Question About Police Reports....

As far as I know, at least in Canada, if a police statement is used in court, unless you are called into court, they black our your information.  I think your best bet would be to call the police department and ask them.  I would feel the exact way as you do!  Go with your gut feeling, call them and ask.  Don't let anyone tell you you are being paranoid etc.

My guess is that probably is controlled by state law so I'd do exactly as she said and call the police dept.  That will serve a couple of purposes -- if you are *not* protected, then you can request that your name and info NOT be released (and I'd think most anywhere that can be a sensible thing) but also it alerts them to the fact that you were only doing your civic duty but YOU are concerned, and they darned well better be also. 

Yeah, you have a right to know your accuser -- but YOU weren't filing the police report, you were merely the witness.  You saw an accident happen, and knew someone was driving eratically (and either was very ill or something) -- you did absolutely what was required by law (and all states have laws requiring you to report an accident and traffic danger like that) and for that you can't be penalized I'd think.

But yanking their chain to let them know you ARE concerned wouldn't be a bad thing. 

My husband says absolutely.  It's public knowledge.  That is if he asks who filed the complaint.  This happens too, everytime you go in for jury duty, but I wouldn't worry about it.  My husband says the cops will probably do everything they can to keep your name out of it, but if he goes to court it will be on the official transcript or complaint.  Now, if this should ever happen again...hopefully not, call 911 immediately, let them come out to the car that is stopped in the middle of the road, that way if the cop observes the reckless driving or in this case parking in the middle of the street, they would just say in their report it was called into 911.  But, I wouldn't worry about it.  If you are, you could always call the police dept. and state your concern and find out from them exactly what will take place.  Good job, for getting a drunk off the road!

I have to agree with Janet's DH. Just had the unfortunate pleasure of being involved in court matters myself, but that's for another day! When this guy appears in court he will be given all documents and records that the prosecutor will use to convict him. It's called disclosure. On the disclosure I read the names and address' were all listed although the phone numbers had been blacked out.  

Janet808

My husband says absolutely.  It's public knowledge.  That is if he asks who filed the complaint.  This happens too, everytime you go in for jury duty, but I wouldn't worry about it.  My husband says the cops will probably do everything they can to keep your name out of it, but if he goes to court it will be on the official transcript or complaint. 

Yeah, I called the sheriff this afternoon and that's pretty much what they told me.  Hopefully the guy will just take it like a man, accept his punishment rather then going to court (not sure how you argue with a breathilizer), and not feel the need to bother me.  I actually tried to leave after the cops got there before they got all my info but that trailer park we were in has one dead end road, and both cops were parked at the only exit/entrance.  Actually the 911 operator asked for my name while I was on the phone with her.  My mom said I should not have stayed because the guy could have gotten out of his car and attacked me, but he was so trashed that the cops had to shine their spot light on his face, AND bang on his car window with a flashlight for several minutes before he even responded at all, and even when he did wake up it took him a few minutes to figure out that it was a cop standing at the window.

I do feel slightly better with the dogs here.  Jack may not look threatening, but he has a deep bark, and Sally would definitely bark at a stranger slinking around.  She not only sounds like she means business, but has the whole pit bull look going on too.  The stranger in question doesn't have to know that if he were to actually call her bluff she would bark at him vigorously--while fleeing....

I did tell DH what his car looks like so that if he sees one like that driving by he can be on the alert.