Quote:
Originally Posted by Baz
OK following up with that.....if he broke the law - are they saying "he didn't mean to break it" and thus no charges will be filed?
Because that makes even less sense.
People "don't mean to" do a LOT of illegal things......and are summarily busted for it 24/7.
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In most jurisdictions, traffic infractions have been de-criminalized. They are civil infractions, not crimes.
If you are speeding or run a red light and get pulled over for it, you get a ticket. You don't go to jail. It is a civil infraction.
If you run a red light and hit a pedestrian and kill them, you have committed both a traffic infraction and the crime of vehicular assault/homicide.
Without proof of Tiger's speed, a criminal charge of negligent driving is probably not possible.
So Tiger broke traffic laws. He committed civil infractions. He didn't break any criminal laws (without proof of his speed). And his intent is irrelevant. A driver is liable regardless of intent. The question is whether the driver committed a civil infraction or a committed a crime.
If Tiger's accident had harmed a pedestrian or passenger, he'd be charged with a crime.