Dad fuming over daughter’s pot fine

Dear Amy: My daughter is 19. Her boyfriend is 18.

Over the summer, they were busted for smoking marijuana in her car. The officer gave them the option of letting just one of them take the fall. My daughter volunteered. If this gets on her record she will lose her financial aid. Her boyfriend, however, comes from a very well-heeled family.

Regardless, she said that she would take the citation and he would pay the fine. Well, the case has now been heard, but it comes with probation and $700 in costs/attorney’s fees. Her boyfriend has paid her $200. She says she is fine with that.

I am NOT fine with that. I think she’s worried that if she makes a big deal about this, he’ll reconsider the relationship. But Amy, if she gets busted anytime in the next three years, her education is in jeopardy.

I’m thinking about sending him a text saying that he has a couple of weeks to pay up, or else I’ll pay a visit to his parents.

Is this my business at all? She is an adult but she’s still my daughter, and I think she’s being taken advantage of. — Angry Dad

Dear Angry: Your daughter’s own actions have jeopardized her financial and educational future, and she has accepted the consequences.

The way for her not to further jeopardize her future is to not get busted again. She should check to see if her record will be expunged after her probationary period.

Yes, if you want to end this relationship between your daughter and Richie Rich, then definitely send him a threatening text. Understand, however, that this will undermine your daughter’s own (so far) adult-like acceptance of her legal and financial penalty. She would also be rightfully very upset with you for interfering like a character from a Liam Neeson movie.