My dad drinks and drives and he wants to take my car for the week. What to do?

[meltdown75]

there's nothing you can do about it, son. drunk Dad is drunk.

just pretend you live in the 60s and 70s where cops would routinely pull over drunk drivers and slap them on the wrist and follow them home because they knew whoever it was and their whole family. "Damn you Billy Jack, phsaw, you done had one too many tonight! Now straight home, ya hear?"

Except it's 2010 and they won't know your Dad. But you can pretend.

 

[gaidensensei]

You win this round, KT!
*shakes fist.

Yeah, that's right.
KT

Got you guys beat.

EDIT:
add some chickun to top it off

 

[preslove]

Call cops on dad.

 

[mcurphy]

To those telling him to give up the keys, would you change your post if his dad were to go out and kill someone in a drunk driving accident?

He needs to give up the keys. It isn't a sons place to tell the dad what he is or isn't going to do. His dad is an adult, and thus is responsible for any decision he makes, whether it is drunk driving or not.

The kid is lucky he has a place to stay and a car to drive, he has no room to make demands.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

his on paper = his car

good luck telling him what he can and can't do with something he legally owns

 

[lxskllr]

Give him the keys, and hope for the best. It sounds like he's driving anyway. Is he always bending up cars?

 

[slayer202]

can your dad give me a ride?

 

[zinfamous]

Got you guys beat.


EDIT:
add some chickun to top it off

 

[MrMatt]

your dad sounds like a real winner. make sure to keep sweet tea with you whenever he comes home drunk.

Oh man. Not even going to comment on that lol



OP look at it this way: you might just save his life if you don't give him the keys

 

[slugg]

All the damage to my car has been done by him and paid for/fixed by me. All the damage has been done while he drove under the influence. Yes, he does have another car that is designated as "his" car. In fact, I parked behind him one day, and he backed up into my car. He blamed it on me and I had to pay for repairs for BOTH cars.

So this is ethically challenging. What if he fails and kills someone while driving drunk? What if he doesn't hurt anyone, but totals my car and I'm stuck without one? But then again, it is HIS car.

I'm inclined to just take my car.

 

[Tristicus]

Oh cry me a river!

 

[rcpratt]

Tell the douchebag to stop driving drunk. You should be far more worried about the repercussions for your father and his eventual victims than your car.

 

[xanis]

All the damage to my car has been done by him and paid for/fixed by me. All the damage has been done while he drove under the influence. Yes, he does have another car that is designated as "his" car. In fact, I parked behind him one day, and he backed up into my car. He blamed it on me and I had to pay for repairs for BOTH cars.

So this is ethically challenging. What if he fails and kills someone while driving drunk? What if he doesn't hurt anyone, but totals my car and I'm stuck without one? But then again, it is HIS car.

I'm inclined to just take my car.

WOW. Give him the car. Not just for the time you're away, I mean PERMANENTLY. It's not worth all this shit.

Sorry OP, but your dad is a huge douchebag.

 

[daw123]

WOW. Give him the car. Not just for the time you're away, I mean PERMANENTLY. It's not worth all this shit.

Sorry OP, but your dad is a huge douchebag.

This. Buy your own car and hand the keys of "his" car back to him.

 

[zinfamous]

Oh cry me a river!

lawlz.

that'd make me tear up, too.

 

[yh125d]

If you continue to turn a blind eye to your dad's alcoholism, will you be able to sleep at night if/when he hurts or kills himself or others?


This is not a troll response, I'm dead serious. Do something.

 

[ChaoZ]

Who gives a shit if it's his car? Do not let him drive it.

 

[RbSX]

this is a dumb question

 

[joesmoke]

well, if its as you say it is (him drunkenly causing damage and forcing you to take responsibiity for it) go ahead and let him use it while youre gone and start making plans to move out. also, try to remember these days when you have kids so you can try not to repeat similar mistakes, as silly as that sounds.

As far as "do something about it" theres not much more you can do than tell him your feelings about the issue. Hes a grown man and likely isnt going to respond to "stop doing that youre in the wrong!" and though calling the cops on him may seem noble it probably isnt going to stop him in the future.

 

[Perknose]

All the damage to my car has been done by him and paid for/fixed by me. All the damage has been done while he drove under the influence. Yes, he does have another car that is designated as "his" car. In fact, I parked behind him one day, and he backed up into my car. He blamed it on me and I had to pay for repairs for BOTH cars.

Whatever you do THIS time, if you could afford to pay for all those repairs then you can afford at least a beater used car until you can get a better one.

You NEED to get out of this situation as soon as possible, something I kinda' think you know.

In the meantime, if your Dad payed for the car but it is in your name, then tell him you can't and won't lend it to him for legal liability reasons but you WILL sign it over to him just as soon as you purchase that lightly used Yugo you espied just sitting there on the back lot of Enormous Motors.

 

[joesmoke]

as you purchase that lightly used Yugo you espied just sitting there on the back lot of Enormous Motors.

naw dude, go for that Merkur XR4TI next to it... those things are runners

 

[destrekor]

clarify "drunk"

Having 5 beers at a nearby bar and driving home?

Or can't walk straight level of drunk?

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Tell the douchebag to stop driving drunk. You should be far more worried about the repercussions for your father and his eventual victims than your car.

Most sensible post so far. This guy is a ticking time bomb. Get him help.

 

[mmntech]

Tell the douchebag to stop driving drunk. You should be far more worried about the repercussions for your father and his eventual victims than your car.

This for sure. There's no moral dilemma here. It doesn't matter if he paid for it. He's still using the vehicle to do something illegal that could get someone hurt, and therefore he shouldn't be driving it. You're both adults. I'm sure you could work something out. Just be clear to him that if he damages it, it's his and he has to pay for it.

In the mean time, you might want to consider buying your own car. Even if it is a POS, it's yours and nobody can claim otherwise.

 

[MAKENITO]

If it is too difficult for you to tell your father to stop driving drunk, then just conveniently forget to give him the keys.