california constitutional-law property
County of Sacramento v. Lewis - who owned the motorcycle?
<p>In County of Sacramento v. Lewis oral arguments, as found <a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1997/96-1337" rel="nofollow noreferrer">on Oyez</a>, Justice Scalia said, questioning the counsel for respondent Philip Lewis</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>And he owned the motor cycle, didn't he?</p>
  
  <p>And he owned the motor cycle.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>But Philip Lewis at the time was 16 years old. How could he have owned a motorbike? Could he even ride it?</p>

<p>In California, you can get a <a href="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl19#dlrequirements" rel="nofollow noreferrer">driver's license</a> at age 16, as well as a <a href="https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/dl/checklists/mc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">motorcycle license</a>.  This is similar to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver%27s_licenses_in_the_United_States#Licenses_for_adults_and_minors;_GDL_laws" rel="nofollow noreferrer">minimum age in most other states</a>.</p>

<p>According to <a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/1507215006" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this article</a>, California law generally permits minors to own property.  There is a restriction for motor vehicles: <a href="https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-15500.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vehicle Code section 15500</a> says that a minor can only own a motor vehicle if they have a valid driver's license.  But Lewis certainly could have satisfied this.</p>

<p>So it would have been entirely possible and legal for Lewis to own, and ride, a motorcycle at age 16, provided that he had satisfied all the requirements (driver training, etc) and been issued a license.</p>

<p>You don’t need a licence (or be eligible to hold one) to own a motor vehicle. You need one to purchase or lease one, but it’s not illegal to own one through, say, being given one.</p>
