<p>Basically, I hit a parked car and didn't leave a note because I was unsure if the damage had been from me (it was really dark out, and also there was no damage to my own vehicle). There was a white paint scratch on the vehicle I hit and my car is red which is why I was unsure. Since I was freaking out and didn't know if it was caused by me, at the time I didn't want to take the chance that the damage had not been from me, that the scratch had previously existed and then have the owners try to blame me for the scratch. I realize now that this was stupid and wrong and I should have left a note right away. So I returned back to leave one because I felt bad, but the car was gone. The scratch wasn't anything really major- it was a white pain scratch a couple inches thick and a few inches long. But its still property damage. Also the car was a red old Nissan- probably either 90s or very early 2000s. </p>
<p>There were no witnesses and we have received no calls from the police or anyone concerning this. Most people have been telling me to forget about it, but I feel bad and I don't want to take the chance that the car owner could report it and the police could track me down. Therefore, my family is calling a lawyer tomorrow and after getting legal advice, we will file a police report. I committed the crime on a Thursday evening and where I live you have to file report IN PERSON at the station, which is only open till 4 on weekdays. Since I am a minor the report also must be filed by my parents. My parents couldn't do it on Friday nor on the weekends (theyre closed weekends) and today (Monday) my dad only found out that it's the law to leave a note- he believed you have 10 days to file a police report and that it's not state law to leave a note (the part about the 10 days is true, but you have to leave a note- I live in CA) so he kept telling me to calm down because he didn't believe I had broken the law. Now that he understands that I did, he's contacting the police right away but didn't do it today. Does it look worse if more time passes?</p>
<p>Long story short, I'm basically turning myself in by filing a police report and hopefully getting a lawyer and some good legal advice. I understand what I did was wrong. My question is, how will this affect my college admissions? I understand I have to take responsibility. But I have pretty good grades and chances at some good colleges like UC Irvine and BU, and I'm praying that they don't automatically reject me because I foolishly committed a stupid mistake. </p>
<p>This has been consuming me for the past several days and I feel sick to my stomach. My parents are telling me to calm down, but I truly feel like I have ruined my chances for any good college, therefore ruining my chances for a good med school and my dream job- basically ruining my entire life's goals. Am I totally screwed? I understand that I have to report any misdemeanors. BUT I read about it and I read that a good lawyer can get the charges dropped or lessened- would I still have to report this? Also where I live, CA, all charges committed as a minor are dropped when you turn 18, which I turn on Jan 1. A lot of my college apps are due after this too, so if I were officially charged by the cops with a misdemeanor would I have to report this even though my record has been wiped? Also if I turn myself in would the cops still charge me with a misdemeanor or do you think they would be more lenient with me?</p>
<p>Of course, I would pay for the damage on the other person's vehicle. </p>
<p>So what do you think will happen to me? :/</p>
it’s breaking the law. Do you think I could get it lessened from a misdemeanor into something else, like a civil infraction or something? If I did would I still have to report it to colleges?</p>