Monday, July 23, 2007 |
JUSTICE: THE NEWEST PARENT TRAP |
ELISA KELLY OF VIRGINIA probably thought she was being responsible when she bought alcohol for a party and let her underage son and his friends imbibe it under supervision. Instead, she and her then husband, George Robinson, were sentenced last month to 27 months in Jail. No one was hurt at the party or drove afterward, but underage drinking itself is one of a long list of crimes for which a violator's parents can be held responsible. These parent liability laws, mostly passed in the 1990s, differ by state, and penalties can vary widely: vandalism fines, for example, run up to $25,000 in California but only $15,000 in Arkansas. Some states are also holding parents legally responsible for less obvious "crimes" such as fighting on a playground or truancy.
OFFENSES INDEX:
Curfew Portland, Ore.: Parents can be fined up to $1,000
Injury California: for injuring another person on school grounds, parents pay both damages and a reward for turning in the offender, each up to $10,000
Gang Activity Louisiana: If a child becomes a gang member, parents can face jail time, community service and a fine up to $250
Theft Missouri: for restitution and damages caused by a minor, parents can pay up to $4,000
Vandalism Arkansas: parents can be held liable for property damaged by their kids; fines up to $15,000
Illegal Downloads Under federal law, parents can be sued for a child's copyright infringement and pay fines up to $150,000
Drinking Kansas: for allowing underage drinking at home, parents can get up to 6 months in jail
Weapons California: if someone is killed or injured because a child was allowed access to a weapon, pay a fine up to $30,000 (for more than one person, pay up to $60,000)
Truancy Florida: get up to six months in jail, and pay a fine up to $500
(Source: NEWSWEEKMAG by SANHITA SEN) |
posted by infraternam meam @ 2:42 PM |
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About Me |
Name: infraternam meam
Home: Chicago, United States
About Me: I am now at the prime of my life
and have been married for the past 25 years.
Sickly at times, but wants to see the elixir vita,
so that I will be able to see my grandchildren from my two boys.
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