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

Kynthia

With things like this the driver is the one who has responsibility and should be driving safely and complying with laws and regulations. Therefore unless you someone caused him to go in the bus lane, told him it was fine or distracted him at a crucial moment, it was his responsibility and he shouldn't have even asked. The only excuse he could possibly have for asking if he is hard - up and you didn't contribute petrol money, otherwise he's in the wrong again (first time was going in the bus lane).

I thought a bus lane had ended when I needed to turn left when driving in an unfamiliar part of London. I was driving my in-laws as a favour and they offered to pay but I wouldn't hear of it. As a driver you take responsibility when behind the wheel.

However as your brother was saving you from driving and he's someone you care about then I think it might be best to contribute to the fine. He was doing something nice for you and it's not worth having any bad feeling with your brother when he thinks differently about this.

Maelzoid

It's a good job he didn't murder someone en route - he'd expect you to do half the sentence.

ButterflyLC

Absolutely not. Would you be expected to pay the fine if he had been caught speeding or running a red light? Would he expect you to take the points on your licence instead of him? He is driving the car, so how is it your fault that he drove in a bus lane? He was responsible for his own mistake so no you shouldn't contribute.

manikat

No you should not feel any obligation to contribute to his fine (I wouldn't have even asked) but should make a contributions to his petrol costs as he has saved you a lot of money in cab fares.

Stevie_Palimo

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I found a shiny new five pence piece on the floor and am wondering if I should hand it in to the Police station.

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AnneMary

Your brother was the driver; he is responsible. You didn't feel confident to drive, he did, you were all going to the party. Even if you said you would split the costs this shouldn't include "extras". I wouldn't pay a speeding fine or contribute to insurance excess if he had had an accident either.
The only exception to this would be if he was on a tight income and I had more disposable cash but that would be to help out a family member not because I was with him.

chocolatelover93

Of course not!!
He was the one driving it was his fault so therefore he should pay!
If he had an accident would he expect you to claim on your insurance?!

Augustus_the_Strong

Yes, you absolutely should. Unless you've already paid him a substantial sum for the lift, like a taxi, in which case it's his risk. Don't be mean. These things can happen to anyone, as the smug person who is recommending advanced driver training will probably find out one day.

Augustus_the_Strong

Actually, the way to look at it is, if YOU had been the one driving all of you to the party, and you'd accidentally strayed into a bus lane, would you have liked/asked him to make a contribution? I think you probably would, don't you?

meknowalot-51

If he wasn't going to the party then it would have cost you a ton of money for a taxi.Thing is,you were all going so hardly call it a favour.The only expense to your brother should be shared fuel cost's,which you haven't mentioned.Your not responsible for any traffic incidents that happened as you weren't the person driving.