--- node_expire.nodeapi.inc	2010-07-13 21:03:08.000000000 -0400
+++ new.inc	2010-07-15 21:25:30.437554200 -0400
@@ -23,9 +23,11 @@ function _node_expire_nodeapi(&$ntypes,
       break;
 
     case 'prepare':
-      if (!isset($node->expire)) {
+      // If user doesn't have edit node expire access, use default date.
+      if (!isset($node->expire) || !(user_access('edit node expire')) || !(user_access('administer node expire'))) {
         $node->expire = format_date(strtotime($ntypes['default']), 'custom', NODE_EXPIRE_FORMAT);
-      }
+      }            
+      
       break;
 
     case 'validate':