A 12-year-old girl steal her Dads car to joy ride, Dad wants her arrested for "GTA".

[Tazzzz]

Hell, I dont blame the dad for wanting her arrested , its was already the second times she did it, Who the heck wants to be responsible for your 12-year-old crashing and killing someone????

PLANTATION - A 12-year-old girl who took her dad's car on a joy ride and initially refused to stop for police has been charged with grand theft auto at her father's request, police said today.

Police quickly spotted the girl Monday because she forgot a basic tenet of night driving: headlights.

The child disappeared with the yellow Nissan about 10:30 p.m. while her father was visiting her ailing 19-month-old sibling at Plantation General Hospital, said police Detective Robert Rettig. The ordeal started and ended in the hospital parking lot at 401 NW 42 Ave., Rettig said.

She drove south on State Road 7 and made a U-turn, but didn't get far, hitting a police car near the hospital, Rettig said.

"Apparently she drove around and a couple officers tried to stop her and she wouldn't stop," Rettig said. "She ended up rolling into a police car."

When she finally did stop, she tried to flee, but once again, didn't get far, Rettig said. Nobody was hurt.

Her father is pressing charges because it is the second time she has driven off in a car, Rettig said. He did not have further details. The girl was taken to the juvenile assessment center, Rettig said.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...,2703130.story

[MadmamainNC]

Good for him! But he needs to also bust her ass hard. Oh Wait, that's illegal.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

I would have done it. I suspect the 12-year-old has far more problems than this public one. Wonder where mom stands on it all...

[DogMom]

Scary.

The last time I read about a girl taking Dad's car out for a ride without permission was Nikki Catsouras. And we all know about her.

[coffee achiever]

You know, I get where dad was coming from, but I hear way too many stories of stuff like this backfiring: mom or dad decides to call the police to teach kiddo a lesson, kiddo ends up getting charged and going to trial in front of some hard-ass judge that decides to make an example out of kiddo, kiddo ends up in a juvenile detention center for years and years. End result - taking a kid who needs a little discipline and turning him into a criminal.

Yeah, the 12 year old shouldn't be joyriding in her dad's car, but what she needs is a some discipline from her parents, not to be charged with a felony and locked away in a juvenile detention center until she's 18.

I'm really tired of people expecting teachers, cops, judges, and everyone damn else to parent their kids. YOU had them, YOU raise them.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

But when your raising them fails, you do what you gotta do. I would never assume that my kid is going to get a slap on the wrist for this type of behavior. GTA is no piddly little charge even for a juvenile.

If I was at my wits' end, I would assume that my kid is going away. If I had done all I felt I was capable of, there would be little recourse.

I took one son at 13 to the cop shop. Had a few facts of life explained. When I asked the officer for his card and posted it on the fridge, the message was made, and taken. And that was just for smoking - under the bleachers in the gym (stupid kid LOL).

[Tazzzz]

Yes, but dad kind of has his hands full with a ailing 19-month-old , who is in the hospital. Not a whole lot of time to hold the 12-year-olds hand. He is probly at the end of his rope about now.

The child disappeared with the yellow Nissan about 10:30 p.m. while her father was visiting her ailing 19-month-old sibling at Plantation General Hospital

[jenthgr8]

You know, I get where dad was coming from, but I hear way too many stories of stuff like this backfiring: mom or dad decides to call the police to teach kiddo a lesson, kiddo ends up getting charged and going to trial in front of some hard-ass judge that decides to make an example out of kiddo, kiddo ends up in a juvenile detention center for years and years. End result - taking a kid who needs a little discipline and turning him into a criminal.

Yeah, the 12 year old shouldn't be joyriding in her dad's car, but what she needs is a some discipline from her parents, not to be charged with a felony and locked away in a juvenile detention center until she's 18.

I'm really tired of people expecting teachers, cops, judges, and everyone damn else to parent their kids. YOU had them, YOU raise them.

