Last Updated on December 10, 2022
One of the worst feelings is coming back from a stroll to discover runny yolk and eggshells all over your car. But, what can the police do if someone eggs your car?
If you file a report, police will check for damages. If the egging constitutes vandalism, the police may take some photos of the scene, ask for witness statement from others nearby, and consider any video evidence of the incident.
Most of the time, the police can’t do anything if your car is egged. However, there are some circumstances where the perpetrators can be prosecuted.
Whether it’s an act of misguided teenage rebellion or something more malicious, dealing with the aftermath can feel like a nightmare. It’s frustrating, degrading, and downright annoying to have your vehicle vandalized by an anonymous person.
Not only do you need to worry about cleaning up the mess and restoring any damage, but you also want to make sure that such activity doesn’t happen again in the future.
But what is there for you to do when this kind of thing occurs? What can the police do if someone eggs your car.
We’ll cover all of these important questions so you have a better understanding of what steps should be taken. We’ll also address how the authorities address cases such as these.
What Can the Police Do If Someone Eggs Your Car and Should They Get Involved?
Generally, egging a car doesn’t constitute a crime, but there are some exceptions. For example, if the egging causes damage to the paint or smashes a window, then the act may be considered as vandalism. Vandalism a punishable offense.
In general, the police will investigate the crime under the following circumstances:
- The perpetrator was trespassing on private property while committing the act
- The perpetrator evidently damaged the car during the egging
- The egging was discriminatory and intended to invoke fear or intimidate the victim
The difficulty with car eggings is that the police don’t usually have any information on who committed the crime.
In addition, since most egging incidents don’t cause permanent damage, chasing down pranksters is low on the police department’s list of priorities. Especially if their resources are stretched thin already.
What Can the Police Do in Response to an Egging?
If you file a police report, the responding officer may assess whether a crime has been committed (i.e. discrimination, trespassing, or vandalism).
If you have any video evidence such as a dashcam or door camera that filmed the incident, be sure to provide it.
The police officer may ask around to see if anyone saw the incident occur. Where applicable, the officer may arrest the perpetrator based on surrounding evidence.
In the case of vandalism, the individual may face fines and up to a year in jail.
How to Clean Egg Off A Car?
Are you trying to clean egg off your car? If so, don’t panic! We’ve got an easy three step process that can make any car shine again.
First, pick away any egg shell that you can. Do not try to pry egg shell off, as you may take off some paint. If the shell is in small pieces, leave them for the next steps. Be sure to work cautiously to avoid scratching the car’s paint job.
Secondly, fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar. Alternatively, you may soak a towel in a bowl filled with white distilled vinegar. Spray the vinegar onto the egg or place the vinegar-soaked towel on the egg.
Lastly, wipe away the egg from the car paint. Rinse the egg off the towel often and repeat steps two and three until the egg and shells are fully removed.
Don’t wait around – time is of the essence! That egg on your car paint won’t be doing anybody any favors; get it off as soon as you can in order to minimize damage.
Final Thoughts: What Can the Police Do If Someone Eggs Your Car
Egging someone’s car isn’t illegal, but it can land the perpetrator in trouble in some circumstances. Generally, if the egging was a discriminatory act, was committed on private property, or damaged the victim’s car, then the perpetrator is liable for damaged and can be prosecuted.
So, what do you do if someone eggs your car? If the egging was an isolated incident and didn’t cause any damage, then there isn’t much you can do.
However, if you feel like you are being harassed or targeted by someone, then it is important to reach out to your local authorities for help.
They may be able to provide additional resources or assistance in stopping the harassment.
Have you ever had someone egg your car? What did you do about it?
Managing Editor
Christopher is an automotive technical writer. When he’s not at the local autocross event, he can often be found working on one of his cars. Specializes in automotive class action law, industry trends, and automotive maintenance. Email me direct, or learn more about us