101 Things
An Author Needs to Know
About the Police and the Law
When is a borrowed car a stolen car?
When is a borrowed car a stolen car?
It's pretty simple. Basically when the owner says so.
If it's a rental car and it's overdue and you haven't notified the rental company and they call the police...congratulations, you are now driving a stolen car. If your boyfriend, friend or neighbor wants their car back that you have borrowed and you don't bring it back. Bingo. Stolen vehicle. Avoid this problem by respecting the owner's wishes and keep in contact with him/her/rental company.
Just a note on letting people use your car. Be careful. What if...just what if...someone uses your car and drops a baggie of marijuana on the floor? I mean do you REALLY know this neighbor or co-worker that you let borrow your vehicle? Now, let's say you get pulled over for a bad taillight. The cop looks in your car when he's at the window getting your license and registration and he spies it. And trust me, they're looking. Guess what? You're in possession of narcotics.
In my younger days when I was dumb and full of beans a guy left a half a joint in my car ashtray. I know what you're thinking. Ashtray? Just how old is Jody anyway? This was back when the cops would just take it and throw it away and send you home. But nowadays even drug residue, the scrapings off the baggie, count. I was also with a guy once (different guy) who, when I got pulled over for speeding, got scared and stashed the drugs under his seat. I didn't know they were there. I didn't even know he did cocaine. Boy...I sure can pick 'em, huh? No wonder my mother got gray hair early.
So back to the original theme, be careful when you lend your car and be careful when you borrow a car. Best not to borrow at all IMO. Oh, and try to hang out with a better class of people, okay? :)
3 comments:
Very informative, interesting, and amusing, as usual, Jody. Thanks again.
Do your insurance companies issue cover for 'all drivers', then Jody? Usually our policies are driver specific, so loaning your car to another driver would break that rule anyway. Some drivers are insured to drive any vehicle but I think those policies are more for professional drivers who might be required to use a different vehicle in the course of their job. The average Joe wouldn't just be able to drive someone else's car, not legally anyway.
@ Chris. RE: US insurance. I suppose policies are different according to the insurance company and the type you purchase, but I know when my daughter visited I called my insurance company to ask if I needed to pay extra to have my son-in-law drive my car for the weekend (they were going to a wedding and I was babysitting) and they told me that as long as the driver had my permission to use my car he/she was covered under my policy.
Here in the US you have to have all persons who live in your home who have a driver's license listed on your car insurance policy. It costs a little more for each person of course. For my daughter it was $30 for her to be listed on his car.
I'm sure half the time people lend their cars and don't even think about the potential insurance problems.
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