Stealing cars at age 12 doesn't sound like just needing a little discipline to me. I think this kid deserves whatever she gets - especially the impact it will have on her future. What better way to learn that crime doesn't pay? Maybe this will straighten her dumb ass out once and for all. Bravo, Dad. Part of raising your children is letting them make mistakes - and face the consequences of those mistakes.

[coffee achiever]

Come on. We don't know what her history is. Hell, my best friend and I took her dad's Corvette for a joyride when we were 13. We didn't go far, and we didn't get caught, but I like to think her parents would have done something OTHER than have me charged with a felony if we had been. And I was a GOOD kid - never smoked, never drank, never had sex - never even kissed a boy until I was in college. But if I'd gotten arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated for that joyride, things might have been different.

What kind of friends is this girl gonna make in juvie? How far behind in school is she gonna get? I guess I'm in the minority here, but I don't think slapping her with felony charges is gonna turn her life around unless by "turn her life around" you mean "turn her into a high-school dropout slackass with loser druggie friends."

[jenthgr8]

What kind of friends is this girl gonna make in juvie? How far behind in school is she gonna get? I guess I'm in the minority here, but I don't think slapping her with felony charges is gonna turn her life around unless by "turn her life around" you mean "turn her into a high-school dropout slackass with loser druggie friends."

I bet she'll sure as hell think twice before stealing somebody's car again. As stated in the article above, this is the second time this has happened. How many times should a 12 year old be allowed to steal their parents car? What if she hit another car? What if she was in an accident and didn't survive? She held no regard for the consequences of her action, either to herself or others. What kind of friends is this kid gonna make if she's dead? How far behind in school is she going to get if she's horribly burned or mangled?

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Come on. We don't know what her history is.
...
What kind of friends is this girl gonna make in juvie? How far behind in school is she gonna get? I guess I'm in the minority here, but I don't think slapping her with felony charges is gonna turn her life around unless by "turn her life around" you mean "turn her into a high-school dropout slackass with loser druggie friends."

Exactly my point. Most parents do not resort to this type of move unless pushed. We do know it is the second time she's taken the car. I'm willing to bet that there is a hell of a lot more going on. It is not a step taken lightly by any parent and probably not their first line of defense... or even their second, or third...

Using the "What kind of friends is this girl gonna make in juvie?" logic, NO kid should ever be there. While you do hear horror stories, there are success stories.

if you had an out of control 12-year-old - what would you do? We don't know that these parents haven't done all that.

[Unamused Cat]

Two years ago in my neighborhood, a 12-year-old we knew, as my Hubby coached his football team, took the keys to his dad's truck. So in the middle of the night, he picked up his best friend, another 12-year-old, and three more kids. They hauled ass in that truck, and lost control. The truck struck the curb, ran up on another then hit two trees. The branches crashed through the cabin. The two best friends were killed. The three kids in the back, two girls and one boy, were injured but they survived.

[nurseronda]

Yes, but dad kind of has his hands full with a ailing 19-month-old , who is in the hospital. Not a whole lot of time to hold the 12-year-olds hand. He is probly at the end of his rope about now.

Two questions, who was watching the twelve-year-old? If the dad had insurance on this car, his only choice was to turn in the twelve-year-old for the insurance to pay, right? She did hit another car.

[nurseronda]

Good for him! But he needs to also bust her ass hard. Oh Wait, that's illegal.

He does have the right to spank her, I said spank, not beat, too bad he didn't start while she was younger.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Maybe this kid is an out-n-out hellion bent on doing what she pleases when she pleases, parents be damned.
Maybe she's just a mischievous sort or needs attention (likely if younger one is chronically ill).
Doesn't really matter, her folks are doing what they feel is right. I assume they know her best.
If they are just pawning her off because they can't cope, then maybe this is for the best.
While we see many failures of "the system", in general it does work. The successes just aren't newsworthy - or even printable due to privacy regulations.

So I hope whatever ball that got rolling here works out the best for all involved... especially the 12-year-old.

