San Francisco Sheriff Mirkarimi Driver License Suspended Over Failing To Report Crash
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) – San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi has had his driver license suspended, after he reportedly failed to notify authorities about a car crash last year.
Mirkarimi's license has been suspended since February due to the crash last October. DMV records obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle showed there was damage to at least one of the vehicles involved, but the records don't specify who is at fault.
Regardless of fault, state law requires both parties to file damage reports if someone is hurt or if the damage exceeds $750. The other driver filed an accident report, while the sheriff did not.
DMV records also showed Mirkarimi has not paid a $55 fee to regain full driving privileges. Under the suspension, Mirkarimi can only drive to and from work.
Mirkarimi spokesperson Kenya Briggs said to KPIX 5, "…he contacted his insurance company and was told everything was in order. He is looking into where the error in the paperwork occurred that led to the mistake."
The sheriff said the accident was simply a fender bender and that there was no damage to his car, but there was some to the other car. Mirkarimi also said he traded information with the other driver.
Mirkarimi was working to resolve the problems with his license, and reportedly trying to determine why his insurance company didn't submit a report to the DMV. He is "expediting the resolution," according to Briggs.
The campaign of Mirkarimi's challenger for sheriff in the November election, Vicki Hennessy, issued the following statement on the matter: "An inability to take personal responsibility for his actions is a consistent failing of this Sheriff. Instead of taking the steps necessary to prevent problems, he is continually reacting to the fallout from his failure to be responsible for issues in the department, and this time for driving on a suspended license."
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