Money Moral Dilemma: Should my husband's friends help pay his parking fine?

hlane1

I'm split on this. Firstly the driver knowingly left his car for a long time in the supermarkets car park, for far longer than his snack top up shop needed. But true friends would offer to chip in for the fine. Whichever, it is a lesson learned. Why should tourists think they can use up shoppers parking spaces all day?

Confusedlad

If I'm driving I'm responsible.  Simple.  Your friends did not (presumably) take the decision to park in the car park, so I would not expect them to pay any fine.  If you were fined for speeding would you expect them to pay or share the points?

sclare

If I'm given a lift, I don't back seat drive. I don't check that the driver is staying within the speed limit. I don't check where they park. Likewise if I'm driving others, keeping within the law and parking restrictions is my responsibility. 

So no, they're not obliged to pay a share of the fine. 

Half_way

sclare said:

If I'm given a lift, I don't back seat drive. I don't check that the driver is staying within the speed limit. I don't check where they park. Likewise if I'm driving others, keeping within the law and parking restrictions is my responsibility. 

So no, they're not obliged to pay a share of the fine. 

@scl@sclare this was not a fine, the only obligation, and possible moral thing to do is not to pay it, but at the same time do not ignore, the private parking industry is un regulated makes up its own rules to suit itself  and is running amok

medievalbiker

Most supermarket car parks have a time limit on them, usually 3 hours to allow time to do your shopping  but not for use as a long term car park otherwise they would be full of commuters all day. If he didn't know he should have checked and if he didn't that is his stupid fault.  He will next time

saajan_12

Without getting into whether the fine should be paid or disputed, whatever it does end up costing should be split among the friends. Navigating and deciding where to park is commonly a joint decision, even if one person physically makes it happen. The benefit of the convenient parking place and saving from paying for parking elsewhere was enjoyed by all of them. The others could also have spotted the signs, and immediately said lets get back in the car and park elsewhere, or get back in time.

That's very unlike HOW to drive, whether to speed etc which is wholly in the driver's control and fines shouldn't be shared. 

PixelPound

sclare said:

If I'm given a lift, I don't back seat drive. I don't check that the driver is staying within the speed limit. I don't check where they park. Likewise if I'm driving others, keeping within the law and parking restrictions is my responsibility. 

So no, they're not obliged to pay a share of the fine. 

It isn't a fine, but put this fact aside as whether to pay or not is a separate issue, I agree on your points.

Ethically, why should they pitch in, unless they were coercing him to park there saying it would be fine. It's the driver that's in control of how they drive and where they park. What happens if they were running late and the driver decided to speed and got flashed by a speed cam, would some be suggesting that the driver ask the passengers to cough up towards the ticket when he gets it? Same if the driver strayed into a bus lane with a camera.

The crux of it, legally it's the drivers responsibility 100%. Maybe the passengers want to pitch in, like you might if a friend had an unexpected bill, but morally and legally no requirement.

Peter_Harris101

It is not a fine, but a contractual agreement that you enter on arrival, according to the well hidden signs. The amounts "fined" are usually out of proportion. Some years ago I too was "fined" as I forgot to get a ticket from the machine for a 15 minute park - £60. I challenged it as it was clear from the contents of my car I was shopping in 2 of the shops in the retail park, but as expected I lost. With a small moral dilemma I wrote to the PPC stating I was not going to pay or reply to any correspondence. There followed years of bullying correspondence from the PPC and the "fine" continued to increase! My moral dilemma was lifted when I was sent a letter headed by a bailiff company threatening to take my stuff to the value! As I did not remember the small claims court case, which would never happen, this was clear bullying. Eventually the bullies stopped writing. If the "fine" is out of proportion, do not pay!

vacheron

If the friends wanted to chip in on any (forseeable) motoring costs, then that seems fair. But unless they coerced him into parking in that spot, he should definately pay as the driver has sole responsibility for operation of the vehicle.

Would we also be asking friends to chip in if he received a speeding fine? Or share the prison sentence, fines, repair bills or compensation if he struck someone or something?

mimgable

Nope. Driver should always check parking rules+actively check around the wider area for signs, as there’s not going to be a sign exactly where someone parks. Plus whoever heard of a non time limited supermarket car park these days apart from the odd smaller ones?! +leaving it in a supermarket car park could be depriving someone of a space who is actually shopping. Take it on the chin as a lesson not to try+get away with free parking to go for a walk, rather than pay to park. Split between all of you a car park isn’t going to break the bank. In future check online for info re free on street parking and walk an extra mile if you need to, given you’re going walking anyway