# Police Shut Down Six-Year-Old's Lemonade Stand - No City Permit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 19, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852 "2003-06-19T03:37:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/1 "2003-06-19T03:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > NAPLES, FL June 18, 2003 - A _ **six-year-old girl** _ was heartbroken when her small lemonade stand was put out of business because she didn’t have a temporary business permit. A neighbor called the police and her stand was shut down. > > … > > "I was kind of shocked because I didn’t know we needed a permit for 6 year old girls to sell lemonade,” said K.C. Shaw, Abagail’s mom. > > According to the city, they have to act on a formal complaint. > > "Normally we don’t get involved in it **but once we do get a formal request _we must take action_** ,” said Al Hogrefe of the city of Naples. Source: [http://www.nbc-2.com/News/stories/061803-lemonade\_stand.shtml](http://www.nbc-2.com/News/stories/061803-lemonade_stand.shtml) I am dumbfounded. Shocked. Angry! WTF!!! [City of Naples, Florida Web Site](http://www.naplesgov.com) Mayor: [mayor@naplesgov.com](mailto:mayor@naplesgov.com) May the pox cast its evil spell on this kid’s neighbor!!! ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/2 "2003-06-19T03:58:26Z")
It figures that someone would have to dime her out instead of just letting it go. What can you say? Some people are pricks. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/3 "2003-06-19T03:59:10Z")
What the hell is wrong with the neighbor? I guess some people have nothing better to do than call the cops. That’s one 911 call I would have loved to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/4 "2003-06-19T04:05:37Z")
Wonder if the neighbors have a hedge? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/5 "2003-06-19T04:37:48Z")
I for one am glad she was put out of business. Consider all the violations her lemonade stand racked up in the short time it was allowed to prey on the innocent citizens of Naples: [ul]1. operating a for-profit business without a license 2. child labor laws 3. tax evasion 4. lax accounting practices 5. non-registry with the health department 6. commodity manipulation (her illegally lowered overhead drives the price down artificially) 7. raketeering (Demanding a local Orange Julius pay her, “lest something unfortunate happen”) [/ul] This girl is a menace to the entire economic system! I wouldn’t be suprised if she was part of the IMClone scandal, too. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/6 "2003-06-19T04:40:27Z")
You gotta’ be kidding. Yes, I was a no-bullshit code enforcement officer, among other duties, at my last job. I told people selling watermelons and flowers along the side of the road to amscray; peddling wasn’t permitted in the town. Kids selling lemonade, though … well, I was also the planner, and such things lent to the small-town character of the place. I never got any complaints about 'em, and never told any kids to get a permit. Ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/7 "2003-06-19T04:59:30Z")
I guess the only good news about the story is that the little girl found out early in life that you can’t assume everyone is nice. It’s a sad lesson to learn, but one which, the sooner you learn it, lets you get on with life with fewer hassles. I’m hoping the little girl goes on to found a giant soft-drink corporation! ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/8 "2003-06-19T05:03:48Z")
Y’know, I agree that the neighbor was a prick of the highest order, but it seems to me that y’all are getting outraged for the sake of outrage. The article clearly goes on to state: > [@](#): > > Normally we don’t get involved in it but once we do get a formal request we must take action,” said Al Hogrefe of the city of Naples. > > So Abagail’s mom went to the city code enforcement office with wallet in hand, prepared to buy a permit. > > "$35 every single time for a single use,” said Shaw. > > Not wanting to be sour, the city played Mr. Niceguy. > > "No we did not charge her, no,” said Hogrefe. > > They did finally get the permit. > > "Basically a blank check to have as many lemonade stands as we can stand,” said Shaw. > > So Abagail is back in business and learned laws can be tough, even for a six year old’s lemonade stand. > > Shaw said the police officers who shut down the stand felt terrible, but they had to do their job. One of the officers even bought a glass of lemonade from Abagail. The cops did what the law required them to do, and the city responded to what is obviously a monumentally stupid intersection of regulations and laws by giving the girl a free pass to run her stand, she’s back in business. What’s the beef? Everything worked out fine with little muss or fuss. That neighbor sure is a piece of garbage, though. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/9 "2003-06-19T05:22:25Z")
While I feel sorry for the girl, I have to admit this scenario would make a hilarious _Onion_ article. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/10 "2003-06-19T05:23:12Z")
Knowing Naples, I’d imagine the neighbor was a batty old woman, rich beyond dreams, who felt the girl was spoiling her “Golden Girls” retirement scenario somehow. They say there’s a lot of old people on Sanibel (where I lived), and their parents live in Naples! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/11 "2003-06-19T05:42:15Z")
If only we saw this much outrage when neighbors phone in complaints for _other_ victimless crimes! ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/12 "2003-06-19T10:37:24Z")
That section that Weirddave quoted, what exactly does that mean? It was implied that the permit is single use, but then they say "Basically a blank check to have as many lemonade stands as we can stand” So, it is single use or not? Can that reporter be any more confusing? Am I just stupid? Enquiring minds want to know! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/13 "2003-06-19T10:44:55Z")
The mom should now take advantage of the free pass to set up a roadside drinks empire. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/14 "2003-06-19T12:16:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by A Monkey With a Gun \* > \*\*I for one am glad she was put out of business. Consider all the violations her lemonade stand racked up in the short time it was allowed to prey on the innocent citizens of Naples: > [list]1. operating a for-profit business without a license > 2. child labor laws > 3. tax evasion > 4. lax accounting practices > 5. non-registry with the health department > 6. commodity manipulation (her illegally lowered overhead drives the price down artificially) > 7. raketeering (Demanding a local Orange Julius pay her, “lest something unfortunate happen”) \*\* Don’t forget the myriad health code violations–was the lemonade pitcher properly sanitized in a commercial dishwasher or at least a 3-sink system? I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/15 "2003-06-19T13:27:09Z")
When life gives you assholes, make lemonade. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/16 "2003-06-19T13:33:19Z")
Maybe the neighbor owns stock in Country Time and the girl was selling Minute Maid. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/17 "2003-06-19T13:42:35Z")
One way or the other, this is an example of the law going too fucking far. While you can logic it away as an “everybody has to follow the law” issue, it’s a Goddam lemonade stand run by a six-year-old! I have never seen such an innocent thing stomped by the foot of The Man. Those cops should have shot the neighbor for being such a piece of shit, waste of space, corrupt loss to humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Wartime\_Consigliori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@Wartime\_Consigliori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wartime_Consigliori)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/18 "2003-06-19T13:43:29Z")
Anybody else having trouble with the link to the story? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/19 "2003-06-19T13:44:30Z")
Contestants, Which Neighbor is going to get TP’d the most next Halloween…? Survey Says…\ ---
**Author:** ![Rudy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Rudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rudy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/20 "2003-06-19T14:09:59Z")
I feel really bad for the little girl and the police. For the police, they had no choice becuase of the existance of a formal complaint, otherwise no cop would ever shut down a six-year-old girl’s business. I am glad the city gave the permit free, the girl is only making cents of profit from lemonade. As for the neighbor, I cannot understand what level of depravity is in the heart of someone who does that. Not only was she/he complaining, they made a formal complaint to the police. A formal complain (at least where I am from) entails paper work and a visit to the police station. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852.md?page=2)