explanation was crap and he simply didn't believe you, or thought you in some way responsible for the death? I find it hard to consider that it was murder (as in, malice aforethought, and all that)... and I expect that at worst, it should've been manslaughter - perhaps by your negligence at least in part (driving at a speed where you're able to stop in time, is the UK law - but obviously if someone leaps off the pavement this is next to impossible). By rights, I'd say 'fine' - and depending on your story quality, maybe even a token fine (you've been penalised enough by losing your vehicle licenses, without making it a whole lot worse). But then again, maybe you griefed the officer and insulted his mum? LOL Who knows... So - appeal this one with the Chief of Police, and see what arises.

At least you know it won't pan out quite like this again, and your reb licences will be safe... ish

 

[HighwayStar]

In law, it's the courts responsibility to prove guilt - not for the accused to prove innocence. As Lewis had no proof that I committed a murder, only that I had caused someones death, he had to charge me with manslaughter at most.

It's not a case of my explanation not being good enough, it's a case of him being unable to prove it was murder but still charging me with it. "Innocent until proven guilty" became "assume he did the worst and charge accordingly". If we're going to be an RP server then do it properly.

I demand he be retrained and that my losses be compensated.

 

[TinyBigJacko]

I'm sure he probably will get a stiff talking to from the higher-ups, but you're kind of missing the point. This isn't Brighton, or some other Sussex town in middle-class England. You can't call your lawyer here. I haven't seen any courtrooms in Kavala, have you? There are no briefs - except for the ones the crazies run around wearing all day. There is only the law of Altis, what little of it exists, and the officers on the street's interpretation of that law, and their discretion. RL be damned... this is the RL of Altis. Please don't confuse it with Peckham High Street!

Likewise, I've not seen anything in the Altis Law Enforcement code that 'presumes innocence' - but a lot of officers take that view, because it's righteous. Not all of them do. Some of them are (in character) complete bastards. Some of them are probably on the take. Some of them are probably really nice to their grannies but would look the other way if you stole her motability scooter - as long as you gave him a wad of cash. I don't know many like that, but there are bound to be some who've slipped through the net and realised the potential for power-abuse when being a cop. Equally, some may just be plain misinformed, or have made a genuine mistake.

OOC for a second, I can tell you this much - if you use words like 'troll' and 'player' in RP, along with other dreaded phrases like "I only came on the server a moment ago" or "I just spawned!" (which some officers will assume is a reference to you having taking vast quantities of a brand-new drug called Sporn™), they'll categorise you as a risk to yourself and others, and simply bung you in jail for your own safety (and theirs).

Having said that, take it to the Chief of Police in the Report a Cop area - and my sincerest good luck. Convince him, and you'll have no problems getting your gear back. Meantime I'm just shaking your tree while he's gathering nuts. :lol: