FL Miramar Police Officer Refused Service At Local Gas Station

[SweetT]

Perhaps he should put a big sign in his front window saying "Law enforcement not welcome" and see what that does for his business.

I wouldn't patronize the place. I'd find a new place to eat and give my money to them. I'm guessing they would lose business.

 

[flourish]

I thought businesses had the right to refuse service. Didn't they all used to have signs stating as such, at least? Not that I think this tactic is great but it's better than doing stuff to their food.

 

[Dionysia]

I thought businesses had the right to refuse service. Didn't they all used to have signs stating as such, at least? Not that I think this tactic is great but it's better than doing stuff to their food.

They can, but not for illegal reasons.

 

[flourish]

They can, but not for illegal reasons.

What constitutes an "illegal reason?" Refusing service to a protected class with that being the reason? And I would guess that would have to be proven that the motivation was because of protected class issue and not another reason?

This may be despicable, but I don't think it's illegal. And I would hope the law enforcement agencies involved would have more integrity than what people have suggested about not providing services to those businesses if said services are needed. Like, I'm a random customer and get killed during a robbery for which law enforcement refuses to respond because they refused them the week prior? No.

 

[JohnPaul]

Whenever an officer is in line at a Mc Donald's drive through or a convenience store, I pay for whatever is in their hand. It is the least I can do to say thank you for the serviceIMO

that's a nice gesture, but my taxes already pay for enough of their food

 

[CCmakes3]

I think there are a lot of confrontational business owners (and other people) who get off on being rude to police officers and giving them a "dressing down" in front of other people, but wouldn't actually want to suffer the economic consequences of publicly acknowledging that they refuse service to LE. Perhaps LE should periodically publish a list of places that they are not welcome. I think the public has a right to know. And I think the business has a "right" to be deluged with "customers" who share their animosity toward LE. In NO WAY am I suggesting that LE should not respond to emergencies there.

 

[JeannaT]

What constitutes an "illegal reason?" Refusing service to a protected class with that being the reason? And I would guess that would have to be proven that the motivation was because of protected class issue and not another reason?

This may be despicable, but I don't think it's illegal. And I would hope the law enforcement agencies involved would have more integrity than what people have suggested about not providing services to those businesses if said services are needed. Like, I'm a random customer and get killed during a robbery for which law enforcement refuses to respond because they refused them the week prior? No.

It is actually illegal to refuse service to a paying customer. I know you see signs in stores that say "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone", but in fact, a business doesn't have that right. You can refuse on certain legal grounds - for example, being too young - in the case of a car rental agency or hotel can refuse to transact business with someone under 21 or 25 or whatever age. You can't refuse service because you don't like that person.

 

[CCmakes3]

that's a nice gesture, but my taxes already pay for enough of their food

That's one way to think about it, I suppose. Then again, last week a random person in front of me in the drive thru paid for my meal, and her taxes don't pay for ANY of my food! I in turn paid for the person behind me. I don't know what their occupation was or whether they were on welfare or food stamps. I didn't really think about whether my taxes may already be paying for their food, lol.

Gestures of kindness still mean something. In fact, they mean more than ever these days. It's the only thing that still has a chance of getting us out of this hateful mess. Kudos to you, Zuri!

 

[JohnPaul]

It is actually illegal to refuse service to a paying customer

sorry but this is incorrect,

a business owner can refuse service to anybody they want, they don't have to even give an explanation why

 

[Woodland]

I think there are a lot of confrontational business owners (and other people) who get off on being rude to police officers and giving them a "dressing down" in front of other people, but wouldn't actually want to suffer the economic consequences of publicly acknowledging that they refuse service to LE. Perhaps LE should periodically publish a list of places that they are not welcome. I think the public has a right to know. And I think the business has a "right" to be deluged with "customers" who share their animosity toward LE. In NO WAY am I suggesting that LE should not respond to emergencies there.

UBM

That would be a good way to escalate the situation.

 

[CCmakes3]

UBM

That would be a good way to escalate the situation.

At the very least, LE from other areas/agencies should be alerted to where they are not welcome. No need for them to continually aggravate the owner by patronizing the establishment, as THAT would escalate the situation.

 

[Hatfield]

They may be better off to be refused service. In my city an officer was injured after biting into a sandwich containing shards of glass.A health inspection revealed plates that were chipped and so far they haven't determined that it was an intentional act.
He has recovered and is okay,but probably safer that cops bring food from home or eat at trusted places. IMO

just catching up on this thread. It is really sad.

Everyone takes a risk when eating out and it personally scares the heck out of me and I seldom eat out. The most danger is in fast food places with young employees. I know this because I used to work many fast food places when I was in high school and it was horrifying to see some of the actions of other employees.

People that have also worked in fast food establishments will most likely know what I mean. It didn't happen often but there were certain incidents that were horrifying to me. We even had a manager once tell the employees that if they dropped a steak on the floor to just rinse it off and throw it back on the grill. The floor was disgusting and usually wet.

