Here’s a practical question for all you philosophers and theologians out there…
Back in September I sold my old Mazda for $200. A few weeks ago, I got a speeding infringement notice in the mail - the guy who bought my car had been caught by a speed camera a few days after getting the car. Silly me, I hadn’t kept a copy of his details when I posted the change of ownership form, so I couldn’t contact him. After making a few enquiries, I found I could go to the AA and request the car’s ownership details. So I did that, and discovered that he hadn’t handed in his form yet, which meant that though his name’s on the ownership record, I’m still legally responsible for it. I sent the police a statutory declaration form with the guy’s name and address, and they sent it right back saying that they needed his driver’s licence number and date of birth. The only thing left was to go round to his house and try to sort things out. He wasn’t home, but I left a note with his flatmates explaining things and asking him to call me. That was a couple of weeks ago, and I still haven’t heard from him.
Anyway, the question is - do I pay the $80 in order to clear my name, or do I keep driving over to Opawa to try and get this guy to take responsibility?
Posted in News and such
November 20th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
I wouldn’t pay as a matter of principle. If you did he would be getting away with his unjust / lazy behaviour, and making it more likely that others would do the same. Also, by paying, you’d possibly be making it harder to follow him up should he get another ten speeding tickets, and decrease his motivation to do the paperwork.
I’d look for other options. Did you get his phone number while you were at his place?
November 20th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
No… I didn’t think of that until afterward.
November 22nd, 2006 at 12:40 pm
You could take a sledgehammer to his kneecaps…