Kid asking for a ride - WWCOJ do

Unfortunately...I think you did the right thing.

You offered to call someone for him...you then didn't let the matter drop and took it upon yourself to check it out.  You didn't just say "no" and drive away...I'm hoping this kid was lazy and not devious...

you did the right thing.  I guess the only other thing I might have done is offer to call his family.  But you're right, 20-years ago I would not hesitate to give the kid a ride...but not today.  Pretty sad that's the world we live in.

Ocassionally we have a baysitter for our kids (female).  I never drive her home after...my wife does.

you did the right thing.

I would have gotten his name, so I could give that info to the Sheriff when you called, but yes, you did right IMO.

You absolutely did the right thing, but my logic may be a little different than the others.

In Nebraska it is illegal to "entice" a child into your car (or anywhere) and there's no real definition of the word entice so if you get pulled over, or his parents see him in your car, it could get ugly real fast.  Especially if the kid gets scared and decides to make up a story to save his bacon.

Lawmakers have removed intent from many laws when it comes to kidnapping and sex crimes, so just having a strange kid in your car without the parents permission could wind you up in a lot of trouble legally.

That's the part that bothered me the most.  Doesn't he know this is dangerous?

No way I would give a ride. I wouldn't even slow down unless I could clearly see the person was injured or in danger.

Strange kids (capable of doing something - not talking about babies or toddlers) scare me just as much as strange adults.
 

I would not have given him a ride either. There was still plenty of time to get to school on time. Why is he walking in the first place? Did he miss the bus? Was he staying away from home? Is there a reason his parents did not want to give him a ride? If the kid ditches school, and the police report is that the missing kid was last seen entering my car in the dark of the morning, I REALLY don't want to be in that situation.

Too many questions relating to too many negative scenarios for me to resolve if I was on my way into work. MAYBE if my own kid was in the car and vouched for the kid walking.

This I agree with.  I would have gotten a name, asked where he lived, etc., but that's me.

ugh. It is sad. that would bother me so much as a teacher, but whoever said about the car-jacking and gang initiation is right to mention it!  We had a gang task force at our elementary school b/c they told us our kids were likely have brothers/sisters recruited at middle school!  Horrible. Since my nature is to want to help. 

There is also the problem of you being accused of luring the child to the car, as well as making the child feel its ok to hitchhike.  Yikes. So many issues come up with what would once be a simple answer.

Makes me sad.

I absolutely agree with you about not driving the babysitter home. As the mother of a teenage girl I always made it clear to whoever she was babysitting for that either we would pick her up or the wife had to drive her home. I was of course concerned with my daughter's safety, but it protects the dad as well. I have two male friends whose lives were almost destroyed by false accusations. Sad that it works this way now but there's no sense even placing yourself in the position for it to happen.

Shelly