US boy takes car in school dash

Kintarō Hattori

The parents of a six-year-old boy in the US have been charged with neglect after the boy drove their car for 10km in an attempt to get to school on time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7816511.stm

They've been charged with neglect and the boy in question and his brother have been removed to protective custody.

Do you think it's right that the children were taken away from the parents? It's entirely possible that the young lad took the car without the knowledge of the parents and was absolutely determined to get to school one way or the other.

Until we know the facts it is of course hard to make any sort of accurate comment, but lets assume that they were good parents and simply didn't realise he'd taken the car. I don't feel this warrants taking the kids or even charging the parents with neglect. Rather they should be investigated first and then if suitable charges filed afterwards.

Mena

I suppose it all depends on whether or not they knew the kid took the car.

My brother and his mate did something similar when they were 10, worse though. Stole my dad's car and drove 1000 miles down to the coast and tried to sell it before the cops caught them.

Looking back it was funny as hell, not so much when it happened.

S.I.R

how could he reach the pedals and see over the steering wheel though ??


when i was 8 i knicked my gangda's scorpio for a weekend...


ended up bogged in a beach...

he still hates me to this day.

Mena

S.I.R wrote: »

how could he reach the pedals and see over the steering wheel though ??

That's a good question. My six year old would need another meter either way to reach pedals or see out the window

consultech

Mena wrote: »

My brother and his mate...they were 10...drove 1000 miles

Not true, surely?

Biggins

So 2 parents managed to teach a 6 year old how to drive.
Instead of putting them in court, maybe they should stick these parents in a class room to teach students!

They seem to be more effective at teaching than some of those actually doing it in an official capacity America right now!
...and god knows some of those students can't even find Ireland and England to sail to on a map, never mind been able to drive around the block without getting into a panic!

Gone Drinking

Americans and their autos. Had it been a manual, he wouldn't have gotten out of the drive way

Mena

consultech wrote: »

Not true, surely?

Very true I'm afraid.

ScumLord

That kids weird, why is he in such a rush to get to school when he has a car?

Biggins

ScumLord wrote: »

That kids weird, why is he in such a rush to get to school when he has a car?

McDonalds must have been closed!

Mark200

Another reason why Americans should get manual-gear-changing cars. The kid wouldn't get a few metres down the road without getting all confused

edit - woops, just noticed a post similar to mine already made

mickoneill30

While taking a car without a parents knowledge isn't something I'd want the kid taken away for it said all this happened while the mother was still asleep. If she lets her 6 year old get himself ready for school and out to the bus while she lies on I'd be more concerned about that.
Maybe she overslept which is fine, we've all done that. But the authorities probably have history with the family. I dunno. You can never tell with news reports these days. They just go for the bare minimum in info for sensationalist stories.

marzic

mickoneill30 wrote: »

While taking a car without a parents knowledge isn't something I'd want the kid taken away for it said all this happened while the mother was still asleep. If she lets her 6 year old get himself ready for school and out to the bus while she lies on I'd be more concerned about that.
Maybe she overslept which is fine, we've all done that. But the authorities probably have history with the family. I dunno. You can never tell with news reports these days. They just go for the bare minimum in info for sensationalist stories.

I agree, the authorities should take direct action and tell them to go to bed early to avoid this kind of thing in the future!

biko

I blame automatic cars, could not happen in a stick shift.

stovelid

Mena wrote: »

Stole my dad's car and drove 1000 miles down to the coast and tried to sell it before the cops caught them..

Did they have to buy petrol at some stage?

marzic

stovelid wrote: »

Did they have to buy petrol at some stage?

*old man in the gas station, quizically looking at the car driving erattically down the road*

"... something not quite right about that babyfaced, strangely tall young man with the short arms and legs, wearing a long coat and a hat in the middle of summer...cant quite put my finger on it..."

Mena

stovelid wrote: »

Did they have to buy petrol at some stage?

Three times as far as I know. Third World countries can be a little different to Ireland