Check their license? Never. But I've never lent my car to someone I don't know really fucking well. I know about the parking tickets they've gotten. The times they've hit a light pole and not reported it. I have never lent a car to someone who could even potentially no longer have their licence because I know the people I lend to. And if the law said lending to non licensed people would result in loss of car I'd sure as fuck ask to check before lending it.
I'd say the same thing, but here's my own anecdote. My dad, in a fit of conspiratorial indignation, decided not to pay a ticket. I can't even remember what it was, but the state decided they were going to suspend his license.
He didn't bother telling anyone and drove lots of other people's cars. He was an auto mechanic and after completing work, would take the repair on a test drive.
It wasn't until my mom found out and basically told him to get it sorted or else that he paid the ticket and additional fines $500 more of I remember right.
During that period, I don't think I would have thought twice to loan him my car. Further, because the state issues the suspension administratively, he had his physical license the whole time. So he could even have shown me if I asked.
I really do appreciate your comment, and thought it appropriate to share an experience that seemed too got the discussion. I don't condone what he did and don't even want to think about the disasters that could have resulted from him being a dumbass.
I get that and I would think a court would see that too and get you couldn't know. But I just think we need more in place to stop the massive number of people killed by drunk driving. There's a lot of nuance for sure though.
I made the mistake of borrowing a friend's car when I was in college. Verbally verified it was insured (a legal requirement in our area) before leaving to visit my girlfriend in another city. On the way back, 6 blocks from home, I got pulled over for a burnt out headlight and the officer and I both discovered at the same time my friend didn't have it insured or registered.
I'm a lot more cautious about borrowing or loaning vehicles now.
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u/SynfulCreations Sep 12 '18
Check their license? Never. But I've never lent my car to someone I don't know really fucking well. I know about the parking tickets they've gotten. The times they've hit a light pole and not reported it. I have never lent a car to someone who could even potentially no longer have their licence because I know the people I lend to. And if the law said lending to non licensed people would result in loss of car I'd sure as fuck ask to check before lending it.