A Nissan Leaf owner in Georgia spent a night in the county jail for plugged in his Nissan Leaf to an external power outlet at a Chamblee, Ga., middle school for 20 minutes worth a paltry 5 pennies.
Jailed for taking electricity worth 5 cents !
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I saw the headline on Yahoo, but didn't read the article.
It certainly sounds like a harsh thing to do to someone for just a few cents of electricity, but if he didn't have permission to plug into the school it's his own fault he was arrested.
Assuming that electric cars become more common I expect to hear more of these kinds of stories.
It certainly sounds like a harsh thing to do to someone for just a few cents of electricity, but if he didn't have permission to plug into the school it's his own fault he was arrested.
Assuming that electric cars become more common I expect to hear more of these kinds of stories.
All very well and good on principle, but could the police be charged with wasting police time?
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
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It certainly sounds like a harsh thing to do to someone for just a few cents of electricity, but if he didn't have permission to plug into the school it's his own fault he was arrested.
Assuming that electric cars become more common I expect to hear more of these kinds of stories.
Agreed.
Probably just needed a little juice to get home, but I'm sure the police looked at it in the same way as they would if someone took "just a little" gas from a pump without paying.
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It certainly sounds like a harsh thing to do to someone for just a few cents of electricity, but if he didn't have permission to plug into the school it's his own fault he was arrested.
Assuming that electric cars become more common I expect to hear more of these kinds of stories.
Agreed.
Probably just needed a little juice to get home, but I'm sure the police looked at it in the same way as they would if someone took "just a little" gas from a pump without paying.
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And who knows what the legislation in that jurisdiction states. Perhaps they had no choice but to hold him at least for the night until he saw a judge. It sounds harsh, but the police can only use the tools they're given.
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That's almost as bad as someone using the hose bib on the outside wall of Costco to wash their car during non business hours.
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
That's almost as bad as someone using the hose bib on the outside wall of Costco to wash their car during non business hours.
Are you confessing to a crime?
That's almost as bad as someone using the hose bib on the outside wall of Costco to wash their car during non business hours.
Are you confessing to a crime?
The actual outlet might not be the big deal. If it doesn't have an "Official use only" decal the Leaf owner could say he thought it was a "courtesy outlet" for taxpayers.
But being there at night could count as trespassing. Though here if the status of your trespassing isn't clear someone in authority has to first tell you to move along...
But being there at night could count as trespassing. Though here if the status of your trespassing isn't clear someone in authority has to first tell you to move along...
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/ga-man-arrested-charging-electric-car-local-middle/story?id=21098590
Sounds like he had done it more than once and he had an attitude.
It does set a precedent - remember the quote from the movie "Dr. Zhivago" "One man stealing firewood is pathetic, one million people stealing firewood will destroy a city."
Sounds like he had done it more than once and he had an attitude.
It does set a precedent - remember the quote from the movie "Dr. Zhivago" "One man stealing firewood is pathetic, one million people stealing firewood will destroy a city."
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He was in jail because someone at the school complained about it, and he was being an *** to the cop.
Now about the electricity, I'm not sure what to make of it but if I were the school officials seeing this all the time, I'd get upset too, like stealing toilet paper from public bathroom.
Now about the electricity, I'm not sure what to make of it but if I were the school officials seeing this all the time, I'd get upset too, like stealing toilet paper from public bathroom.
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According to the Chamblee police report, the police officer wrote, "I asked him why his vehicle was plugged into the power at the school. He told me that was an excepted [sic] practice and that I was making to [sic] much of it. I asked him if he has [sic] asked the Dekalb County school system if he could take the power. He told me that I did not ask if my patrol car can dirty the air -- did you? He says 'No you did not'."
Sounds like a real meeting of the minds.
And the cop opened the guy's car door and had one foot in, thinking it was abandoned. Really, an all electric whiz bang car that's been out for 2-3 years is abandoned? I suppose that cop wouldn't mind if I had one foot in his cruiser?
This will be fun to watch.
According to the Chamblee police report, the police officer wrote, "I asked him why his vehicle was plugged into the power at the school. He told me that was an excepted [sic] practice and that I was making to [sic] much of it. I asked him if he has [sic] asked the Dekalb County school system if he could take the power. He told me that I did not ask if my patrol car can dirty the air -- did you? He says 'No you did not'."
Sounds like a real meeting of the minds.
And the cop opened the guy's car door and had one foot in, thinking it was abandoned. Really, an all electric whiz bang car that's been out for 2-3 years is abandoned? I suppose that cop wouldn't mind if I had one foot in his cruiser?
This will be fun to watch.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
If he only siphoned a cup of gas out of your car would you consider that a crime ?
Exactly.
If he only siphoned a cup of gas out of your car would you consider that a crime ?
Exactly.
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The police in this area (metro Atlanta in general) are completely horrible with regard to their intellect, their ability to perform their duties in a respectful manner, and simply in their lack of melding into the community.
Their cars are illegally tinted, they shoot-to-kill at the drop of a hat and their mannerism is disgusting. Just yesterday two officers were suspended in Dalton for using profanity onboard a school bus full of middle school students. It's obvious the police have very low standards regarding their own personal conduct but it has gotten ridiculous of late.
With that being said, I also think the man in the Leaf should have been cited. Not because of his rude actions but because he was taking something that didn't belong to him without permission. He can't walk into the cafeteria and take a meal or go to the library and take a book just because his tax dollars paid for it. The electricity is no different.
As mentioned previously, try driving up to the local Shell station and pump $.05 worth of gasoline into your car and driving off and see how well you are received.
Their cars are illegally tinted, they shoot-to-kill at the drop of a hat and their mannerism is disgusting. Just yesterday two officers were suspended in Dalton for using profanity onboard a school bus full of middle school students. It's obvious the police have very low standards regarding their own personal conduct but it has gotten ridiculous of late.
With that being said, I also think the man in the Leaf should have been cited. Not because of his rude actions but because he was taking something that didn't belong to him without permission. He can't walk into the cafeteria and take a meal or go to the library and take a book just because his tax dollars paid for it. The electricity is no different.
As mentioned previously, try driving up to the local Shell station and pump $.05 worth of gasoline into your car and driving off and see how well you are received.
Interesting point comparing it to charging one's cell phone in a public space. I don't think I ever have done it, but I see it being done. Should we arrest them for theft as well? I wonder what would have happened if he asked for permission.
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I smell bacon.
So, you guys would be OK with me charging my car using your electricity? Without asking? Public outlets in airports etc., are provided for the convenience of the people who are there.
School outlets aren't the same. What if the school had a gas pump? "Just need a bit of gas to get home boys, mind if I pump it myself?"
Would you be OK if I just reached into your car to help myself to some of your money? If I just reached into your wallet?
Guy took something without permission...that is the definition of theft, isn't it? Small theft, sure, but theft...
It will be interesting to see how the court decides...
School outlets aren't the same. What if the school had a gas pump? "Just need a bit of gas to get home boys, mind if I pump it myself?"
Would you be OK if I just reached into your car to help myself to some of your money? If I just reached into your wallet?
Guy took something without permission...that is the definition of theft, isn't it? Small theft, sure, but theft...
It will be interesting to see how the court decides...
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Isn't he forced to pay taxes? Some of the taxes he is forced to pay goes to the school ...
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