Even cleaning the grills with a grill brick is disgusting. But the most disgusting thing was when certain employees got mad at the customers and would do things to their food. Like spit in it. We had one person get fired for that after we informed the manager what they did. The ones who do that sort of thing and dont get caught is the problem. I am not sure if todays world was like it was years ago but I am assuming it may be just as bad.

Which is why I never hardly eat out and when I do I try to inspect my food.

Here are some hints to help people avoid getting bad food.

NEVER eat at any establishment right when they first open or are getting ready to close. NEVER

The reason is the first few orders in the morning can pickup debri from the cleaning of the grills the night before.

When closing what happens is the people will start to shut down grills and get a head start on closing. If someone comes in late it usually means someone is going to rush out the order and the food may not be cooked right or pickup cleaning chemicals. Or worse is you would get left over food that has been there all day.

Always inspect your food. Take it apart and LOOK at it. Dig into it if you have to.

Watch the employees reactions and if they are giggling or laughing about some inside joke, be CAREFUL.

NEVER get them mad at you . Don't do anyting or say anything to get them mad. They may get revenge on you by messing with your food.

Avoid fast food places or places where very young people work. It is usually the immature employees that cause these kinds of problems

There are other tips I cant think of right now.

The safest thing is to cook food at home.
You take chances every time you eat out.

 

[rob]

We've had a couple of cases of refusal to serve LE near here. All employees that I have heard of have been fired.
Hopefully, for a reason such as this, they also won't be able to draw any unemployed benefits.
Any business that I hear of that doesn't fire the employee won't be getting my business any longer. A place that doesn't have a problem with that kind of employee probably doesn't have a problem with many illegal/disgusting things that may be happening.
I also pay for LE and soldiers in uniforms food when I can. I appreciate what they do for us all.

 

[Hatfield]

We've had a couple of cases of refusal to serve LE near here. All employees that I have heard of have been fired.
Hopefully, for a reason such as this, they also won't be able to draw any unemployed benefits.
Any business that I hear of that doesn't fire the employee won't be getting my business any longer. A place that doesn't have a problem with that kind of employee probably doesn't have a problem with many illegal/disgusting things that may be happening.
I also pay for LE and soldiers in uniforms food when I can. I appreciate what they do for us all.

That's a great gesture and I just had never thought of doing that for LE officers. In this day and age I do like the idea to show we care about them. The question I have though is I wonder if LE keeps receipts and gets reimbursed by the LE department when they eat out.

Some jobs allow that and since LE is on the street I do wonder if they get reminbursed for food expenses. I wonder if we have any LE here at WS who would know if there is a food allowance for street officers.

We do see them at food establishments often. Same for EMTs as I always see an EMT at a certain food establishment each day.

 

[rob]

That's a great gesture and I just had never thought of doing that for LE officers. In this day and age I do like the idea to show we care about them. The question I have though is I wonder if LE keeps receipts and gets reimbursed by the LE department when they eat out.

Some jobs allow that and since LE is on the street I do wonder if they get reminbursed for food expenses. I wonder if we have any LE here at WS who would know if there is a food allowance for street officers.

We do see them at food establishments often. Same for EMTs as I always see an EMT at a certain food establishment each day.

My husband was in an auto accident a few years ago and after months of recovery, one of the first few times we went out to eat, he saw across the dining room the EMT's that had removed him from the vehicle and took him to the hospital, so we treated them to dinner. Now, 9 years later, we have never seen that group in public again.

 

[flourish]

What an interesting discussion. I recall discussing the boycotting of chick fil-a here and was amazed at how many people were fine with a company spending their money to fight gay marriage because they can do whatever they want with their money and people don't have to eat there if they don't like it. Well people don't have to eat at places that won't serve le, either.

 

[i.b.nora]

I wonder how many people read the articles or actually view the videos?

In this case, at the end of the video it says that the clerk was FIRED and that Sunoco AND the franchisee APOLOGIZED to the officer. CASE CLOSED, imo.

 

[Wysteria]

UBM

That would be a good way to escalate the situation.

No.
Refusing to serve LE is escalating the situation.
It's a despicable act but at least they weren't shot.

 

[Woodland]

Fortunately we are here to agree to disagree.

 

[Dionysia]

What constitutes an "illegal reason?" Refusing service to a protected class with that being the reason? And I would guess that would have to be proven that the motivation was because of protected class issue and not another reason?

This may be despicable, but I don't think it's illegal. And I would hope the law enforcement agencies involved would have more integrity than what people have suggested about not providing services to those businesses if said services are needed. Like, I'm a random customer and get killed during a robbery for which law enforcement refuses to respond because they refused them the week prior? No.

Law enforcement isn't a protected class. So I'd hope that patrons would show their displeasure by not patronizing the business.

I would hate to see a 'slowdown' by LE, but I know it's been alleged in some cities (e.g., Baltimore, St. Louis, Minneapolis).