If the got a clear view of the Dodge Challenger’s plate, he’s in for a lot less trouble than the Corvette driver. He racked up several thousand dollars in traffic citations in just the first few minutes, including doing up to 85MPH in a 45MPH zone, unsafe lane changes, crossing double lines, passing on the right, driving in the parking lane/bicycle lane, and running a red light (he did a California right on red without stopping!). Those were all before he ever reached the freeway on-ramp. Exhibition of Speed is a separate infraction as is reckless driving. The number of points he’ll get on his driving record will cause him to lose his license and his insurance rates will begin to look like the National Deficit.
That idiot mechanic put the dealership and the Corvette owner at high risk of liability losses with his reckless stunt. If he’d hit a high earner (a highly possible scenario in the Fremont area), killing or paralyzing them for life or mentally impairing them, the financial liability could be through the roof! Many courts have ruled the car owner is on the hook as well… and their insurance has to pay for repairs and medical when your agent (the repair shop) injures a third party while driving your car with your implied consent which you give by turning it over to them for normal repair which may include test and retest driving. So the car owner would have to at least lawyerup to defend any suit that might arise from a test drive incident that exceeds the limits of his insurance liability coverages.
I can’t believe that the “implied consent” includes consenting to illegal acts. If the mechanic stops at a bar for a few drinks while test driving a customer’s car then gets in an accident, why should the car owner held be responsible in any way?
Seems crazy, but these days anything is possible. The legal system is crafted by lawyers to make lawyers necessary.