Do I have to pay the parking ticket I got in my friend's car?
You borrowed their car, came back with a ticket, and now they want the money. Who actually owes it? Here's the fair split, settled.
The borrower
They were doing a quick errand in an unfamiliar neighborhood and had no idea the block was permit-only after 6pm — the sign was half-hidden and the car owner never mentioned it. They'd have parked two streets over for free if anyone had said a word.
The car owner
It's their car, their name on the ticket, and their problem if it goes unpaid — they lent out a favor, not a fine. Reading the sign before you park is the driver's job, not something a friend should have to brief you on like a rental agent.
The verdict
Who's at fault
The borrower is more in the wrong here. The borrower pays the ticket. Whoever is behind the wheel is the one reading the signs, and "I didn't notice" isn't a cost you get to hand back to the person who did you a favor. But the owner isn't blameless — if you know your block is permit-only after 6, that's a ten-second warning you owe anyone you hand the keys to. Pay it in full, then let them buy you a coffee for not mentioning it.
“You borrowed the car, you borrowed the parking. The ticket came with it.”
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