Bankrupt Runaway Prius Driver Faked "Unintended Acceleration?" Hoax Reports (merged)
#76
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Hopefully some kind of criminal charges can be pursued, though I'm not sure exactly what. False reporting maybe? I agree Toyota probably won't do anything. Not only is it bad publicity, but the guy is already bankrupt. They don't have much to gain there.
#77
Lexus Champion
#78
Pole Position
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Quote: "All I want is for Toyota to buy me a new car"
What a scumbag.
#79
Lexus Test Driver
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
If it is ultimately found that James Sikes' 911 call was a fraud and that his entire "run-a-way" ordeal was a hoax, He *will* be arrested and charged. Especially if it were for financial gain, which he has already admitted to.
Quote: "All I want is for Toyota to buy me a new car"
What a scumbag.
Quote: "All I want is for Toyota to buy me a new car"
What a scumbag.
#81
Racer
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Still, he is a moron...I would love to see him get hit with a $100K fine or something for doing this to toyota...
#82
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
"Brian Pennings, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, said his agency's view that there is no evidence of a hoax is unchanged. The CHP does not plan to investigate the incident because there were no injuries or property damage.
"Unless they can completely disprove Mr. Sikes, we're done," Pennings said. "It doesn't sound like they can do that."
Consequently, it's up to Toyota to pursue the matter in civil court.
#83
Lexus Fanatic
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Nothing will happen to this guy. You will see. He may get a fine and even then its not likely.I think people are letting the Toyota bias blur their vision a bit. Being mad doesn't mean that the guy is getting fined or going to jail . For Toyota to go after this guy would be a PR issue. It would make Toyota look like a bully and it still doesn't negate the fact that they are still in deep ish.
Its kind of like the clowns at Toyota PR sending recall info to the council people stating all of the recalls for the big three. All you are going to do is look like you are shifting the blame or attention but the fact still remains that they are still not out of the woods
Its kind of like the clowns at Toyota PR sending recall info to the council people stating all of the recalls for the big three. All you are going to do is look like you are shifting the blame or attention but the fact still remains that they are still not out of the woods
Last edited by I8ABMR; 03-14-10 at 10:00 PM.
#84
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SoCal & SLOcal
Posts: 927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
What you guys seem to be unaware of is that the CHP is NOT going to pursue the matter. What were the damages? Nothing as far as they are concerned. Good luck convincing a prosecuter taking on the case when the CHP won't even bother to investigate. Here's what they said:
"Brian Pennings, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, said his agency's view that there is no evidence of a hoax is unchanged. The CHP does not plan to investigate the incident because there were no injuries or property damage.
"Unless they can completely disprove Mr. Sikes, we're done," Pennings said. "It doesn't sound like they can do that."
Consequently, it's up to Toyota to pursue the matter in civil court.
"Brian Pennings, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, said his agency's view that there is no evidence of a hoax is unchanged. The CHP does not plan to investigate the incident because there were no injuries or property damage.
"Unless they can completely disprove Mr. Sikes, we're done," Pennings said. "It doesn't sound like they can do that."
Consequently, it's up to Toyota to pursue the matter in civil court.
Yup, i agree. I don't think he'll see any punishment. Even if they prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. What I don't understand is why doesn't the CHP want to pursue this. If he was faking it, then he really did put a lot of people at risk by going 90+mph, and police was right there witnessing it.
But make them chase a balloon and you're looking at jail time.
#85
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
What you guys seem to be unaware of is that the CHP is NOT going to pursue the matter. What were the damages? Nothing as far as they are concerned. Good luck convincing a prosecuter taking on the case when the CHP won't even bother to investigate. Here's what they said:
"Brian Pennings, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, said his agency's view that there is no evidence of a hoax is unchanged. The CHP does not plan to investigate the incident because there were no injuries or property damage.
"Unless they can completely disprove Mr. Sikes, we're done," Pennings said. "It doesn't sound like they can do that."
Consequently, it's up to Toyota to pursue the matter in civil court.
"Brian Pennings, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, said his agency's view that there is no evidence of a hoax is unchanged. The CHP does not plan to investigate the incident because there were no injuries or property damage.
"Unless they can completely disprove Mr. Sikes, we're done," Pennings said. "It doesn't sound like they can do that."
Consequently, it's up to Toyota to pursue the matter in civil court.
The answer would be --- Yes, he did break several criminal laws, if his story is a hoax ---
#86
Lexus Champion
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
They just have to prove it was a hoax--and merely being unable to replicate the stuck gas pedal doesn't prove anything.
#88
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/15/auto...dex.htm?hpt=T2
*
*
Data from on-board computers indicated that Sikes had applied the brakes and gas pedal, alternately, at least 250 times during the incident, Toyota executives said.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
I8ABMR
Car Chat
12
08-07-10 07:28 AM
250, acceleration, bankrupt, california, corvette, cummins, dodge, driver, fake, hoax, lexus, prius, prius hoax scare toyota, ram, runaway, sua, ticket, unintended