I don't know if this really belongs in politics, but i suppose it could go here, so here it is. New York city parl cops fined a 10 year old girl for selling lemonade and cookies with out a license. I don't really need to add too much commentary, the story speaks for itself. The fine is going to be dismissed apparently according to the park commissioner and granted, there are statutes, but a little girl selling lemonade? Come on.
http://wcbstv.com/local/lemonade.stand.fine.2.1131308.html
[question posted by xfahctor]responses and comments:
Hmmmm...wonder if it made the cop feel all big and bad and tough, fining a little girl. These days you can't even put a yard sale sign at the end of your block without getting fined. A lemon aid stand never stood a chance. [nonersays]
can you blame him? why run the risk of dealing with people selling say hard drugs when ten year girls are far smaller and slightly less likely to be carrying sawn-off shotguns... [jb78000]
If congress has their way, she will not only need a permit from the city park commission, but a license and regular inspections from the FDA, look up the food modernization act of 2009, a bill sponsored by a copngresswoman aho gets HUGE donations from big Agriculture and who's husband contracts for Monsanto. [xfahctor]
I just don't know what to say about this other than it seems they were just picking on a kid. [irishidid]
I know the City (that's what New Yorkers who live or grew up in or near the 5 boros call it) is strapped for cash, and I also know that they give the cops quotas to fill (the City denies this but cops say off the record that it's true) but this is ridiculous! IF they had any sense at all they should have simply advised her and her dad that they are not allowed to do it on park property and then LET THEM GO! The family lives across the street from the park, they should have just told her to move the stand to in front of her building or something. Idiots. [AngryKittyMSV]
Wow, that's horrible! [AngryKittyMSV]
What a bazar waste of time for the NYPD. Above that what a PR nightmare. I mean really, what was the little girl's plan....hmmm maybe make enough money to buy a doll or a toy...what are we talkin maybe $25 bucks! Whooo hooo..next thing you know the IRS will be calling her for their 35% cut of the supplemental income. What a joke. [bailey2009]
What azzholes. IMO, not only should this case be dismissed but the officers involved should be reprimanded for using poor judgement. They are expected to use good judgement while on duty so they certainly weren't doing their jobs that day. [spalladino]
A$$holes like him are why so many grow up learning to hate police officers. I am really disgusted by this. Heck, when I was a kid and had a lemonade stand cops would actually BUY the lemonade and would never dream of fining us for not having a business license. That's not even getting into the fact that in most states you don't need a license unless you have a certain number of employees or make a certain amount of profit. I'll have to research New York laws regarding this now. [Taskr36]
If they work for the State Parks Department as "park police" they actually have as much if not MORE power than the NYPD! I'm not sure about the City Parks Department, but the State Parks Department in NY is actually no joke, they even have the power to arrest you on our parkways since those highways are affiliated with our State Parks. [AngryKittyMSV]
Poor girl. She was probably shocked. What have the world come to? Everything is regulated. Follow the rule or get punished for nothing. The police should have just warned the girl and just ask her not to it again. Or they should have contacted her parent first. [neohimura]
Teach her not to become an evil profiteers. This girl needs to learn that she does not need to make money on her own, she can just depend upon government to meet all of her needs. Well all the statist should be happy right now their one size fits all laws working just how they are suppose too. I would say that this could only happen in NYC but I doubt it because regulations like this exist everywhere. [gewcew23]
I heard about this earlier. That's one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Fining a ten year old girl for selling lemonade in the park? Really?? Are you out of your darn mind? I'm glad that the stuff is going to be dismissed but I think they could have let that slide to begin with. [DarthJustice]
I've heard of this happenign a lot more lately. What is wrong with these cops? What's wrong with the judges that don't excuse the charges and publicly mock the stupid cop. It reminds me of a childhood friend of mine who had to take his tree house down... because he didn't get a "building permit". [ParaTed2k]
oh my g. what next, over a tree house,how utterly ridiculouos a building permit. reminds me when I had my own house I grew 'some fuchias and some seedlings. I was selling some to some'of myfriends when a man came who said he was from the tax bureau,seems I had to have a licence and put tax onto my sales, all this over 'a half dozen plants to some friends who wouldnt take them for free.so I gave up on that. I guess someone turned me in cause they assumed, wrongly,I was doing business out of my house. how wrong theywere. [Hatley]
I have never heard of kids getting in trouble for lemonade the park police should have been happy she wasn't selling dope. Some people with police power just sorta let it go to their head. [ZephyrSun]
It might be a big offence in NY but in India so many of them sell different types of products on the road without taking licence. Here many of the vendors are elders and even kids also sell but not as many as Elders. If these vendors put on the road side then Police will come and do some show off business as if they are doing duty. But most of the vendors when offer bribes, these guys take it and leave them to sell on the road side... I always feel sad to see children doing business at an age where they have to go to school. [madhuvamsi]
