Making Statements To Police Officers
Consider a common winter occurrence:
It's winter, and there's been a cold snap. The highway you are traveling on is wet, but not slippery. You take your exit, but the salt trucks haven't been on this ramp, and despite slowing down to below the recommended speed, your car slips on some black ice, and you find the car rotating clockwise. The car rotates 180 degrees, and slides backwards off the ramp on the inner side onto the grass, away from the guardrail (fortunately for you and your car).
Everyone inside the vehicle is alright, there is no damage to your vehicle or any public infrastructure, and there were no other vehicles around to witness the incident. Nevertheless, your car is about 10 feet away from the off-ramp, and stuck on the snowy grass. You call CAA and wait for the tow truck to arrive.
While waiting for the tow truck, a police officer drives by, and sees your car sitting in the centre of the off-ramp. He turns his lights on, pulls over, and steps out of the car. As you roll down the window, he asks, "What happened here?"
1. What are you legally obligated to say to a police officer?
2. What should you say to a police officer?
3. Which (if any) offence(s) would you be guilty of?
4. Which (if any) offence(s) would be provable in court, without self-incrimination?