Stealing car keys and stuff from a drunk person?

[almasy87]

Not long ago, a friend of mine was determined to ride his bike home while quite intoxicated. I ended up walking him home (a good few miles) in the middle of the night to avoid that, but I've always wondered what would have happened if he had refused that, too. I probably would have taken his bike and just rode it home for him to pick up later or something, but I don't know.

Realistically, would I ever get in trouble for stealing a bike or car keys from a drunk person? I'm usually the one that stays sober and these things, but I've always wondered what would happen if someone called the police on me in a drunken rage or something.

[scott715us]

Most states' theft laws indicate that there has to be some intent to permanently deprive the owner of his/her property. Your scenario doesn't quite meet that standard. On the other hand, if someone is in a drunken rage it may be better to leave them alone so you don't find yourself getting beat up. They will get caught soon enough and learn the hard way.

[Piggy]

One of my first calls some 15 years ago was a report of a bike accident with injuries at about 2am. I was thinking motorcycle or car vs. bicycle. Turns out two drunks were riding home from the bar. One stops at an intersection, the other plows into him from behind. One broken leg and one cut up head. It was the funniest injury accident I'd ever seen.

Back to your regularly scheduled thread......

[Johninaustin]

Not long ago, a friend of mine was determined to ride his bike home while quite intoxicated. I ended up walking him home (a good few miles) in the middle of the night to avoid that, but I've always wondered what would have happened if he had refused that, too. I probably would have taken his bike and just rode it home for him to pick up later or something, but I don't know.

Realistically, would I ever get in trouble for stealing a bike or car keys from a drunk person? I'm usually the one that stays sober and these things, but I've always wondered what would happen if someone called the police on me in a drunken rage or something.

1. No you won't. Though there is the chance your drunk friend will kick your ***.

2. You need smarter friends.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Around here, if a drunk person called the cops to say their keys had been 'stolen' and demanded police action, the police would respond, and the drunk would be taking a free ride to the pokey.

[retdetsgt]

Conversely, if you have a party at your house, someone gets drunk, tries to drive home and hits and kills someone, you can be held civilly liable.

Victims of drunk drivers periodically go against bars and private parties who serve people until they are ****faced and get into a major accident after leaving.

My daughter and her husband throw a New Years Eve party every year and the #1 rule is you plan to spend the night unless you have a designated driver or call a cab. Otherwise, your car keys go in a safe and you get them back the next day. The agreement is made when you are invited and my son in law is big enough to enforce it. I seriously doubt any police would be upset with him preventing some drunk from getting behind the wheel.

Courts around here have long favored victims of these drunk drivers in going after the servers.

[viperphi]

Luckily we have discretion when someone accuses another of theft. We put our thinking caps on and if we really apply ourselves, we can usually figure it out.

[RoadKingTrooper]

Find new friends who don't "need" to get drunk. There really is nothing adult or unique about drunk people.

Drinking doesn't:

Make you smarter
Make you cool
Make you entertaining
Make you handsome/cute
Make you "mysterious"
Make you interesting


All it does it make you drunk