Man at Hospital Ordered to Pay $525 for Refilling 89-Cent Drink

[dmcowen674]

4-17-2014

http://lindenhurst.patch.com/groups...-drink?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Man at Hospital Ordered to Pay $525 for Refilling 89-Cent Drink



Man also banned from working at VA Medical Center


The cost of a drink isn't what it used to be for a North Charleston man who was slapped with a $525 fine for refilling his 89-cent drink and now faces federal charges.


On-site construction worker Chris Lewis told WCSC News he didn't know refills at the VA Medical Center in downtown Charleston weren't free.


A hospital spokesperson called it a "theft of government property"

"Every time I look at the ticket, it's unbelievable to me,” says Lewis, who works construction. “I can't fathom the fact that I made an 89-cent mistake that cost me $525."

Lewis says he never noticed "No Free Re-Fill" signs and admits he had refilled his drink without paying on other occasions. He says after he went back for seconds on Wednesday, a man who identified himself as the chief of police, stopped him.

He says he was taken to a room, given the $525 ticket for shoplifting and told not to return to the property.

The medical center released the following statement:

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is fortunate to have a highly trained Federal police force to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors and employees. As Federal police they are responsible for enforcing the law.


Today a Federal citation was issued for shoplifting in the VA cafeteria to an individual who stated to VA police he had not paid for refills of beverages on multiple occasions, even though signs are posted in the cafeteria informing patrons refills are not free. Shoplifting is a crime. The dollar amount of the ticket is not determined by VA as it is a Federal citation. The citation may be paid or the recipient may choose to appear in Federal court to contest it.


Lewis and his fiancé have contacted the Internal Affairs Office in Columbia. He says he will contest the fine in federal court.

 

[dmcowen674]

This guy is charged $525 for an 89 cent cup of soda meanwhile the Oil Thugs steal Billions from Americans everyday.

 

[Drako]

This guy is charged $525 for an 89 cent cup of soda meanwhile the Oil Thugs steal Billions from Americans everyday.

He was fined $525 dollars for shoplifting, not for a soda. Your reading comprehension is terrible.

And WTF do the "Oil Thugs" have to do with this? You have some serious mental health issues.

 

[TerryMathews]

Another fine McOwned post. Carry on, comrade.

 

[her209]

I want citations for every government purchased pen that goes missing/unaccounted for.

 

[Matt1970]

Isn't the unwritten rule if you have to fill the drink yourself it's free refills. If they have to fill it behind the counter and hand it to you, no free refills?

 

[Kadarin]

If there are signs that say no free refills and he willfully disregards that, then he deserves the fine. Outrage not found.

 

[fskimospy]

Isn't the unwritten rule if you have to fill the drink yourself it's free refills. If they have to fill it behind the counter and hand it to you, no free refills?

Yes it is. In this case there was apparently a written rule that said no free refills, however.

 

[smackababy]

Isn't the unwritten rule if you have to fill the drink yourself it's free refills. If they have to fill it behind the counter and hand it to you, no free refills?

I don't think so. Plenty of places offer free refills and require you to hand your drink. Movie theaters off it on certain sizes, nearly every restaurant that offers fountain drinks does this. I think most places that are self serve it might be implied there are free refills, however, in this case there was a written sign that explicitly stated that was not the case. The fact that it was an $0.89 drink is irrelevant to the fact that it was stealing.

And, as with most people, they believe ignorance is an acceptable excuse for breaking the law. "But officer! I didn't know that was illegal." Yeah... that works.

 

[Zaap]

...meanwhile the Oil Thugs steal Billions from Americans everyday.

LOL. It's just not one of your threads until you've put an utterly retarded spin on it. Classic.

 

[SunnyD]

I don't think so. Plenty of places offer free refills and require you to hand your drink. Movie theaters off it on certain sizes, nearly every restaurant that offers fountain drinks does this. I think most places that are self serve it might be implied there are free refills, however, in this case there was a written sign that explicitly stated that was not the case. The fact that it was an $0.89 drink is irrelevant to the fact that it was stealing.

And, as with most people, they believe ignorance is an acceptable excuse for breaking the law. "But officer! I didn't know that was illegal." Yeah... that works.

You have to admit though, zero tolerance for certain transgressions is childish.

The man was not only fined but apparently lost his job over an issue which could easily have been handled with few friendly casual words and a laugh instead of what's going to amount to at least dozens of lawyer-hours and taxpayer dollars.

But hey, this is P&N. Why the heck am I trying to be rational about it.

 

[momeNt]

This guy is charged $525 for an 89 cent cup of soda meanwhile the Oil Thugs steal Billions from Americans everyday.

If oil had free refills we wouldn't be in half the shit we are in today. So how is that even relevant?

