# Attacking a car with a sticky drink - Legalities **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 31, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522 "2024-10-31T23:28:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/1 "2024-10-31T23:28:09Z")
How much trouble could/would someone get into legally - if at all - for throwing a drink at another car while stuck in traffic? This “lady” wanted to get over, apparently very angry about how congested the traffic was - kept trying to get in front of us (I was the passenger), screaming, yelling, holding up her middle finger, and finally threw her drink at us. It splattered all over the passenger side of the car. I got pictures of her license plate but not sure if it would be worth reporting to anyone. This $@%# is a dangerous driver. ETA: This is the US. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/2 "2024-10-31T23:31:55Z")
Turn 'em in. It’s debatable how _much_ trouble they would be in. Maybe they have previously done this and been reported. Or other like things. Throwing things from cars for any reason, is a public safety issue. I suspect they’d be fined. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/3 "2024-10-31T23:53:05Z")
I don’t know how much trouble they would get in, but please tell me you took a video of it and uploaded it! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/4 "2024-10-31T23:57:45Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > ETA: This is the US. Will probably still vary greatly by state, and municipality. I’d guess that the drink throwing would be vandalism, at most, in most areas, and not something that most police departments would pursue, unless the thrown drink actually did significant damage to the car (a dent, paint damage, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/5 "2024-11-01T00:04:20Z")
The screaming and any threats, is assault. Throwing the drink is one step up, assault with action, or whatever it is called. Damage to your vehicle moves the charge one more step up. You do not have to put up with this. Also, dash cameras are cheap and everyone should have one. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/6 "2024-11-01T00:06:38Z")
Spitting on someone’s vehicle is another big “no”! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/7 "2024-11-01T00:06:58Z")
Seen on half a dozen police procedurals: “Officer, my wife hit me with a smoothie!” “She threw a drink at you?” “Naw, you know, a smoothie! One a them things for smoothing clothes!” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/8 "2024-11-01T00:08:44Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Turn 'em in. > > It’s debatable how _much_ trouble they would be in. Maybe they have previously done this and been reported. Or other like things. > Throwing things from cars for any reason, is a public safety issue. > > I suspect they’d be fined. It’s also littering. The only thing that it’s okay to throw out of your car is $500. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/9 "2024-11-01T00:10:02Z")
Into my pocket book. Plz ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/10 "2024-11-01T00:11:30Z")
That wouldn’t be littering. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/11 "2024-11-01T00:13:08Z")
I’ll drop a hanky if that makes it better. (Plus my bag is a garbage filled vessel) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/12 "2024-11-01T00:17:11Z")
Are you saying some idiot driver threw their drink at your car, and you are wondering if you ought to do anything other than wash your car? Did the “sticky drink” somehow mar your car’s finish? Presuming there was no damage from the container hitting your car - just let it go. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/13 "2024-11-01T00:25:28Z")
I’m not trying to get any damages, just report a dangerous driver, really. I don’t have video of the incident. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/14 "2024-11-01T00:29:43Z")
There’s no other way to stop these idiots without reporting them. If enough people are warned or fined word will get out: “Don’t do that” Yeah, the police will yawn. Enough folks are fighting back and causing real traffic problems, not to mention maybe physical fights on the road that the police should try to limit this. But they can’t if they don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/15 "2024-11-01T00:32:03Z")
You can skip the first minute and a half to go straight to the sweetened beverage attack. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FSvNhxKJJyU/maxresdefault.jpg "Dunkin Donuts - SNL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSvNhxKJJyU) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/16 "2024-11-01T00:36:22Z")
You have no damage, you have no proof (video), & you have no independent witnesses, only your word. I doubt the police would do much if anything. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/17 "2024-11-01T00:39:03Z")
Well, maybe a collective eye roll. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/18 "2024-11-01T00:41:52Z")
I would assume there is some sort of law against throwing stuff at a moving beyond mere littering or vandalism. I did a little bit of Googling and in some states it’s considered a misdemeanor. I say go ahead and report it. It may not end up in an arrest, but the police might feel like they question the driver you report which would at least be a wake up call that throwing shit at cars is no joke. I mean I guess there’s no down side to reporting it. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/19 "2024-11-01T07:54:06Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The only thing that it’s okay to throw out of your car is $500. [![](https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/fine-littering-sign-edge-salton-sea-southern-california-46179985.jpg) ](https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/fine-littering-sign-edge-salton-sea-southern-california-46179985.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/20 "2024-11-01T07:56:12Z")
Yeppers. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522.md?page=2)