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Message |
    
Czele
Citizen
Username: Czele
Post Number: 87
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 3:16 pm: | 
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I have a question out there for all you ethicists....
My well meaning friend borrowed our car for the weekend while we were out of town last month. He picked our family up at the airport on a cold day. While waiting for us at the "Flight Arrival" curb, an officer asked him to move the car. He did not. He got a ticket. The second time the cop came up to him, he gave him another ticket for not listening the first time. We finally come out with the kids and hopped in the car.
Poor guy had to go to court (borrowed our car again) to try to get the points off. He now says he thinks we should pay the court "settlement" of $350, because he was thinking only of our poor sleeping children out in the cold air.
While I somewhat see his point, I am also annoyed that he is passing all the blame. My attitude is if he got a speeding ticket on the way to the airport to get there in time, would we be responsible for that behavior, too?
Am I crazy? |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 829
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 3:32 pm: |
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He should pay the full $350 - he got the ticket. He could have parked in short-term parking and met you at the exit. He chose to break the rules.
Having said that, you might offer to pay 1/2 to avoid ruining the friendship. It's up to you - is he a good, close friend?
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kriss
Citizen
Username: Kriss
Post Number: 288
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 3:34 pm: |
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No you are not. He unilaterally decided to ignore the cop -- that's why he got the tickets. I don't see how you are responsible for this in any way.
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JonSel
Citizen
Username: Jonsel
Post Number: 59
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 3:46 pm: |
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Don't most people know to just circle around when the cop tells you to move along? Make him pay for it. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1490
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 3:52 pm: |
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If he is a good friend, find a compromise position, and never loan him your car or have him pick you up again...just not enough street sense to trust with your possessions.
If you are willing to risk the friendship, you already did him a favor loaning him the car (twice). You aren't responsible for his lack of good sense. |
Tom N
Citizen
Username: Tjn
Post Number: 99
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 3:53 pm: |
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First off, I can't stand people who tie up the arrivals area because they consider it the same thing as short term parking. Add to that the fact this person felt they were above the law by ignoring the cop and I feel they are completely responsible and deserved everything they got. This person also seems to be forgetting that you did them a favor by allowing them to use your car for the weekend. Just because they were ticketed in your car because they screwed up doesn't make it your responsibility in any way and I wouldn't consider them much of a friend if they are blaming you for their stupidity. |
ess
Citizen
Username: Ess
Post Number: 1670
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 4:02 pm: |
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I agree - Czele, I don't think it is your responsibility. The friend could argue that he was doing you a favor by picking you up; however, you did loan him your car.
He chose to break the rules, therefore, he should pay the fine.
Btw, just because this happened in your car does not automatically make you responsible. I once had borrowed a friend's car and was stopped. The inspection sticker was out of date. Guess who would have gotten the ticket? Me! (I only didn't because I managed to charm the officer. But it still would have been my responsibility, even though it was not my car.) |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4641
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 5:07 pm: |
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Czele
If he is a good enough friend you lent your car to him he shouldn't have put your friendship on the line the way he did. IF you asked him to park there and wait for you, then you should pay the ticket. If he parked there on his on, then refused to move after the police asked him to, the ticket is on him.
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Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4642
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 5:16 pm: |
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Another thought. What if he had an accident with your car while you were away and seriously injured someone. I'm also wondering why he got points for a parking ticket? |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7186
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 8:29 pm: |
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Czele - he got the use of the car in return for picking you up. He had a chance to move the car and refused the order of a police officer in a high-security area. Frankly, he should be thanking the stars that he wasn't arrested and your car towed; airport security is nothing to be played with.
It's just a good thing that he doesn't think that you are in financial trouble; he might have committed armed robbery to give you money to feed your poor, starving children.
He's wrong. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 140
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 8:36 pm: |
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Either way, this is probably going to change your friendship for ever. Good intentions aside, he was wrong, plain and simple. He should have known he could not stop outside the terminal. He was wrong for ignoring an officer. He deserved the ticket and was lucky not to have put YOU through the inconvenience and cost of having your car towed. Court appearances are not something to be enjoyed, but he put that on himself..
He should be man enough to accept his error of judgement and pay the money.
It's a shame that he has put you in this position...you do a good deed and now look where you are. |
Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 225
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 9:19 pm: |
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I think he was totally wrong to ignore the cop.
Hard to imagine these days, but don't you both have cell phones? He should have circled around until you were at the door and you gave him a call. You can't just park there.
There's also something wrong with this story. The cop told him to move. He didn't. The cop gave him the first ticket, then came back later and gave him a 2nd? Sounds like he gave the cop attitude, and he probably deserved both tickets. I think he should pay. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13534
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 10:30 pm: |
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Wrong to ignore the cop, but I think he might be able to get the second ticket knocked out anyway. I managed to do that with two parking tickets for a single offense. This was in NYC.
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K_soze
Citizen
Username: K_soze
Post Number: 32
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 8, 2006 - 11:02 pm: |
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JTA - the points are for the second ticket, most likely "failure to comply with directions of officer"
Czele - don't even think of coughing up $$ for this dope, he has a lot of nerve to even ask you for it and use your kids as leverage
BTW, you're lucky your car didn't get towed, I know someone who tows for the PA police, they snag cars all day long, usually within minutes of it being there |
wunderdog
Citizen
Username: Wunderdogny
Post Number: 91
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 9, 2006 - 2:01 pm: |
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You should NOT have to pay for your buddy's pigheadedness. It was he who chose to ignore the cop's request to move, not you. Chalk this one up to the "no good deed goes unpunished" department!?!?! |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1485
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 9:48 am: |
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You should not pay for the tickets. He got the tickets because of his behavior, not because of the car. He has incredibly bad judgement and that's why he got the tickets. If he got a ticket for blowing through a stop sign and it was because your brakes weren't working, that's one thing - you should pay the cost, but nothing like that happened here.
Just because he happened to be in your car when he decided to act like an idiot, doesn't mean you're responsible. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7192
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 10:03 am: |
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Just because he happened to be in your car when he decided to act like an idiot, doesn't mean you're responsible.
Eloquent, simple, true.
Let us know what happens. |
Czele
Citizen
Username: Czele
Post Number: 88
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 7:27 pm: |
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Thanks everyone for your oppinions. I appreciate your help...
Despite all your advice, we have to go with our hearts. We're going to give him the money because he is well intentioned and a good friend. I'm not going to be lending my car to anyone from now on, though- no matter how inconvenient- WAY to much liability! A lesson to be learned, for sure... |
CFA
Citizen
Username: Cfa
Post Number: 1617
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 14, 2006 - 3:38 am: |
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For the future...if you're being picked up at the airport, plan to meet your ride on the departing flight level. The cops are a bit more understanding. |
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