Can I call the police if the mechanic goes for a joy ride?

[ESqezMe]

its not a criminal matter, so calling the police will get you no where but a report. A report of the events that allegedly took place at a repair shop that you hired to perform wk on the car. Which I am sure the shop will say that its standard that they test drive the vehicles to check the work they did. Then YOU would have the burden of proving they did not need to "test" drive the car in order to check their work, IE list of shops that its not the "normal" mod of operation to test drive the vehicles they have performed work on. Or that they dont usually test drive the vehicles when they do the repairs you had done

NOW if you find damage to the vehicle, IE scratches, dents or what ever, then you can make a report of criminal damage, but still it would be a civil matter and you would have to sue the store.

Look at your service agreement they give you when you dropped the vehicle off, I bet it says something about them "having to test drive" the vehicle.

[DiverRich]

In Oregon it IS a criminal matter. Not sure about other states.

[ESqezMe]

Originally Posted by DiverRich

In Oregon it IS a criminal matter. Not sure about other states.

I dont know why I am even replying but I am bored

In order to be a criminal matter
you HAVE TO PROVE intent.

What was the dudes, who works for the shop, criminal intention when he "test drove" the vehicle after he finished performing work on it??

ummmm

[iBK3000]

lol at this thread. You think your SS is the nicest car that your mechanic has driven? You probably do need a new mechanic.

[DiverRich]

Originally Posted by ESqezMe

I dont know why I am even replying but I am bored

In order to be a criminal matter
you HAVE TO PROVE intent.

What was the dudes, who works for the shop, criminal intention when he "test drove" the vehicle after he finished performing work on it??

ummmm

Well that's true but... Oregon law specifically addresses this issue in the statute. Anyway here is a real world example of a case I was involved in. Buyer takes car to dealer to have A/C installed. Dealer asked buyer if it's okay to take the car 60 miles away to have it installed. Buyer says no. Dealer does it anyway. Clear cut case of Unautorize Use of a Motor Vehicle. Incidently, in this case the dealership was subject to crimnal charges and not the poor worker who was told by his boss to drive the car.

[yotaman96]

You could always put a hidden camera in it.

[mmongi7]

Report him. If he wants to test drive one tell him to go to a dealer and test theirs, not your baby.

[htp autoworks]

Whats the big issue here? I personally would want to make sure the car is fixed and running properly before I get in it to drive. I would hate to get on the freeway and have an issue then, loose control of the car, and possibly get killed as opposed to having the mechanic verify the car is running optimuly. Now if he takes it out street racing thats different, but most of the time they do drive it to make sure its working properly... or you are going to come back and sue them because you had a wreck. Its common sense guys... dont get so bent out of shape because someone drives your car. Its a car...not your girlfriend. I had an 04 Viper and I made sure that the Viper Tech drove it every time before I got it out of the shop. I would rather have it perfect than take any chances with my life.

By the way I am a clear bra installer, have been in business for 7 years, and have never had to drive someones car other than backing it out of the shop. So the original poster should not have to worry about that.

[Ghost of Vincent Price]

Does a plumber need your permission before he can flush your toilet too?

You remind me of the girl who called 911 on burger king because they were out of whoppers or something like that.

Its a mass produced car.....nothing more. Dont want a mechanic to work on it and make sure it works, do the work yourself.

[Ravirn]

I take a digital picture of the odometer and show the Service Manager. It gets me a smile every time! I state that I understand they have to drive my car in and out of the shop, but if they need to take it on the road, please call me first. Several times they've called to say they need to test it on the road, and I thanked them for the heads up and said "go for it". Only once have I ever had an issue.

Took my car in two years ago to have the A/C fixed, and fixed it was. Awesome! However, I noticed that 49 kms (30 miles) had been put on my car that day. ????? I asked the Service Manager about it (he remembered me showing him the pic that morning on the camera)... showed it to him again, which got me a "please follow me". He had me stop just inside the door to the shop and called "Jeremy" over, borrowed my camera and showed him the odometer reading. Needless to say, Jeremy went very, very red in the face. It turns out he took my car home to his place to grab lunch that day (his girlfriend drove him to work each day). At the end of it all, my service that day was free, and removed from "Jeremy's" pay. I was AOK with that, thanked the Manager and left. I remember the Service Manager asked me, quite directly, if I wanted any further action taken. No. With the "kid" standing there I commented that I thought the lesson had been learned. No harm, no foul. It's not everyday that you get free service, and all it had cost me was 49 kms on the dial, and a little diesel.

One week later I got a Free Oil Change card in the mail with the Manager's signature on it. Very cool. I went in two months later for my free oil change and found that "Jeremy" was no longer there, but had "moved on to another shop." All in all, I was taken seriously, it was professionally handled, and no one got excited or dramatic. They still get my business. Well done!