...yay, more violations of privacy!

This guy bought something at circuit city but refused to show his receipt when leaving the store. The store manager and "loss control officer" (or whatever) then physically blocked the person's car from leaving the parking lot. He then called the police who showed up and demanded to see his ID. He refused and was arrested.

Man... talk about having your rights taken away.

1. Having to show receipt :: after you pay, it's yours. There's no requirement you have to prove it's yours on the way out. That's like having to prove you own the shoes you're wearing any time you leave a shoe store.

2. Being trapped in a parking lot by a store manager :: Being trapped anywhere is a major no-no. I don't think he could've gotten away with running the people over, but damn. You start running into unlawful imprisonment problems.

3. Showing ID... according to US federal law you're not required to show ID. You're required to give your name but not ID.

After being arrested the cop then search the guy's bag and found nothing was stolen.

I hope that store and the city get the pants sued off of them.

Any link regarding this yet?

With a good lawyer i think that guy can make some good money out of this. Unless there are in fact laws that oblige you to show receipt, and ID to a lesser extent.

I think in belgium both are a law here: i'm sure about the ID, not sure about the receipt thingie. Not that it ever happens that you get a receipt control, but i thought it had to do with taxes. So it's not like you have to prove to the store that you bought something. It applies for any purchase i think (like say you have a drink somewhere, or grab some food). Although in the real pubs you don't get a receipt.

Meh, if it's a law here, it doesn't get controlled anyway.

Sorry, I forgot to post the link in the first post. My fault.

http://newsite.michaelrighi.com/2007/09 ... cuit-city/

In the US it's become customary for alot of stores to let you pay for your purchase, then demand to see your receipt and your purchase on the way out of the door. This to reduce theft or something. Except it's not their legal right to demand to see your purchase... once you pay for it, it's yours. They have no more right to do that then to ask to look in your purse or something (not that I carry a purse, but you know, if I did).

Anyway, Shiny and I comply if it's easy... if there's a line of people waiting so they can show they bought something (after waiting in line to buy something) we just walk by. So far nothing like this has happened to us.

Well I got both things legalized and considered for normal here on Balkans. In big shops, Bulgarians usually implement a small piece of metal to any good that's likely to be stolen and it triggers alarm on the exit. There you have to show all goods you purchased together with the receipt to a security guard. Yet Serbians do it in a better way. First, the alarms are on the place you pay. Second, they have some devices that "neutralize" the small piece of metal, so you usually don't trigger the alarm if you paid the thing.

And the second is really law in Serbia (can't say it really for Bulgaria). For every thing you purchased, be it a bread, a new sound card or TV, you need to have bill till you get home. Any police officer in every moment can check your stuff and ask you for adequate receipt if it is obvious that something is new (he saw you purchasing it, or it is still in a sealed box for instance). This has been made to prevent sellers to avoid taxes. They could sell people things without paying taxes for that and therewith making some extra profit. In case someone gets caught, he will have to pay penalty anyway. If he claims that seller didn't give the receipt, it is very likely that the seller will have to pay penalty as well. But yeah, like J said, they really don't control it usually.

I don't disagree with them requesting your receipt, unless it's somewhere daft, like the only checkout is right next to the door etc.

But still, if someone (store or law related) asks to see my receipt, I produce it and walk on home with no fuss.

It beats saying "thats not your right" and causing a load of shit, unless of course there's law suits to be won.

Duh... now I'm reading it. Doubtless, I'd sue the pigs, or finish the things between us in a more personal way, depending on what's cheaper.

yea...I mean, he definetely egged it on and brought it on himself.... but at the same time, he was entirely within his rights the whole time. I take enough shit legally... I don't want to take more shit for no reason. Especially from people that I just gave money to (the store) or that I give money to constantly (cops via taxes).

Anyway, I just hope it turns into a fat lawsuit and makes stores a little less zealous about considering all their patrons thieves.

That speaks about the level of acting freedom that has been given to your cops. Doubtless, out there happens LOTS of shit that almost nobody will ever hear of. I still remember that couple that got arrested for simply asking police officer how to leave a city last year. I mean, that's horrible: having a bunch of cops that are more-less ignorant of the law patrolling the streets in belief law is whatever they say it is.

Well, I couldn't say we in Serbia have that different problem. Lately, they've hired many many cops that almost haven't made it through the secondary school, were more-less retarded farmers before putting on the cop uniform or were just simple retards that hadn't anything else to do. Nobody can really expect those almost-idiots to know the law and use the proper judgment when needed. The similar happened with the lower ranks in the army.

That angers me. The term "free world" or similar is just a damn hypocrisy to me now. In Italy i think you must show some sort of ID upon request.

Yeah, I forgot that one. It is quite usual here. Police may examine whatever they want, and even your ID. I don't find it strange.

And killing anyone in your home, including an unarmed thief will mean jail for you here. Ah yes. If you're good at acting, they probably can give you a cubic white room instead of jail, but in that case you won't be able to leave the "prison" for the lifetime while nobody guarantees there you'll be treated better than in the jail.

Btw, it's 92 what you should dial up here to get the police. It even has some logic: 911 => 9(1+1) => 92.

lol...92. :p

Anyway, I think the power of the police should definitely be watched. On one hand they need enough power to do their job and get all those bastards before I have to shoot them.

On the other hand, they need to leave my ass alone if I'm not doing anything wrong.

I guess that's the quandary.

well, just to wrap this topic up, it's over. The guy agreed to give up his rights to sue the police department in exchange for them to drop charges and expunge his record. He calls it a victory.... considering he ends up owing $7500 in legal fees I'm not so sure.

http://www.michaelrighi.com/2007/09/20/success/

Man, that's lame. Perhaps police should stumble on someone more wealthy and more influential to get their retarded fingers well burned. Alas, I can't tell the police and the army I know are any different than that.