Money Moral Dilemma: Should we contribute to my brother's bus lane fine?

gloriouslyhappy

The generous and big hearted thing to do would be to pay half. As soon as he told you about it, you should have offered. When my ancient car was in the shop, my sister drove me to the bank, and got a yellow-box ticket when she had to brake for a pedestrian running the lights so got caught stopping in the junction to avoid hitting him. As soon as the ticket came in the post and she told me, I immediately offered. She wouldn't have been there if not for me, so it was a no-brainer.

Good relationships with friends and family are worth more than saving a few pennies in this case!

Geranium27

no! he's the driver his responsibility, unless he asked you to help him watch out for such things.
It would be different if he wasn't going to the party too, but he would still have been driving there with you in the car or not.
however it also depends on his financial situation.... if you know he's broke I'd definitely offer to pay it, & decide the percentage based on our relative financial situations - both broke 50/50, me more broke than him then very little, him broke me better off then all of it (the only caveat to my paying all of it would be if he was very careless & i'd tried to advise him & he's taken no notice).

gloriouslyhappy

dogsbody69 wrote: »

You do not accidentally stray into a bus lane, he was not concentrating, :T

In London, bus lanes stop and start in strange places all the time, along with cycle lanes - some of them seem to have been put in place to deliberately trap motorists so unwary drivers will be caught and fined by cash-strapped councils desperate for income now that council tax's been frozen. It only takes a moment looking away from the road - maybe watching out for mad cyclists or leaping pedestrians - to stray into one. Oh, and don't get me started on the number of school run mothers with prams and toddlers by the hand who run across the road in front of cars during morning rush hour! Use the crossing !!!!!!!

chocky

barginpleasure wrote: »

Do you see the bit they were all going? You heard of Dedicated driver?

On the query no he is the driver he is responsible adult.

"designated driver"

delboysidcup

Shame he got done, undoubtedly on camera. These are money making traps for local authorities, but on the other hand they do teach us to be more careful. Yes, you should contribute, you were saved money regardless of the fact he was going to the party as well. Think ahead to next New Year's Eve. If he asked for a contribution this year he will think again next year if you don't cough up.

Ebenezer_Screwj

What a cheek! He committed a traffic violation and doesn't want to take responsibility for it. I know what I would say to him.

scooby088

Only thing I would have offered was petrol money, as a driver it's not the passengers fault he/she drove carelessly, I don't know london but lanes are clearly marked where i live.

crmism

Strictly speaking, there's no obligation to contribute to the cost of his fine, as entering the lane was his decision, and no-one else's, regardless of whether the fuel costs were shared. However, if nobody chipped in for fuel, I see no reason why you shouldn't give him something, especially as he's your brother. Little gestures like that are remembered and, who knows, the situation might be reversed at some future time!

minicooper272

I’m surprised by the number of people who say the OP is wholly responsible. This is akin to being snapped by a speeding camera – would they all suggest the two passengers should split the points between them because they were all going to the same party?

Your brother was the driver, and it was his error, therefore his fine. The only exception is where the passenger is giving directions and they directed the driver into a bus lane.

If your brother is hard up, you can offer something towards the fine (although I would split the early payment discounted price, as it’s his fault if he doesn’t pay it soon enough), or you can make a contribution towards petrol costs and round the value up a bit if it helps your conscience.

shuvit.

Most definitely you should ! And split THREE ways at least !!!