Carl Wyndham articles

Could your neighbor really have a case against you if you unplug their EV? He can certainly report the incident, but whether he has a viable criminal or civil case depends on local law and what you actually did.

Car companies can now remotely shut off a factory remote-start feature if you stop paying for their subscription, even if it's built into your car. This is official policy of many large automakers, but there are still options for subscription-weary consumers.

Dashcams are complicated. You can ask the other driver for the video, but your private request normally would not carry legal force. If the dispute becomes a lawsuit, then it's a different story, but the exact procedure depends on your state and court.

Your retired parents drive less than ever, yet their car still costs money every month. Insurance, registration, depreciation, maintenance, and possible loan interest continue while it sits. Falling fuel spending can disguise how little the total ownership bill has changed.

Getting a parking ticket when you know you parked legally feels like a bad joke. It is even worse when the city, not the driver, appears to be the one that messed up. The short answer is no, you do not always have to pay, but you usually do have to fight it through the city’s official process.

If your teenager wants a pickup because all his friends have one, you are not automatically being unfair by saying no. In many communities, trucks carry a certain image of independence, toughness, and social status. That emotional pull is real, but it is not the same thing as a solid safety or budget decision.

It starts innocently enough. One parent says a cheap used car is fine for a teenager, and the other says the kid needs a brand-new SUV because the roads are too dangerous now. The hard truth is that both sides are usually reacting to something real, but the data shows this is not as simple as old equals unsafe and new equals safe.

A car that sits for weeks can turn into neighborhood drama fast, especially if a frustrated neighbor starts calling code enforcement. The big question is whether a city can actually tow a vehicle from private property just because it looks abandoned or unfinished. The short answer is yes, sometimes, but the details depend heavily on local law, the car’s condition, and exactly where it is parked.