canada: bike owner charged after loaning out bike
 

http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/2009.../11546411.html

News
Man charged over lending motorcycle to friend in fatal crash
By TONY BLAIS, COURT BUREAU


Police investigate a fatal July 9 motorcycle crash that killed Joseph Stelter. (KEN ARMSTRONG/Sun file) An Edmonton man has been charged under the Traffic Safety Act after he lent his motorcycle to a friend who died after crashing into cars in a parking lot.

Graham William Turner, 21, appeared in court Monday facing two counts of failing to properly supervise a motorcycle driven by someone with the wrong class of licence.

Turner is slated to be back in court on Dec. 7.

He was charged as a result of Joseph Stelter, 23, dying after the motorcycle he was riding smashed into parked cars in a parking lot on July 9 about 8 p.m.

Police said Stelter lost control of the borrowed motorcycle and collided with the parked cars in a parking lot of a condo complex at 7335 South Terwillegar Dr.

City police traffic section Sgt. Jerry Sobchyshyn said at the time that speed and lack of experience were factors, noting the rider peeled down a lane in the parking lot fast enough to leave a long skid mark, but he couldn’t stop.

Witnesses said the bike slid on its side as it smashed into the rear of a parked car at the end of the lane and Stelter was left wedged under the car. Bystanders had to lift the car off of Stelter.

He was transported to hospital by Stars air ambulance and pronounced dead the following day. The cause of death was blunt cranial trauma.

At the time, city police traffic section Sgt. Gary Lamont also said it appeared driver inexperience was a factor.

“Experience is crucial for the safe operation of any motor vehicle, but motorcyclists are far more vulnerable to serious injury when something goes wrong,” said Lamont.

tony.blais@sunmedia.ca

hurray for no self responsibility!

Unreal.

Weird and fucked up.

In BC, where I got my license, when you had your "beginner" license you had to be supervised at all times by someone else who held an M license (or Class 6 as it is there). :scratch: They could be following you in a car, on a bike, etc. Bit of a strange system.

That really sux but I guess 'if that's the law' he should have known. :idk:

The guy riding the bike didn't have the proper license to ride it. I didn't say I agree but that's evidently the way it is.

Several years ago I was out one night... in a 1995 Vette that I owned. I got hammered.

The guy that I was hanging out with that night doesn't normally drink...but he did have a drink that night but only one or two.

I gave him the keys...I passed out in the passenger seat. When I woke up there was a NC State Trooper in my Vette starting it up !!! :whatwhat:

What had happened was...we had come up on a traffic check and they smelled alcohol on him and pulled him out of the car and was parking my car on the side of the road.

When I woke up I asked the officer what he was doing and told him this was MY car.

Well he said "oh it's your car(?)...then you're going to jail too for aiding and abetting a DWI !!!! " :whosr:

They took both of us downtown but luckily my friend passed the breathalyzer and we were both turned loose.

Crazy story but true.

We had to get our own way back to my car which was several miles away...what a trip. :wtfru:

seriously. Lets charge the manufacturer too for making such a dangerous contraption. we wouldnt want people to hurt themselves

Great - CA has spread north.

Seems to me they had a big case of "Well we gotta charge someone with something?!" syndrome.

Reason #683 why you should never loan your bike to anyone.

Its coming, and probably not too far off.