# 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:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/21 "2024-11-04T19:25:29Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > 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. They might. They might check in with her, telling her that a report was filed, and that might be enough to get her to think twice next time. Or maybe she already has a record, and this adds to it. I’m not a huge fan of calling the police over small things–but this is out of control enough that she could be in danger of escalating to more harmful behavior. Getting her to take a gut check isn’t the worst thing in the world. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/22 "2024-11-04T19:42:05Z")
In many jurisdictions (e.g. California) its a crime in its own right to.throw an object at a car: > **[Is Throwing Something at a Car Illegal? Yes, Even for Light Objects](https://vistacriminallaw.com/throwing-objects-at-cars/)** > > Throwing almost anything, even cheese, at a vehicle is illegal because it can block the driver's view and cause an accident. IANAL but it seems like it would be assault in jurisdictions where it’s not. Of course in practice convincing the cops to lift a finger is going to be challenging but if they are motivated to do so I think they would find something to charge the milkshake thrower with ---
**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 4, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/23 "2024-11-04T20:14:11Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > if they are motivated to do so I think they would find something to charge the milkshake thrower with Assault with a congealed weapon? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/24 "2024-11-04T22:36:24Z")
That’s an old Gracie Allen joke. Although it was about feeding elephants rather than littering. My dad used to say that only two things could legally come from a vehicle: water and chicken feathers. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/25 "2024-11-05T01:28:40Z")
The reaction of your local police depends yugely on where you live. A big city will yield zero response. A rural hinterland will probably yield zero response. A hyperactive overendowed underworked department covering a toney suburb of Important People? They’ll be all over that wacko woman. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522/26 "2024-11-05T14:21:29Z")
No evidence = nothing done. If the crazy driver was waving a gun, then even without a corroborating witness a report should be filed. The OP had an unpleasant encounter, but I’d let it go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-a-car-with-a-sticky-drink-legalities/1009522.md?page=1)