Father shouldn't be driving (Sun City, Maricopa: car insurance, lawyers, house)

[MarianR]

We have relatives in Sun City whose 94 four year old father (also in Sun City) has lost his drivers license and has no car insurance but is still driving. He has the keys when the family visits and keeps the garage doors closed and locked so they can't disable the car. The Sun City Police say they can't do anything unless they catch him in the act of driving. He has had numerous minor accidents and the family is afraid the next time he will hurt someone. The family also has very little money for lawyers. What can they do?

[mcanchola2]

sneak in when he is sleeping or wait outside of his house and when they see him driving call the cops.

[wit-nit]

First of all there is no such thing as Sun City Police Dept. They do have a volunteer Sheriffs Posse that has no authority to arrest people or him specifically. They can call a real officer only. It's the Maricopa County Sheriff's Dept that you would need to call if he's out driving, and with only one or 2 officers covering about 50 square miles on a regular basis getting one to catch him would be luck.
Try to dis-able the vehicle and get the keys out of his possession. You might try to get a hold of a public service person of authority or clergyman to come talk to him about his responsibilities. Otherwise he's a disaster waiting and yes a legal problem. Does he understand this and what he's doing to his family and public.

[unit731]

He should be advised that there are many volunteer agencies that will drive him to stores, appointments, and doctors office.
Church volunteers.
If he is a veteran - many veterans agencies due such.

Provide a solution before just disabling or taking away the car.

[JonnyNYC90]

I agree with Unit731.

Perhaps a serious conversation, followed by a list of solutions, will help. He must realize that he is not losing his freedom or dignity in giving up driving, but is risking his life and the lives of many others by continuing to drive.

Best,
Jonny

[Desertspiritsteve]

Could he be transitioned to a golf cart? As long as he didn't try to take it on the freeway, I think that would be legal and slower. So many garages in Sun City have one. Ah, the golden years. I saw an aftermarket option for my car with navigation. It's a module that tracks your car and its speed that you can view from your home computer. Good for the teenagers,too.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Desertspiritsteve

Could he be transitioned to a golf cart? As long as he didn't try to take it on the freeway, I think that would be legal and slower. So many garages in Sun City have one. Ah, the golden years.

He still has to be a licensed insured driver to drive one of those on the streets. There have been serious accidents involving people driving golf carts and others driving cars. I don't think this is a safe solution for him or others.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by JonnyNYC90

I agree with Unit731.

Perhaps a serious conversation, followed by a list of solutions, will help. He must realize that he is not losing his freedom or dignity in giving up driving, but is risking his life and the lives of many others by continuing to drive.

Best,
Jonny

As someone who lost their driving privileges for medical reasons for a 6 months period, I can assure you that he IS losing his freedom and dignity. At least, he will feel that way. And the services provided as a replacement are less than acceptable to most people who feel they have a 'right' to drive.

That said, his safety and the safety of the public have to take a priority.

Have the conversation, give him his alternate transportation services, then wait for him to drive the car out of the garage. Call 911 and report him as a dangerous driver. It's not going to make Thanksgiving dinner a happy event.

[TiredOfyycCold]

Personally I would have the conversation and try to bring it to resolution (highly unlikely) and then I would just pull the battery from his car and not tell him.

Might sound harsh, but it also might save his (or some innocent stranger's) life. I wouldn't try and get him "caught" driving - that will cost him more than his dignity, it will also cost him some significant cash. Some might say that would be a deterrent or a "deserved" punishment, but I disagree.

Sorry - missed the part about him locking the garage door - Watch where he puts the keys to the garage and steal them when he falls asleep? I really think the key is to somehow "disable" the car... with or without his knowledge.

[Desertspiritsteve]

Jam a potato in the exhaust pipe so the car won't start. Shut off the circuit breaker to the garage door opener. Park an old truck in the driveway on the other side of the garage door.