A judge at the Municipal Court of Providence dismissed three traffic citations against a Providence woman after concluding she was not responsible for her grandson’s driving, according to a court transcript.

The woman told the court she had been in the hospital and was "trying to help him get on his feet." The court listed a parking ticket on Broad Street, a speeding citation in a school zone and a red light violation. The defendant said she first knew of one notice and learned of additional notices later when a letter arrived.

The judge asked whether the grandson operated the car with permission. The defendant replied, "He did without my permission." The judge noted the legal presumption that responsibility rests with the registered owner but said, "Trust me. I don't like to hold people responsible for things for which they're not responsible. And while the law says that it's your car, but because of the other factors that you have explained to me, I'm gonna dismiss those. I'm not gonna hold you responsible." The transcript records the defendant responding, "Thank you, your honor."

The transcript does not record any further penalties, fines or instructions to staff. The exchange on the record was brief and focused on the defendant's account that her grandson used the vehicle without permission while she was hospitalized.