[Nell]

Why would her dad leave the keys out again if she had done this once already? Not blaming Dad, as the kid needs her ass kicked, but really. If he didn't leave the keys out did she hotwire the car? I kinda doubt she has those skills, so partly his fault.

[seductress]

Good for Dad. I'm sorry but I have my hands full with my very naughty 15 year old and 3 more at home. And I have had my son charged. Because I was insistent on the charges when we went to court for his Criminal Destruction of Property, the judge gave him 300 hours of community service in lieu of a fine and the judge ordered my son to pay me $20.00 a week in "restitution" for driving him back and forth to community service and restitution to the building owner, who had my son work off his restitution. Tough love sometimes sucks, but as parents what other choice is there. If your child is doing things like this as a teenager, before adulthood, nip it in the bud so they don't go onto a life of crime. I 100% stand behind this Good Father

[buggysmommy]

Scary.

The last time I read about a girl taking Dad's car out for a ride without permission was Nikki Catsouras. And we all know about her.

That was the first thing I thought of too...Not only should he press charges, he should make her look at those gruesome pictures of that dead girl that are all over the net. If that don't wake her up, I don't think anything could...

[buggysmommy]

Good for Dad. I'm sorry but I have my hands full with my very naughty 15 year old and 3 more at home. And I have had my son charged. Because I was insistent on the charges when we went to court for his Criminal Destruction of Property, the judge gave him 300 hours of community service in lieu of a fine and the judge ordered my son to pay me $20.00 a week in "restitution" for driving him back and forth to community service and restitution to the building owner, who had my son work off his restitution. Tough love sometimes sucks, but as parents what other choice is there. If your child is doing things like this as a teenager, before adulthood, nip it in the bud so they don't go onto a life of crime. I 100% stand behind this Good Father

I agree with you...Just be sure when all is said and done-to get that expunged off of his prints. It will be sealed and never seen in county, but it will never come off of his fingerprints with DOJ, unless it is physically requested of the court to do so. Could f him up if he had to have prints done for a job in the future and he does not disclose it intially. Of course he is not obligated to disclose it because he was a minor-but some places are weird about such things...

[Athena]

I really hope this was a last resort kind of thing. I certainly understand dealing with an out of control teenager, but, often times, they become out of control for a reason. If your kid steals your car and all you do is take away her cell phone but call the cops and press charges the next time she does it, that's your failure as well. Kids need to be held accountable; they need structure and consistent discipline. If you're expecting the government to take care of that FOR you, you are effectively ruining your child.

I took my parents' car out twice when I was 14. I didn't get caught.

[seductress]

I agree with you...Just be sure when all is said and done-to get that expunged off of his prints. It will be sealed and never seen in county, but it will never come off of his fingerprints with DOJ, unless it is physically requested of the court to do so. Could f him up if he had to have prints done for a job in the future and he does not disclose it intially. Of course he is not obligated to disclose it because he was a minor-but some places are weird about such things...

He was never arrested, so they never took the finger prints and at 18 it will be completely off his record, the judge wanted his life to change and to be a "better kid" but didn't want anything showing up after the age of 18 if he could change.

[seductress]

I really hope this was a last resort kind of thing. I certainly understand dealing with an out of control teenager, but, often times, they become out of control for a reason. If your kid steals your car and all you do is take away her cell phone but call the cops and press charges the next time she does it, that's your failure as well. Kids need to be held accountable; they need structure and consistent discipline. If you're expecting the government to take care of that FOR you, you are effectively ruining your child.

I took my parents' car out twice when I was 14. I didn't get caught.

Kids become out of control for a reason, yes. And being held accountable when the break the law does mean that you press charges. I think there are lessons to be learned before you become an adult and breaking the law is one of them.

My son was very out of control and I needed to ask for more help than I was already getting, so pressing charges and asking the court for help is one way to do this. I also think that you get to a point where nothing you have done is working, so maybe a little police interaction may help. I see this more as dad not wanting his child to become a career criminal.