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

cheekybuoy

Did you ask him to drive in the bus lane? What about if he had run a red light? Should you pay half the fine and take half the points?
What about if he crashed the car? Pay half the excess?
What about if he was drink driving, crashed the car and killed someone? No of course it would be his responsibility - just like its his responsibility as a driver to obey the rules of the road.
The answer is NO, NO, NO! He is responsible,

John_Gray

"You can choose your friends* but you can't choose your relatives."
See if you can get your parents to disown your irresponsible and stupid brother.
Or move away...

* even your so-called bofriend!

happyinflorida

Yes because although he offered to give you a life he was probably doing so because you were all going to the same party and he wanted to save you the enormous cost of getting a taxi on NY's eve - especially if he was the designated driver and it also meant he couldn't drink and drive because he was also driving you home again later.

Maybe you should have paid more attention to what was going on and helped by warning him of the bus lane? That would have been helpful.

He is your brother in law after all, not fair he should have to pay it unless........ you hate his guts, he's got far more money than you or earns far more etc and you don't!!! lol

jbainbridge

Yes, I would contribute. Driving through any city centre - especially London - can be quite difficult.

What does surprise me is the number of first time posters who have taken the time to join and comment on this thread!

keithyno.1

"Jouer le jeu??!!" Why the sudden need to start talking in a foreign language? Honestly...pretentiousness par excellence!! :rotfl:

(see response from VfM4meplse at 7.45pm 26/01/16)

tallgirld

My brother has owed me money for years so I wouldn't give him a penny.

But in your case yes contribute. Just look at it as cab fare!!!!

Racxie

pigpen wrote: »

no.

It was a journey he was making whether you were there or not so not actually doing you a favour which would imply he was putting himself out in some way.

He knows the bus lane rules and chose to take the chance.

Hopefully he will learn something.

It's not your responsibility .. had he broken some other law/rule it would not have been your responsibility.. even if you told him to do it!


Are people deliberately ignoring the fact that he was going to the party anyway so not actually doing anyone a favour? A favour implies you are doing something out of your schedule to help someone out.. he wasn't.. and it was his suggestion they had a lift with him.. passengers are not in charge of the vehicle so not responsible for any laws/rules broken... unless they grab the wheel and drag the driver off road.

^^^ This, especially the part in bold.

I'm sure the people who are saying that the OP should pay up are those who wouldn't want to admit fault and pay in full themselves. If the brother chose to drive in a bus lane and was caught, he is wholly responsible for that fine.

duchy

Pay up twenty pounds and help out your brother

Refuse to pay out ,possibly pee off your brother and guarantee he'll never help you out in the future

Sounds like a no brainier to even the biggest Scrooge to me !

heuchera

MSE_Nick wrote: »

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

On New Year's Eve my brother kindly offered to drive me and my bofriend the two hours to a house party in London we were all going to, as I'm not comfortable driving on the motorway. On the way he accidentally moved into a bus lane for a moment. He's now received a fine and is asking if we will contribute - should we?

If it was your idea that he move into the bus lane, if not I don't see how he can hold you responsible.

ripplyuk

This reminds me of the time my brother had a car accident and hinted that I should pay because he was driving to my house at the time. I wasn't even with him, nor did I know when he was visiting.

Whats next? Will we expect the shop/doctors surgery/hairdresser etc to pay, just because the person was driving to there when they got a speeding ticket/fine/had an accident etc