5 Year Old Fined for Setting Up Lemonade Stand

[+ azdr0710]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/5-year-old-fined-setting-lemonade-stand-n785271

 

[rvwnsd]

That's just sad. Now that would never happen here in the US.

[+ sync]

Only four law enforcement officers storming a lemonade stand operated by a five-year-old girl. Now there is an inspirational portrait of valor.

 

Edit: offers to officers

[Epigonos]

Well Smurof I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree on this one. So many of today's problems are caused by the blind, rigid adherence to rules. I certainly understand the need for an ADULT to have a permit for an outside stand or cart, in order to sell something. However, the rigorous application of this rule/law to a five year old child's lemonade stand is absurd, ridiculous and silly nonsense.

[+ sniper]

It says "near her home" which I suspect is deliberately misleading given the father is a finance professor. I'm guessing he was looking for this and the stand isn't right in front of her house but over by the park.

[MikeBiDude]

The most stunning thing about this to me is that NBC News showed this story. I'm most irritated this is a nation-wide headline. I don't give a damn who you are or what your cause is (parent or guardian stupidity to be blamed I venture in this case), but getting a permit to do anything anywhere these days outside in public is required.

LOL!

[LaffingBear]

I agree with some other posters... I find it irritating this is even a story.

 

Boo Hoo, a cop fucked up, for whatever reason, and acted too heavy-handed. A little girl cried.

 

Social media please explode.

 

In a world where people spend wayyyyy too much time staring at screens, they're accepting drivel as newsworthy.

[+ saminseattle]

getting a permit to do anything anywhere these days outside in public is required.

 

That is disturbing.

 

The government’s demand that people constantly seek its permission to engage in the normal affairs of life is a not only a hindrance to economic growth, but also amplifies the potential for corruption, political dysfunction, and other abuses. Regulations ostensibly designed to serve some legitimate public goal such as consumer protection often disguise other agendas, such as protecting established businesses from competition or promoting one view of moral behavior.

 

A few examples:

 

On the downsides of occupational licensing requirements: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc1/OccupationalLicensing.html

 

Civil disobedience by a New Hampshire manicurist arrested for buffing someone’s nails without government permission: http://www.wmur.com/article/man-busted-for-manicuring-without-license/5142580

 

A Tunisian fruit vendor unable to bribe a corrupt cop who was harassing him for trying to sell fruit without a vendor’s permit sets himself on fire and triggers the Arab Spring revolts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_of_Mohamed_Bouazizi

 

A NY man killed by cops as they attempted to arrest him for selling loose cigarettes, apparently part of a black market created by high sin tax levels. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/wife-man-filmed-chokehold-arrested-article-1.1893790

 

Efforts to forbid practicing (or advertising) massage without a license in part motivated by desire to crack down on sex work. http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=13608

 

Hundreds arrested in Russia for participating in protests against corruption because they did not have a permit from the government. http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/26/world/russia-corruption-protests/index.html

 

Sure, the story that started this thread is just about a little girl with a lemonade stand, but it is part of a much broader narrative, and that is why it is newsworthy. If we truly get to the point that you suggest—government permission required for everything (combined with ever more pervasive government monitoring and surveillance)--then the notion that we live in a “free country” will just be one more bit of Orwellian Doublespeak.

[escortrod]

Knowing where this took place I doubt that the girl herself was fined, since it would be dangerous to allow a five year old to be on the street alone in such an area for an extended period of time. Hell's Kitchen in NYC is probably the closest equivalent I can think of off the top of my head. So either it was the parent who was fined, or if the child was indeed alone the parent was being totally irresponsible, and the enforcement officers should have called social services rather than handing out a fine.

 

On the subject of regulation, it seems pretty reasonable that food and drink vending should be regulated for obvious health and public safety reasons. It would be slightly ridiculous for such regulations to make specific exceptions for children. Rather enforcement authorities should be empowered to exercise reasonable judgement, which they did not in this case. For this reason the fine was retracted and the issuing council apologised to the family.

[+ Travis69]

It's been about 3 years, but I have purchased lemonade at a kid's stand in front of their home for about a buck. I didn't race to the police station to let them know, but you might think I would have if it didn't taste good. Regulations serve a purpose, even if the vast majority of people find them at times to be ridiculous.

So do you check with the escort or masseur you hire to make sure they have a license to run their business?

[jawjateck]

A little girl cried.

 

Uh huh, no biggie. It happens around this forum multiple times daily.

[Guy Fawkes]

Who should care? The police officer should buy a lemonade, and say: "You're doing a good job."

 

It says "near her home" which I suspect is deliberately misleading given the father is a finance professor. I'm guessing he was looking for this and the stand isn't right in front of her house but over by the park.

[+ sniper]

Who should care? The police officer should buy a lemonade, and say: "You're doing a good job."

Was she, say, 10 feet from a drink vendor who had paid a fee for the privilege of selling and undercutting them? It matters where she was.

