15 yr old, no lic. ,given keys by stepmother in VA

[Lealah]

my son and I live in NC, he got his learns permit, which means he can only drive with a lic. driver who has been driving for 5 years or more, his father and stepmother both knew this. however his stepmother gives him her keys and tells him to go down the street and pick up a child she babysits, with her 7 yr old in the car, he got stopped by an off duty cop in the neighborhood, and got a ticket for reckless driving and driving without a lic, the cop told his stepmother it was all his fault she had no blame, how can this be? he he finished driver ed., and got his permit 3 weeks before this, she knew he wasn't suppose to be alone, and yet she also put 2 small childrenn in the car with him

 

[lawrat]

I am a law school graduate, What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

Well, he is partly to blame. Despite being young, he should know the rules of driving with a licensed driver before he sits in the car --> he should have refused.

Stepmother ---> stupid, stupid, and lazy. She is ABSOLUTELY WRONG AND SHE IS AT FAULT TOO. Did you know that if he got in an accident, the fact he was running an errand for his stepmom could make her liabel. The theories would be negligent entrustment of a vehicle to an unlicensed person AND family car doctrine. Family car doctrine says if someone in the family was running an errand for the family, the owner of said car is responsible.


Teach her and perhaps speak with the police person who gave the ticket into perhaps dropping the ticket as a lesson learned for one scared kid.

Hope this helps.