I read the story. It is a little harsh what they did. If they said they were leaving they should let them leave. I always look at both side of the story. There was an adult there. The father should have known better. There has to be rules and regulations for everyone to follow. If that was the case all of us adults would get a kid and go outside to make some money. We don't think kids can break the law. If you need a licence get one. Happy posting. [gossipzz]
Are you kidding me what a jerk. How could a cop feel the need to issue a fine to a ten year old girl. Oh my did that just make his day or what. I truly believe that alot of these cops let the power go to their heads. So powerful "I gave a fine to a child". I hope he felt good about that. I guess he has no kids..... [lelin1123]
some people are just pathetic. maybe they make commission on the amount of tickets they write a day, so wrote one for a little girl just to make a few extra bucks. i'm glad they didn't have to pay in the end though. bless her, thinking the could get arrested, she's an innocent little girl, why couldn't they just let her make some money for her little saving's account! what has the world come to.rolleyes [xsammiex]
wow that is pretty messed up, what kind of a person does this to a little girl??? that cop is a little koko, instead of capturing criminals that kill people he goes and harass a little girl [Saloma90]
That is utterly ridiculous. The park attendants could have told the little girl and her father, "you cannot sell your lemonade here," and point to a place where it is all right and say "why not try over there. There are a lot of thirsty people who would pass there," and offer to help move it. And it is a tradition. [suspenseful]
The article in your link said that 'a spokesperson for the Parks Department says the agents showed poor judgment.' So my question is, why do they employ agents who demonstrate 'poor judgment'? [_soonernation_]
that was my thought exactly.you hit the nail right on the head. [Hatley]
xfahctor hi there this is apalling to pick on a ten year old child that way. what on earth. I am glad they reversed that decision. how dumb can officials get any.that was going way to far. she was doing no harm,now they have scared her and made her all upset shame on them. [Hatley]
My bosses 6 year old daughter set up a lemonade stand in downtown NY and they shut her down also. It was in front of the building they live in. Luckily they didn't fine her. It's crazy. Also heard they have even shut down a girl scout who set up a little stand in front of her house for her cookie sales. [realan]
That is one of the dumbest things I have heard today. I guess this is indeed THE END... lol! [mommyboo]
I read or hear on the news quite often of muggings, rapes and murders that happen in New York parks. I wonder if one of these types of crimes occurred and went undetected while the park police were filling out all the paperwork to prosecute this child. This event suggests that the Park Police may have their priorities unprioritized. [dcastle]
Wow. The police officers are such douchebags. It's just lemonade.... Yes, I know you can suspect that it is really drugs but then at least let her go with a warning, not a fine! That is just crude. Great article and interesting to read about. Thanks for sharing [yourbetteroffasian]
To me this sounds a little odd as well. I can see if the family themselves was holding a Yard Sale or something without the legal permit, but for something like this that does not sound right. If I were the Parents I would be doing a little complaining and insist an apology for this one. Somewhere there needs to be a little more acceptance for these type of things for sure. [KrauseHome]
Wow, she must of made a lot of money for the cop to want to fine her! w00t A gold mine lemonade stand. lol Are you not a loud to make a little money without getting fined? Then I guess the beggars on the street are in big trouble! Or they will have to get a license too???? [Margajoe]
The fine might have been over the top, but I think the stand needed to be shut down. If you were walking through the park and got thirsty, who would you have bought a drink from? The cute little girl, or the man right across the path? Probably the little girl. Who needed the money more? It wasn't the little girl, I'll tell you that. The man across the path's feeding a wife and child on the money his stand makes; the little girl is doing this for spending money. [jmowreader]
First they were park police and not city police. Second its the best thing to happen to her. The park commissioner not only cancelled the fine but yesterday was her first customer when she reopened the stand. Third the published she received will help make her a lot of money. [patms1]
i'm kinda torn. i would think let the girl do somthin' constructive and positive.but then again who is the "decider" of who can get away with breaking laws? cute little girls,disabled,elderly? but a "normal" person has to follow all the rules? i probably would have just told her about the rule then let her go. fining her does seem a bit extreme.not to mention broke her poor little spirit! [Stephanie5]
To the cops in this case, here are a few Awards from me. "A winnar is you" [/sarcasm] "You're a big man... a Biggggggg man" [/more sarcasm] "Now you're THE MAN...again" [/epic sarcasm and pun] "F ine A ct of I ntegrity on L emonade" But remember bureaucracy hasn't done enough, oh no no... there are people (well mainly goons in government itself) calling for MOAR BUREAUCRACY! Little slip ups like this lemonade case are just unfortunate accidents of course... -_- Don't worry, this is just showing an example of the importance of licenses. Expect requiring a license for more important things in daily life... such as... - Jogging - Reading - Smoking - Using the Internet - Speaking - Listening to music made before 1990 - Practice your religion - Playing video games The above was humor with a bit of cynical. Feel free to chuckle (don't lie ;p). [theprogamer]