[gallahadesquire]

Staying out of this one. Much better people than myself have already snarked on it.

 

My understanding of Massachusetts' Marijuana law(s), and I am unanimous in this, is that one may hold a certain amount without penalty, and one may even grow a certain number of plants without penalty (thereby making the entire TV series WEEDS irrelevant), but one is not allowed to sell it privately: It must be handled by certain purveyors.

 

So a local entrepreneur gives the stuff away, but requests a donation for his travel expenses. Shades of the '70's.

 

TL;DR but perhaps she should have given the lemonade away, and merely asked for a donation to her sibling's college fund? Perhaps even using 503© as a cover?

[TruHart1]

Dear forum members. Please note the outcome of this occurrence. This was in London, UK, and it appears TPTB (in this case, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council) were embarrassed enough for the officers involved for the council to issue a formal apology. From BBC news online:

 

Girl, 5, fined £150

 

______________________________Image copyright Andre Spicer

_______________________________________________Image caption: The girl was fined for trading without a licence

 

A five-year-old girl was fined £150 by a council for selling 50p cups of lemonade to festival goers.

 

The girl's father Andre Spicer said his daughter had set up the stall in Mile End, east London, while thousands of music fans were on their way to the Lovebox Festival at the weekend.

 

Mr Spicer said his daughter burst into tears and told him "I've done a bad thing".

 

Tower Hamlets Council has since cancelled the fine and apologised.

 

Mr Spicer said his daughter loved the idea of setting up a stall near their home.

"She just wanted to put a smile on people's faces. She was really proud of herself," he said.

"But after a small time trading, four enforcement officers walked over from the other side of the road.

"I was quite shocked. I thought that they would just tell us to pack up and go home.

 

Common sense fail

"But they turned on their mobile camera and began reading from a big script explaining that she did not have a trading licence.

"My daughter clung to me screaming 'Daddy, Daddy, I've done a bad thing.' She's five.

"We were then issued a fine of £150. We packed up and walked home."

 

A council spokesman said: "We are very sorry that this has happened. We expect our enforcement officers to show common sense and to use their powers sensibly. This clearly did not happen. The fine will be cancelled immediately and we have contacted Mr Spicer and his daughter to apologise."

 

TruHart1

[kewtex]

 

I think we're all missing the point here. A woman was walking around London wearing a tassel-fringed top and shorts set. She's the one who should have been fined.

[+ purplekow]

Soulless would be the adjective I use to describe the manner in which this happened.

Four officers could probably have bought all the lemonade she had and have her close for the day. The officers could have simply pulled the father aside and explained that she would need to close down. At least they should allowed her a going out of business sale.

[+ GregM]

LOL you want big gov you got it. This isn't the first case in the world like this and it wont be the last. Keep voting in the jack offs and you'll be getting more and worse regulation all in the name of protecting you from the boogey man. Sorry not sorry.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[escortrod]

LOL you want big gov you got it. This isn't the first case in the world like this and it wont be the last. Keep voting in the jack offs and you'll be getting more and worse regulation all in the name of protecting you from the boogey man. Sorry not sorry.

 

Hugs,

Greg

Except that this isn't related to any new legislation, and the local authority cancelled the fine and apologised to the family involved. No matter how good or bad regulation is you can end up with over-zealous enforcement officers.

[marylander1940]

Who should care? The police officer should buy a lemonade, and say: "You're doing a good job."

 

the police office should say to her:

 

I'm conservative yet I work for the government, have free socialized healthcare paid by taxpayers and I'm a member of a union...God dammit I'm a fucking socialist!

Thank god for folks like you creating businesses and jobs.

[Bearofdistinction]

That's just sad. Now that would never happen here in the US.

 

No, here in the U.S. the Police would have wrestled the girl to the ground and beaten her with nightsticks and flashlights until

the officers were satisfied that the girl did not pose a threat to their safety or until she was dead - whichever came first,

[escortrod]

No, here in the U.S. the Police would have wrestled the girl to the ground and beaten her with nightsticks and flashlights until

the officers were satisfied that the girl did not pose a threat to their safety or until she was dead - whichever came first,

Not if she was white.

[+ HornyRetiree]

No, here in the U.S. the Police would have wrestled the girl to the ground and beaten her with nightsticks and flashlights until

the officers were satisfied that the girl did not pose a threat to their safety or until she was dead - whichever came first,

 

and if she had been Black, they would have shot her!

[rvwnsd]

Not if she was white.

 

and if she had been Black, they would have shot her!

My first inclination was to post the same thing you both posted. However, the latest police shooting victim in Minneapolis was white. In fact, the victim is the one who called the police.

[escortrod]

My first inclination was to post the same thing you both posted. However, the latest police shooting victim in Minneapolis was white. In fact, the victim is the one who called the police.

True, but she does seem to be anomalous.