Settle an argument

[nichayes1]

My step son just got his permit. My wife lets him drive around the neighborhood by himself and with his friends. She says that when whe was young she used to drive around the entire town with her permit and there was never a problem. I tell her that I used to do the same thing but we both lived in small towns and it was also a few decades ago. I keep telling her that it is a very bad idea and that the consequences could be severe and she says that I am overreacting. So, my question is.... if he were involved in an accident or just pulled over for some traffic violation, what could the consequences for him (and her) be?
By the way I live in Arizona if that helps.
Thank you very much

[MOCOP]

A driver with a Learners Permit must be accompanied by a Licensed Driver of at least 21 years of age.

[retdetsgt]

In Oregon, anyone under 18 can't drive around with their friends in the car unless an adult over 21 is in the car. Studies have shown that it's when kids are driving around with friends that they are more likely to either show off or get distracted.

What she's doing is inviting a disaster, not to mention your insurance skyrocketing.

[Old Trooper]

If I am not mistaken, she could get a ticket for allowing unlicensed operation as well....and if an accident is involved, BIG problems!

[txinvestigator1]

So your wife is teaching your kid that it is OK to pick and choose which laws you wish to obey?

WOW!

[Valor55]

When your kid gets caught and isn't allowed to have a license again until he's 18 will she still let him drive? What is the civil liability for you and your wife allowing him to drive when he has an accident or somebody gets hurt? My favorite teenagers goofing off while driving video is here: http://media.ebaumsworld.com/index.php?e=carfall.wmv

[TPDHellhound]

I work in AZ. All the other posts are correct for the most part. The law requires a person with a temp permit to have a licensed driver in the seat next to them. Allowing an unlicensed driver to drive a vehicle is a Class 1 Misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail. It also opens up ENORMOUS amounts of liability to you and your wife. Why?? Because your insurance company will reject the claim if you son hits someone. And you will have to pay for the damages, injuries, pain/suffering, etc.

Bottom line: Don't let him drive without you or your wife!

[P01IC3M4N]

here in the great state of Texas, he would get sacked for no driver license and no insurance. this would prevent him from obtaining his license until the ripe old age of at least 18. if he was in an accident, the insurance company would deny the claim because, as a stipulation on all insurance policies, the operator was not covered as a driver and further, was not driving legally. so you and your wife would likely be sued by whatever insurance company regardless of fault; reason being is he wasn't supposed to be driving so whatever error that occurred, would not have occurred had he not been driving illegally.

and then your wife would be cited for allowing an ulicensed driver operate a motor vehicle.

yea, you're overreacting.

[mcsap]

The tickets , the insurance issues, the moral implications , the civil implications if he hurts someone ( especially with his mothers permission) are NOT worth it. If your wife wants to gamble, take her to Las Vegas , she shouldn't be doing it with her son.

[tpd_six]

When I catch kids driving contrary to their learner's permit restrictions, they get a ticket, generally the car is towed, and usually whoever let them drive in the first place is cited as well.

[Deputy757]

When I catch kids driving contrary to their learner's permit restrictions, they get a ticket, generally the car is towed, and usually whoever let them drive in the first place is cited as well.

Ditto ^^^^^^

[ChesCopPodz]

As stated above, the tickets will be costly, ALL of the costs of any accident will come on you, your wife would be arrested, your car would be towed at your expense. Of course the most important one is your son's safety. He is a very inexperienced driver, which makes him multiple times more likely to be in an accident. I cannot tell you how many accidents I've taken reports on where the driver at fault had less than 2 years of driving experience. If you removed all of the minor rush hour fender benders from my total accident reports, that percentage would be well over half. 2/3rds of the fatal accidents I've worked have been people 25 or younger either dead or at fault. It is not worth it to be "cool" with your son because you let him drive by himself.

[samseed101]

My step son just got his permit. My wife lets him drive around the neighborhood by himself and with his friends. She says that when whe was young she used to drive around the entire town with her permit and there was never a problem. I tell her that I used to do the same thing but we both lived in small towns and it was also a few decades ago. I keep telling her that it is a very bad idea and that the consequences could be severe and she says that I am overreacting. So, my question is.... if he were involved in an accident or just pulled over for some traffic violation, what could the consequences for him (and her) be?
By the way I live in Arizona if that helps.
Thank you very much

Just to add my 2 cents: Here he would be arrested for Operating Without a License. It will also prevent him from obtaning a license for awhile while his right to operate is placed under suspension. As far as the mother, she can also be charged with permitting an unlicensed driver to operate.

[samseed101]

almost forgot...the car is towed as well (at the owner's expense, of course". Usually $80 plus a $30 a day storage fee (1 day min)