VA hospital backs down after slapping man with $525 fine over soda refill

[brassmonkey]

The VA hospital that slapped a $525 federal fine on a man after he refilled his 89-cent drink without paying has backed down, choosing to issue a warning instead of a citation, a spokesperson for the facility said Thursday.

Christopher T. Lewis, of North Charleston, was issued the $525 citation on Wednesday after he ignored signage indicating that there?s no such thing as a free lunch ? or complimentary drink refills ? at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston. Lewis, who is not a federal employee, told responding officers he had done the same thing ?multiple times? before and never had any problems, hospital spokeswoman Tonya Lobbestael told FoxNews.com.

?Shoplifting is against the law and the signage is very clearly posted on the drink machine,? Lobbestael said. ?The same citation could be issued to anyone who is shoplifting.?

But Lobbestael said Thursday afternoon that the medical center had decided "a warning in lieu of a citation is sufficient in this case." Authorities said earlier Thursday that Lewis, a construction worker who was employed near the medical center, also had been banned from his work site. It was not immediately clear whether that penalty remained in effect.

full article...

[seeandsee]

it was a gold soda jesus 500$ for refill

[NatalieMojoHost]

Just another reason to read those signs... chances are he never even noticed it.

[~Ray]

he wasn't even supposed to be in the VA facility, he was working nearby. He walked in there and took their shit without paying.

[Just Alex]

Was he black?

[brassmonkey]

Was he black?

nope a white guy. it doesn't matter

[WDF]

I did not see anything about the mans race or ethnicity in the story (source) posted.

I did notice this link though:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/17...intcmp=related

I imagine this is just a bunch of misunderstood men from a neighborhood social club though.

[Vendzilla]

The VA I go to is completely chill, I guess they vary!

[brassmonkey]

I did not see anything about the mans race or ethnicity in the story (source) posted.

I did notice this link though:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/17...intcmp=related

I imagine this is just a bunch of misunderstood men from a neighborhood social club though.

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/q0lwwjkwj0w/0.jpg

amateur could have just googled his name and clicked images tab

[WDF]

OP could have properly sourced the original information.

[brassmonkey]

OP could have properly sourced the original information.

or find it yourself. get your own shit

[Harmon]

Dude was officially drafted to the blacks.

[baddog]

Even if he was shoplifting I never heard of any business being able to "fine" anyone for anything.

[media]

Even if he was shoplifting I never heard of any business being able to "fine" anyone for anything.

Lloyd, this has been very common merchant practice for a loooooong time in CA.. read CAL. PEN. CODE § 490.5

A lot of merchants will fine you up to $500 plus "costs" if you do not pay the fine, they will go after you civilly if you don't pay their fine.. Many places will detain you, take the stolen merchandise back, issue you a fine with paperwork, then release you without calling the police.. They do this because they can make a ton of money for the crap you stole or tried to steal... Its a racket, but it's legal for them to do in CA.. When I was a minor, I stole some CD's from a Payless Drugs, got caught on the way out by security.. Had to pay a $300 fine..

Soda, is Merchandise.. so this guy under CA law would be liable to fines imposed by the merchant.. but it looks like this happened in South Carolina.. So it would be up to SC penal code... but in CA, where you reside and I have resided this is common under 490.5 Sub section C as follows:

(c) When an adult or emancipated minor has unlawfully taken merchandise from a merchant's premises, or a book or other library materials from a library facility, the adult or emancipated minor shall be liable to the merchant or library facility for damages of not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), plus costs. In addition to the foregoing damages, the adult or emancipated minor shall be liable to the merchant for the retail value of the merchandise if it is not recovered in merchantable condition, or to a library facility for the fair market value of its book or other library materials. An action for recovery of damages, pursuant to this subdivision, may be brought in small claims court if the total damages do not exceed the jurisdictional limit of such court, or in any other appropriate court. The provisions of this subdivision are in addition to other civil remedies and do not limit merchants or other persons to elect to pursue other civil remedies.

[brassmonkey]

Even if he was shoplifting I never heard of any business being able to "fine" anyone for anything.

it's a government building right?

