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A $1,000 ride on commuter rail
By adamg on Tue, 01/03/2012 - 9:43am
No, don't worry, the T probably isn't planning on raising fares that much. But, as the Patriot Ledger reports, thieves are now trolling the parking lots at commuter-rail and Red Line stops and stealing catalytic converters off cars - a seasoned thief can saw one off in less than 30 seconds. They get $200 for their "scrap" converters, you get a $1,000 bill for a new one.
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Comments
Platinum
$1400 a oz & there's 3-4 grams of platinum covered pellets per catalytic converters.
Apparently the Ledger's
Apparently the Ledger's editing is outsourced to middle school students texting in their work:
In Dedham, the current occupants of the house I used to own have chosen the same career as the Red Line culprits.
Where are these being sold?
Scrappers should have some legal responsibility to demand evidence of proper ownership or face shut down.
And the MBTA should have the legal responsibility
to reimburse people who pay to park in their lots and have their cars damaged for the replacement converters. Perhaps then they would take the security of their parking lots more seriously.
Why? It's generally
Why? It's generally established in this country that a parking lot owner is not liable for theft or damage that isn't directly their fault. If you want to be protected, buy comprehensive insurance.
right
And that's the answer to anon above too.
The logistics behind keeping track of every piece of scrap is not feasible. They take names and number for police to link back if they're looking for info on particulars, but that's about the best they can and should do.
Don't confuse the law with what lot owners want you to believe.
Generally, parking lots ARE responsible for damage IF they control the exit from the lot with a gate or a staff person (which is generally not the case at the T lots I have seen).
It is a bailment. Despite what parking lot companies would have you believe (by printing on their tickets), they have the obligation to return your car to you in the condition it was delivered to their custody. If they are unable to do so, they are assumed to have been negligent. They have the burden to show they were not negligent, either through arranging security, safety lighting, etc., to avoid responsibility.
I thought I read that a
I thought I read that a bailment is not created unless you give them the keys (valet parking).
Can you point to some cases where a lot owner was responsible for theft or damage just because there was a controlled exit?