Excellent idea, accepting the offer for him to pay for the parts and help with the repairs. And it's good to see a parent demonstrating to his kid that there are consequences, and a kid who accepts the lesson.

My daughter went on her high school senior class trip to Disney World a couple of years ago, and the school warned that there was a zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol, and also warned that every bag would be searched before the buses left for the airport. One young lady didn't get heed the warnings - the search revealed a washed out shampoo bottle full of vodka. Her parents were called, and she was sent home.

Her family punishment? Her parents bought her a full price first class round trip ticket to Orlando, got her a room in one of the better hotels, and sent her on the trip. And made noises that they were considering suing the school district for the cost and the humiliation their little baby suffered.

No lesson learned there.