[bean-aid]

The 5 cents it cost for that sugar water will be justified with insurance increases

[Seth Manson]

Even if he was shoplifting I never heard of any business being able to "fine" anyone for anything.

VA hospitals are federal facilities, not locally owned businesses. Anything on the grounds of a VA hospital falls under federal jurisdiction.

[baddog]

Lloyd, this has been very common merchant practice for a loooooong time in CA.. read CAL. PEN. CODE § 490.5

Upon a first conviction for petty theft involving
merchandise taken from a merchant's premises or a book or other
library materials taken from a library facility, a person shall be
punished by a mandatory fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) and
not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each such violation;
and may also be punished by imprisonment in the county jail, not
exceeding six months, or both such fine and imprisonment.

http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/490.5.html

Conviction means criminal, not civil, and requires a trial.

[brassmonkey]

http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/490.5.html

Conviction means criminal, not civil, and requires a trial.

no arrest is civil

[baddog]

no arrest is civil

Did you bother to read the quote? Penal Code is CRIMINAL not CIVIL

[bean-aid]

Lol... he's talking about the act of being civil... i.e. let's all just be civil about this

[WDF]

or find it yourself. get your own shit

Yea I could have, but if you are going to post shit you should post your sources.

Otherwise you are just a ignorant, more biased version of the other post whores here.

And on that note stick 1 thumb in your ass, the other thumb in your mouth, count to 10, and switch, count to 10 again, and repeat.

[brassmonkey]

Yea I could have, but if you are going to post shit you should post your sources.

Otherwise you are just a ignorant, more biased version of the other post whores here.

And on that note stick 1 thumb in your ass, the other thumb in your mouth, count to 10, and switch, count to 10 again, and repeat.

go chase some pirates

[Just Alex]

Yea I could have, but if you are going to post shit you should post your sources.

Otherwise you are just a ignorant, more biased version of the other post whores here.

And on that note stick 1 thumb in your ass, the other thumb in your mouth, count to 10, and switch, count to 10 again, and repeat.

Good advise

[brassmonkey]

racist dummy alert

[WDF]

go chase some pirates

LOL, Is that all you got? I see why some people call you BM.

[brassmonkey]

LOL, Is that all you got? I see why some people call you BM.

im just kidding go drink sum coffe or smoke a blunt to relax. im counting down to go get my pies

[Just Alex]

LOL, Is that all you got? I see why some people call you BM.

He is borderline retarded. Fat black kid on tricycle

[Dirty F]

nope a white guy. it doesn't matter

Oh it does matter. Not to normal people but to people like you as you would be screaming and crying about racism as hard as you could if this guy turned out to be black.

[brassmonkey]

stalker alert

[WDF]

im just kidding go drink sum coffee or smoke a blunt to relax. im counting down to go get my pies

It's All Good! I like the banter back and forth with you, you don't wuss out like other people.

Enjoy the pies, I am eagerly immersed in the coffee cup, inhalants, and challenges of the day already. It is Good Friday after all.

He is borderline retarded. Fat black kid on tricycle

We all get that way at times, Friday afternoon is usually good for semi-retardation. LMAO

[Just Alex]

Oh it does matter. Not to normal people but to people like you as you would be screaming and crying about racism as hard as you could if this guy turned out to be black.

Had it been black dude we would be listening to Skittles and icetee riddle all over again.
Does this gangsta wanna be do anything else besides reposting news stories?

BM, how big is your disability check?

[ajrocks]

For a country who loves to go to war and force their troops into extended tours you really treat your veterans like shit. Canada is the same way but at least we don't really go to war as much.

These poor people went to war for our countries and have sustained wounds both mental and physical. Treat them with respect and give them the treatment and care they deserve or stop going to war.

[Rochard]

You all know that a cup of soda costs them all about three cents, right?

[brassmonkey]

You all know that a cup of soda costs them all about three cents, right?

yep kool aid with bubbles!

[WDF]

For a country who loves to go to war and force their troops into extended tours you really treat your veterans like shit. Canada is the same way but at least we don't really go to war as much.

These poor people went to war for our countries and have sustained wounds both mental and physical. Treat them with respect and give them the treatment and care they deserve or stop going to war.

Been like that here for over 5 decades. It makes no sense.