# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/41 "2003-06-19T22:25:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*When life gives you assholes, make lemonade. \*\* There isn’t enough sugar in the world. ---
**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, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/42 "2003-06-19T22:59:27Z")
Certainly, it has to be said, when you consider the incredible injustice and inherent violence and lawlessness which exists in some parts of the world at the moment, a story like this seems as though it’s come out of some weird parallel universe. It’s a perfect example (I feel) of legislative excess intruding into cultural context. What I’m getting at here is that for one culture to be able to distinguish itself from another culture, there are certain little ways of going about life which define that culture as being different. You know, I’m thinking of stuff like the nice outfits that Austrian’s sometimes wear, for example, or the Croations doing their evening communal strolls thru their city squares. I’ve always perceived “lemondade stands” as a uniquely, and charming, American rite of passage. When legislative excess incurs upon such a thing, you’re actually biting into your own culture and doing damage I reckon. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/43 "2003-06-19T23:57:21Z")
HAHAHAHAHA! I hate kids. This cracks me up! Screw them and their lemonade stands and their Hot Wheels and My Little Ponys. HAHAHAHAHA! ::clapping with glee:: ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/44 "2003-06-20T02:59:30Z")
Well, jeez. I’m not fond of kids either, but lemonade stands are awesome. I applaud the girl’s entrepeneurial spirit. At least she’s not inside watching Pokemon and Barney. I bet this is the kind of kid who will grow up and actually be able to spell “entrepeneurial.” I had a lemonade stand when I was a kid. I even made a big sign that said “LEMONADE.” But all I had was fruit punch. I still made a bunch of money, all tax free! > [@](#): > > And yet the panhandlers don’t have to get a license of any kind at all to accost anyone and everyone who has the deluded idea tha they’d like to go shopping or walking on the streets without being harassed rudely. Odd view of justice in that town. In Germany, you have to get a license to beg. I don’t understand why we can’t have cool laws like that here. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/45 "2003-06-20T17:27:25Z")
Just heard on the news that the child’s mother went to city hall to get the business license. The folks at city hall were stunned that the busybody neighbor sicced the cops on the child (and the cops had no choice but to enforce the law), so the city hall folks granted the business license gratis. I hope the child posts the business license prominently, as is required by law, and gets plenty of business! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/46 "2003-06-20T17:35:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voguevixen \* > \*\*HAHAHAHAHA! I hate kids. This cracks me up! Screw them and their lemonade stands and their Hot Wheels and My Little Ponys. > > HAHAHAHAHA! > > ::clapping with glee:: \*\* Jesus. Are you channelling **DreadCthulhu** , or something? I don’t want kids my ownself, but I wouldn’t want to take away the kids childhood either. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/47 "2003-06-20T17:43:20Z")
This EXACT scenario happened to my kid and my roommate’s kids. I think they were 11, 8, and 5. The cop didn’t even receive a complaint. He was just passing by in his cruiser and told them to cease and desist. I was freakin’ speechless. This was in Elgin in the mid-80s. Christ! These three kids were practically the only people working on our block! Fuckers. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/48 "2003-06-20T17:48:24Z")
Was this the time you were talking to a cop naked? ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/49 "2003-06-20T18:14:54Z")
> [@](#): > > _Friedo:_ > At least she’s not inside watching Pokemon and Barney. :eek: Have they teamed up to make videos? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/50 "2003-06-20T18:26:11Z")
You asked 😉 Barney 50 HP Evolves into: Barnichu Attacks: Hug 20 Cost:30 grape mana Love…If opponent has less than 20 hp left, attack heals them for 10 hp but opponent cannot attack for 3 rounds due to perplexity. If opponent has more than 20 hp, attack causes opponent to lose 3 attacks due to lying on the ground laughing, then next attack is free due to murderous rage. Cost:20 grape mana ---
**Author:** ![macabresoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@macabresoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macabresoul)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/51 "2003-06-20T18:28:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*And yet the panhandlers don’t have to get a license of any kind at all to accost anyone and everyone who has the deluded idea tha they’d like to go shopping or walking on the streets without being harassed rudely. Odd view of justice in that town. \*\* Dum de dum… just passing though don’t mind me! [Panhandler’s License](http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/05/23/loc_amos23.html) [And Again…](http://www.timesleader.com/mld/charlotte/news/breaking_news/5646116.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/52 "2003-06-20T18:33:34Z")
Lieu said, “Was this the time you were talking to a cop naked?” Nah. If I’d have been naked, the kids probably would have been allowed to sell lemonade for a month!!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/53 "2003-06-20T18:42:52Z")
True, although of the many things I’d be willing to buy from a naked person, lemonaid isn’t one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/54 "2003-06-20T19:25:02Z")
Now, Lieu…that would be perfect fodder for another one of your infamous narrative on bodily functions! You’d do it. You know you would! ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/55 "2003-06-20T20:21:15Z")
Hee hee hee! Kalhoun’s encouraging Lieu! :: poke poke poke :: Come on, make us laugh! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/56 "2003-06-20T20:43:27Z")
He’s probably in the bathroom listening through the stall. Or wingin’ toilet paper rolls over the wall! OR better yet, leaving toilet paper on the floor so some poor sap gets it stuck to his shoe! Heh. I wanna be Lieu! ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/57 "2003-06-21T03:47:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\* > I had a lemonade stand when I was a kid. I even made a big sign that said “LEMONADE.” But all I had was fruit punch. I still made a bunch of money, all tax free! > \*\* BWAHAHAHAH!!! That’s hilarious! I’m tearing up and coughing from laughing so hard! I need sleep! …But all I had was fruit punch… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/58 "2003-06-21T10:55:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*Well, jeez. I’m not fond of kids either, but lemonade stands are awesome. I applaud the girl’s entrepeneurial spirit. At least she’s not inside watching Pokemon and Barney. I bet this is the kind of kid who will grow up and actually be able to spell “entrepeneurial.” \*\* Well, if that’s her future, then it’s good that this happened. Now she knows that in order to do business, you have to deal with bureaucracy, and jump through their hoops. Sooner you learn that stuff the better. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852/59 "2003-06-22T00:01:34Z")
The law is the law. You can’t just throw up a business sign and start selling lemonade willy nilly. You need permits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-shut-down-six-year-olds-lemonade-stand-no-city-permit/182852.md?page=2)