C'mon. It may have been ill advised, but it certainly didn't rise to the level of "contributing to the deliquency". For crying out loud, a traffic violation is a civil offense, not a crime. No right to a jury trial, no "innocent until proven guilty" standard.

If the kids dad had encouraged him to steal the bike, then you might have had an argument.

As far as snitching out a friend or neighbor because he let his kid ride a motorcycle? Do I really need to comment on that idea?

 

+1: you're a douchebag for startin a thread titled "Am I a douchebag?

That aside, I personally wouldn't do the ride...what the others do is their damn bizness.

 

Not at all. That was a wise decision. I am of the belief that getting home from a ride is 100% in the hands of the rider and the decisions that are made in regard to defensive riding. What you did was a defensive riding choice.

You are showing more judgment than the boys parents.

In Illinois riding/driving without a license can get you a year in jail and/or a big fine. Yes, a jury of 12 would more than likely consider it child neglect. It is wrong on so many levels. Sad that many can't understand it.

 

nope, bad idea

 

Not true. Many traffic offenses can and do result in jail time, possible felony, with a permanent mark on your criminal record.

Not all, but definitely some, many.

 

+1 TOO, Why ask us, just ask YOURSELF. If I went on this ride and something happened to the kid, how would I feel. The answer to that would dictate if I rode or not.

 

"Better safe than sorry" has not gone out of style.

 

We're talking about driving without a valid license and insurance. Not about vehicular homicide, or some crime committed while driving.

Let's not muddy the waters with something it's not.

 

Sorry for the delayed response, but I did not want to clutter up this wonderful thread with a silly debate about laws and ethics. The thread is a mess, so I suppose it does not matter now.

I was responding to you more in a general sense than in one specific to this kid riding a motorcycle. I was responding to these statements

I do not have any children so I cannot respond to what I have or have not told them. I can only express my opinion that in some instances it is OK to break laws and maybe the ethically correct thing to do. My morals and sense of right and wrong do not come from the government or some lawyer. If one breaks the law one must risk the punishment, or as you said they can work to change the law.

I do not know a single person that follows all laws all the time. Do you? So really unless one follows all laws it is a little hypocritical to tell others not following all laws is wrong. Now breaking a law may lead to a fine or jail, I have no issue with that. But IMO that does not mean breaking that law is not the right thing to do. If one's policy is to follow all laws no matter what then one runs the risk of being under a government that may pass laws they strongly disagree with or think are immoral but because of their blanket policy they must now follow. I cannot do that, but that is my decision and when I break laws I risk the punishment society has decided is just.

For example, it is always illegal for me to break the speed limit. But, in certain situations breaking the speed limit maybe the correct or safe thing to do. If one is pinned in traffic around people that are driving in an unsafe manor it might be wise or correct to speed up to get away from them if slowing down is not an option. Or, if one is coming up to a light which is yellow one is suppose to attempt to stop. But, if I check my mirror and I have a car on my *** I may just decide attempting to stop is not safe. My actions in not attempting to stop would still violate the law, and if I got a ticket I would pay it. In that situation I think breaking the law is just fine.

That is what I meant by a dangerous policy.

Like I said, this kid riding is probably not a great idea, and personally I might skip the trip. But I am not going to call the police to report a friend for something like this. And if I decided calling the police was the right thing to do and it was a friend I would be a man about it and tell him that is what I was going to do.

 

I would avoid it at all costs as well. I have a 15 year old, and he is good size (6ft), but no way in hell I'd put him on a Harley or any other street bike for that matter. At 15, your just not experienced enough. If they have a cow over it, then find some different riding buddies.