Fla. woman chooses to go jail over $7.45 bill

[Kayleigh Katz]

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) -- A woman decided to go to jail rather than pay her bill at a Fort Pierce Waffle House restaurant. The total she went to jail over: $7.45. According to a police report, Maryanne O'Neill, 66, ordered coffee and a sandwich at a Waffle House restaurant on Saturday but refused to pay the bill.

The report said an officer asked her to pay or go to jail and she refused.

A jail official said she was released Monday from the St. Lucie County Jail. She was charged with obtaining food or lodging with intent to defraud, a second degree misdemeanor.

If convicted of a second degree misdemeanor she could face up to 60 days in jail and a fine of $500.

You just read the whole story, but heres the link anyway

Wow a double whammy, Old person flaunting the law and Florida!

What is going on with the AARP crowd?

 

[jujuman13]

Theft is theft.
She made her choice.
Perhaps she is homeless and a 60 day sentence will at least ensure she has food and lodging for that time?

 

[Cardinal]

Yeah, I know, theft is theft. But I'm a total sucker for "motives," which the article was curiously absent of. I know, I'm an old softy like that. In a halfway decently written article, there would at least be something like "the woman declined to explain why she refused to pay her bill." Or something. I'm just saying.

 

[MDM]

Theft is theft.
She made her choice.
Perhaps she is homeless and a 60 day sentence will at least ensure she has food and lodging for that time?

True, 2$ a day rent and McWilly's once a week.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Been more than once I've taken issue with either the quality of service or the quality of the food at a restaurant and refused to pay. Most cases, the manager has figured out it's safer to give me my "refund" than try to reason with me while waiting for the police.

Of course, they could just be embarrassed by the quality of their restaurant, and want to avoid having it discussed with the police-- some of they're biggest customers.

 

[conquer]

Jesus Christ!

What are you making comments about?

there is time to talk and there is time to walk, lets walk to walk.

lets collect what she needs and take that woman out of jail...here, my "two cents"...:doh

 

[americanwoman]

Been more than once I've taken issue with either the quality of service or the quality of the food at a restaurant and refused to pay. Most cases, the manager has figured out it's safer to give me my "refund" than try to reason with me while waiting for the police.

Of course, they could just be embarrassed by the quality of their restaurant, and want to avoid having it discussed with the police-- some of they're biggest customers.

That was my first thought, that something may have been wrong with the food or the service. One time at a restaraunt where we ate, we found a hair in the food and we refused to pay and the manager would not foot the bill. We ended up not paying and just left the place and no police came after us, so I guess it wasn't a big deal after all. There is sometimes more to the story than what is released to the press.

But the thought she did it to get put in jail to get food and shelter is also something to consider. That's the system for you.

 

[Thorgasm]

This cost the county a whole lot more than $7.45.