 

[smackababy]

You have to admit though, zero tolerance for certain transgressions is childish.

The man was not only fined but apparently lost his job over an issue which could easily have been handled with few friendly casual words and a laugh instead of what's going to amount to at least dozens of lawyer-hours and taxpayer dollars.

But hey, this is P&N. Why the heck am I trying to be rational about it.

I agree it is a bit overboard for a single transgression, except the man admits to stealing several dollars worth of soda!

 

[Matt1970]

I don't think so. Plenty of places offer free refills and require you to hand your drink. Movie theaters off it on certain sizes, nearly every restaurant that offers fountain drinks does this. I think most places that are self serve it might be implied there are free refills, however, in this case there was a written sign that explicitly stated that was not the case. The fact that it was an $0.89 drink is irrelevant to the fact that it was stealing.

And, as with most people, they believe ignorance is an acceptable excuse for breaking the law. "But officer! I didn't know that was illegal." Yeah... that works.

That would be a little bit different, but generally if they hand you a cup and the machine is on the customer side of the counter, it's free refills. I am not 100% sure on the thinking but maybe it's because they are removing some of the labor cost involved, it gets you your food quicker and gets you away from the front counter and in turn they spend a few nickels giving free refills to the people who actually even do it.

I guess my question would be how big and how visible was the sign?

 

[smackababy]

That would be a little bit different, but generally if they hand you a cup and the machine is on the customer side of the counter, it's free refills. I am not 100% sure on the thinking but maybe it's because they are removing some of the labor cost involved, it gets you your food quicker and gets you away from the front counter and in turn they spend a few nickels giving free refills to the people who actually even do it.

It is because a bag of soda syrup costs $45 and makes 30 gallons of soda. They are paying $0.66 per gallon of soda. You would have to drink a lot in order for them to lose any money.

It is realistic they are saving labor costs, not having to pay someone to spend time refilling drinks, but that doesn't always equate to free refills. Nor, does the availability of a person refilling your drink for you mean the refills aren't free. In this case though, that doesn't matter. There was a sign that specifically said "no refills", so the assumption was the he was stealing. The size of the sign makes little difference. The guy assumed the soda, since it was out and available, that it was free.

My company cafeteria has Starbucks coffee out near the soda, however, a sign states it isn't free. If I were to take a cup without paying, I would be stealing.

 

[Attic]

This guy is charged $525 for an 89 cent cup of soda meanwhile the Oil Thugs steal Billions from Americans everyday.

Selective application of law is a real bitch for the little people.


Don't expect the other side to give this up easily or at all.

 

[BoberFett]

Is gas $5/gal yet?

 

[dmcowen674]

Is gas $5/gal yet?

Several stations in the $4.60 range in Chicago now.

Give it a couple of more weeks to reach $5 and then start heading to $6

 

[WHAMPOM]

This guy is charged $525 for an 89 cent cup of soda meanwhile the Oil Thugs steal Billions from Americans everyday.

This post stretches your credibility. Get serious.

 

[BoberFett]

You never fail to disappoint.

 

[werepossum]

You have to admit though, zero tolerance for certain transgressions is childish.

The man was not only fined but apparently lost his job over an issue which could easily have been handled with few friendly casual words and a laugh instead of what's going to amount to at least dozens of lawyer-hours and taxpayer dollars.

But hey, this is P&N. Why the heck am I trying to be rational about it.

Zero tolerance not only encourages zero intelligence, it practically requires it. Your post is werepossum-approved.

Apparently that and 89 cents will get you a free refill.

Is gas $5/gal yet?

Not $5, but I filled the bike up yesterday at $3.799. 100% gasoline equals ouch! $3.399 for 10% ethanol which is still pretty ouch.

 

[MrPickins]

You have to admit though, zero tolerance for certain transgressions is childish.

The man was not only fined but apparently lost his job over an issue which could easily have been handled with few friendly casual words and a laugh instead of what's going to amount to at least dozens of lawyer-hours and taxpayer dollars.

But hey, this is P&N. Why the heck am I trying to be rational about it.

:thumbsup:

Zero tolerance not only encourages zero intelligence, it practically requires it. Your post is werepossum-approved.

Extremely true.

Apparently that and 89 cents will get you a free refill.

 

[Subyman]

It is because a bag of soda syrup costs $45 and makes 30 gallons of soda. They are paying $0.66 per gallon of soda. You would have to drink a lot in order for them to lose any money.

$45/30gal = $0.66/gal?

 

[Matt1970]

$45/30gal = $0.66/gal?

That's about what I get. Are you questioning his math?

 

[werepossum]

That's about what I get. Are you questioning his math?

Given that 45 is larger than 30, doesn't that result strike you as a bit odd?