Hit and run? fine?or jail? help IMPORTANT?

Question

My friend was in a fender bender and no one was hurt but because he was affraid about his insurance going up he left. He thinks the other person got his plate number. Although he has turned himself into the Insuarance company, he hasnt gone to the police at all. The major problem is he is in The Air Force. If he has a misdemaner he will be kicked out.

What happens now? Should he go to the police?

What if the other person doesn't go to the police?

what if they do? will he go to jail or just get fined?

advice or knowledge!!!!!! important!

Answer 1

If his insurance company knows about it, the police will soon know about it too.

Looks like he's going to be kicked out of the Air Force.

Answer 2

If this is a hit & run, then it amounts to a crime (in NYS anyway).  However, there is a difference between what a person is charged for and what he is ultimately convicted of - which is typically a "lesser included charge" of the top charge.  The lesser-included might not be a misdemeanor - simply a traffic violation (we call em' "infractions") but that would be at the discretion of the judge and the prosecutor, likely with some input from the "victim".  Factors like damage, injury, and who caused the accident would be considered.  

If there was no report, and no way to find the victim, your friend's admirably going to the police would accomplish nothing.  His admission would be the only real evidence of the crime, and I don't think you can be prosecuted solely on the basis of your own admission (there would have to be independent evidence that he left the scene of an accident).

If the other guy filed a report, and the police were able to track him down, they would likely "invite" him down for questioning - they might have enough to bring charges on him, leaving open the possibility that this could lead to a reduced charge and no misdemeanor.  A fine would be likely, but jail would not - that's for serious cases or defendants with serious criminal histories.

Answer 3

If your friend was any kind of a man, he would turn himself in. I'm sure the Air Force would gladly be rid of a coward like that.