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Never fear they're out there protecting us!

A South Carolina man originally got a $525 citation this week for refilling his soda without paying the 89 cents for a refill.
Lewis told WCSC-TV that he tried to pay the 89 cents on the spot but was not allowed to do so. He was also told not to return to the property, according to WCSC-TV.

the VA medical center said it was "fortunate to have a highly trained federal police force to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors and employees. As federal police, they are responsible for enforcing the law ... Shoplifting is a crime."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nati ... s/7861681/

I've always figured if the dispenser was self-serve, refills were free.

AndyC wrote:I feel so much safer already - I'm sure they could even handle a whole dollar crime, too.

I wouldn't bet a nickle on that!

If that "highly trained Federal police force" were truly enforcing ALL of the laws and thefts of government money and services, more than half of Washington would be in jail.

If a $.89 "theft" gets you a $500 fine, just think of the penalty for stealing $Billions. Why we could pay off the National debt tomorrow.

The fed overreaction is ridiculous but so is offering to pay after you get caught stealing.

I think that this is the perfect example of "Don't make a Federal case out of it."

WildBill wrote:I think that this is the perfect example of "Don't make a Federal case out of it."

gringo pistolero wrote:The fed overreaction is ridiculous but so is offering to pay after you get caught stealing.

The person re-filling his soda was a construction worker at this facility so he may have thought that re-fills were free just like many fast food restaurants.

WildBill wrote:

gringo pistolero wrote:The fed overreaction is ridiculous but so is offering to pay after you get caught stealing.

The person re-filling his soda was a construction worker at this facility so he may have thought that re-fills were free just like many fast food restaurants.

I don't think I'd want to occupy a building that was constructed by a worker that was fined $500 for an 89¢ refill that should have been free. Falls under the category of "he who laughs last, laughs best!"

WildBill wrote:

gringo pistolero wrote:The fed overreaction is ridiculous but so is offering to pay after you get caught stealing.

The person re-filling his soda was a construction worker at this facility so he may have thought that re-fills were free just like many fast food restaurants.

Maybe. Or maybe this wasn't the first time he refilled without paying after being warned, and he only offered to pay when the management enforced the rule. The story doesn't say either way.

sjfcontrol wrote:

WildBill wrote:

gringo pistolero wrote:The fed overreaction is ridiculous but so is offering to pay after you get caught stealing.

The person re-filling his soda was a construction worker at this facility so he may have thought that re-fills were free just like many fast food restaurants.

I don't think I'd want to occupy a building that was constructed by a worker that was fined $500 for an 89¢ refill that should have been free. Falls under the category of "he who laughs last, laughs best!"

Good point. The story says he was "told not to return to the property" so I wonder if that covers the entire VA property including the construction site or only the cafeteria.

gringo pistolero wrote:Good point. Iit says he was "told not to return to the property" so I wonder if that includes the whole VA property or just the cafeteria.

Well, since the VA is part of the Federal Government, and as we are learning, the F.G. owns the entire country, I'd say he'd have to leave the country.

sjfcontrol wrote:Well, since the VA is part of the Federal Government, and as we are learning, the F.G. owns the entire country, I'd say he'd have to leave the country.