Money Moral Dilemma: Should we pay for driving fines that weren't our fault?

eDicky

pollypenny wrote: »

It is a dilemma. This person seems to have done all the driving - quite handy for the rest of the party. Italy is notorious for speeding anyway, so he was unlucky to be caught.

If you want to remain friends make a contribution.

Despite my previous post, I think there is something in this, now noting that it was Italy and considering my own driving habits there.

I'm very careful to avoid parking infringments, but on major roads and highways in a good car I tend to drive as fast as I consider safe in the circumstances, which is often above the posted limit. Italians regularly do the same, I'm often overtaken. Where I go there's doesn't seem to be much enforcement and I've never received a ticket (touching wood, I was there a couple of weeks ago so one could still come through).

However I'm usually alone. With a passenger who was nervous I would moderate my speed if asked, and if I was ever nicked I certainly wouldn't ask for any contribution. If however I were a passenger with someone driving as I do on a long highway run instead of extending the duration by sticking to the limits, and they incurred a fine, I would offer a contribution without being asked. That's in Italy.

Several years ago in Venezuela I was pulled over by a couple of burly motorcycle highway cops while riding with a friend from Singapore on the back of my scooter. He began shaking with fear so I told him not to worry. I don't remember if we were both without helmets or just he was wearing mine, but this was pointed out to us by the cops. After negotiating and paying the 'fine' we continued to the beach. I told my friend that he owed me half of it, partly in jest, but he was so relieved at the outcome that he paid up immediately.

But that was Venezuela, island life in carefree times, helmets rarely worn in the heat. Everywhere is different...

By the way, are these 'dilemma' stories always real life situations or invented? I don't usually bother to read them.

Mike_Newcomb

Hi Sarah, the situation may be worse than you think.
Reading between the lines, it could be the €400 is made up of a €200 Parking Fine plus four $50 fees to the Car Rental Company for providing the Driver's Details to the Authorities.
The Italian Authorities then have a Year to issue any Fine(s).
Where in Italy did this occur?
I ask because I suspect some Cities e.g. Rome and Bologna, are targeting Car Rentals, with Foreign Drivers, in order to raise finance.
e.g. heard of one Driver receiving 4 tickets in Bologna.
Another in Rome who never speeds or overtakes in Italy receiving a ticket for 37mph in a 32 mph zone.
Appears there is no appeal against these Tickets.
Good Luck

leedslad5501

Probably legally the driver is responsible for all the fines and charges relating to the booking, however, you have to consider that the other three people in the car decided that one person should be responsible for the driving to save money.

You all benefited from this money saving and were happy for this person to drive all week and pocket the money saved, unfortunately, due to the fines, this maybe hasn't worked out.

In 2006 I went to Belgium with two other friends and we parked in the same place all week on Friday morning we got up to find that the car park had become a market and the car towed it cost 180 Euro to get it out, we all paid a third without being asked. I wasn't over the moon at paying this but I looked it from another perspective, we were all happy to benefit from my fried driving and none of us read the sign about not being able to park in that place on that day

Ebenezer_Screwj

The driver who was speeding should pay up, why should anyone else subsidise traffic violations?

brianposter

The question is far too ambiguous - did the passengers warn about speeding or not ?
In principle the passengers should pay their share of speeding fines simply because getting caught is a matter of luck.
Paying excessive attention to the speedometer is in itself dangerous, particularly in a foreign country.