# Can I throw something into a convertible?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-throw-something-into-a-convertible/258840>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 8, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-throw-something-into-a-convertible/258840 "2004-08-08T02:31:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-throw-something-into-a-convertible/258840/21 "2004-08-09T04:51:52Z")

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I am 61 years old and on medication. I’m easily distracted. Most of my vision is in one eye. Yet I am a licensed driver and I drive a spiffy red Chrysler Sebring convertible.

I have a bad tendency to turn the steering wheel in the direction of whatever has distracted me.

If I unintentionally “crunched” a person who threw something into my car, would I be charged with manslaughter?

(I’ve never had a ticket.)

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**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-throw-something-into-a-convertible/258840/22 "2004-08-09T14:33:07Z")

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> [@AdmiralCrunch](#):
>
> I realize that it would be near impossible to pull this off. That was the original point behind the question. I knew it would be at least littering if the thrower missed, but I couldn’t think of a charge if the thrower actually made it.

I really hope this was a legitimate hypothetical question and not “hmmm, I wonder what sort of trouble I could get into for something I tried on the way home.”

I believe the reason the trick is so difficult is that the wind is redirected over the hood of the car by the hood/windshield and creates a much stronger current than the air between the two cars that’s not being moved/redirected so quickly. The items that gets thrown hits that current and is redirected as it doesn’t have enough velocity to make it through the current.

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**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-throw-something-into-a-convertible/258840/23 "2004-08-09T19:42:40Z")

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> [@Chairman Pow](#):
>
> I really hope this was a legitimate hypothetical question and not “hmmm, I wonder what sort of trouble I could get into for something I tried on the way home.”
> 
> I believe the reason the trick is so difficult is that the wind is redirected over the hood of the car by the hood/windshield and creates a much stronger current than the air between the two cars that’s not being moved/redirected so quickly. The items that gets thrown hits that current and is redirected as it doesn’t have enough velocity to make it through the current.

Yeah, what he said.

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**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-throw-something-into-a-convertible/258840/24 "2004-08-09T19:57:21Z")

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I guess the “legal” issue has been covered, but you should keep in mind that legal issues are but one part of the situation. I know some people who, on the receiving end of a projectile aimed at/in their car, would become violent. Road rage happens, don’t let it happen to you.

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**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-throw-something-into-a-convertible/258840/25 "2004-08-09T21:00:38Z")

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> [@Boyo Jim](#):
>
> There are all kinds of scenarios in which a small rubber ball could end up being deadly.

Do not launch Happy Fun Ball into neighboring cars.

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