For me, calling shotgun has always been one of those house rules type games where as long as everything is agreed upon by all parties involved, you’re good to go. I’ve always played so that you must be in line of sight of the car to call it, and each time you get out of the car, it’s a fresh opportunity for someone to take the throne. Little did I know I was playing in the rookie leagues of car seat claiming. Someone with a little more time than I’ve ever had to devote to such a seemingly simple selection process has created the Shotgun Guide – Official Rules for Calling Shotgun. Notable entries include:
The Survival Of The Fittest Rules (aka The Bastard Rules)
If the driver so wishes, he/she may institute the Survival Of The Fittest Rules on the process of calling Shotgun. In this case, all rules, excepting 1.8 (The driver has final say in all ties and disputes. The driver has the right to suspend or remove all shotgun privileges from one or more persons) are suspended and the passenger seat is occupied by whoever can take it by force.
Amendment IV: Eviction
If the vehicle is forced to stop for a serious infraction of the Shotgunner, the Shotgunner must relinquish his/her seat, if the driver so wishes. Serious infractions have been known to include spilling alcoholic beverages, spilling any beverage, being annoying, breaking parts of the car, and in extreme cases, just being ugly.
Amendment XIII: Refueling
If the car needs refueling at any time, it is the duty of the Shotgunner to gas up the car and pay (though usually with money given by the driver).
Amendment XIV: The Race
If there is a tie when calling shotgun, the first person who touches the car wins.
There’s plenty more pearls of wisdom similar to the above on the site, so I definitely encourage you check it out and perhaps even adopt some of the finer points of shotgun calling into your own automotive ritual.
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