Is this Justice?

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » August 3, 2004, 4:24 pm

http://www.kqrs.com/goout.asp?=http://w ... index.html

"SALISBURY, Maryland (AP) -- A woman who stole $4.52 worth of fuel was ordered to stand outside the gas station Friday wearing a sandwich board sign that declared: "I was caught stealing gas."

Sherelle Purnell obeyed the court order, although by the time she arrived 90 minutes late to her noon sentence, the crowd of people that gathered to watch her had dispersed.

"There were parents who came with their children, wanting to teach them a lesson," said Jan Phipps, manager of Gordy's Tiger Mart, which pushed for the unorthodox punishment.

Purnell, 18, who was caught on surveillance tape speeding away from the gas pump, walked along the convenience shop's grassy storefront as passing drivers honked horns and made catcalls.

Andrew Black, who stopped by on his lunch break, was critical of the punishment and converted an old beer poster into a sign protesting high gas prices.

"What is this, the Middle Ages?" said Black.

Purnell declined to comment.

Some passers-by considered the punishment to be a good deterrent.

"Embarrassment is the best way to deal with these things," Randy Jedlicka said.

Sylvos · Post by **Sylvos** » August 3, 2004, 4:24 pm

haha that owns

Lynks · Post by **Lynks** » August 3, 2004, 4:27 pm

The real question is, was it worth stealing 4.52 in gas?

Sylvos · Post by **Sylvos** » August 3, 2004, 4:28 pm

i mean if you are going to steal gas steal an entire tank's worth not like 2 gallons, thats just dumb. Bring gas cans too while you are at it.

Niffoni · Post by **Niffoni** » August 3, 2004, 5:53 pm

Shouldn't oil companies be forced to wear sandwich boards that state "I was caught stealing money"?

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » August 3, 2004, 8:22 pm

Personally I back any punishment that deters people driving off without paying for gas, one winter in Michigan dealing with prepay bullshit trooping though feet of fucking snow proved that people that drive off without paying for gas should be shot.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » August 3, 2004, 8:48 pm

Back when I was young I worked at a gas station and was surprised to learn how they earned money. Back home gas stations basically earn nothing on gas and during big promotion sales etc they actually lose money. After that I have always hated people who tank and run away.

No clue if it is the same here, your miles may vary etc etc.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » August 4, 2004, 1:27 am

I like it. It wasn't cruel and unusual; no more so than community service, working outdoors in prison garb, etc. Fines don't always work because people can pay them so easily. Embarrassment is much better.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 4, 2004, 1:51 am

Seems like justice to me. And funny, at that.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 4, 2004, 3:59 am

You'd think all gas stations would have pay before you pump policies these days. I haven't seen a pump that you could use without paying first or using a credit/debit card in a long time.

Drinsic Darkwood · Post by **Drinsic Darkwood** » August 4, 2004, 4:11 am

Great punishment, imo. Bet she doesn't steal gas again.

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » August 4, 2004, 5:35 am

Hell, more punishments like that should be added.
I bet that kids caught shoplifting would be a LOT less likely to repeat it if they gotta spend a few days in a mall wearing a "im a shoplifter" sign, while their friends laugh at them.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » August 4, 2004, 5:42 am

I got into a debate with a high school teacher about public humiliation for crimes and it's uses as a deterrent.

I was for it.

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » August 4, 2004, 10:27 am

Sounds acceptable to me.
Keeps us from spending money on her in prison..

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » August 4, 2004, 12:06 pm

Punishment to fit the crime. She stole from someone, the county stole her humility back for it. Congrats to the stupid fucken theif!

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » August 4, 2004, 12:10 pm

However, she showed up late for the punishment so she should have to do it again.

Sylvos · Post by **Sylvos** » August 4, 2004, 12:36 pm

When I first saw this topic title, all I could think of was that first line in the Punisher movie.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » August 4, 2004, 2:49 pm

They should have her cleaning toilets in the restroom. This doesn't reimburse anyone.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » August 4, 2004, 3:18 pm

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:They should have her cleaning toilets in the restroom. This doesn't reimburse anyone.

i'd hope at least you murder somebody to get that kind of treatment

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » August 4, 2004, 3:28 pm

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:They should have her cleaning toilets in the restroom. This doesn't reimburse anyone.

she couldnt, Non-Compete clause.

Eleani · Post by **Eleani** » August 5, 2004, 2:28 am

They should have shaved her head, tarred and feathered her as well. It was only fitting.

Seriously. 4.52... of gas... haha. That's like what? 2 gallons?

Knibble · Post by **Knibble** » August 5, 2004, 7:58 am

Thank you to all who agree with this.I am a manager for a company called Sheetz and one of our biggest things is people doing the gas n dash.We now have a mark system and we can get a description of the person and the vehicle and sometimes the licesne plate depending on how they are parked there.Funny thing is that so many of them are the same vehicle and people who actually come into the store and totally deny having the gas at all.Some of our stores do have what they call cash acceptors and you have to pay with cash or a credit card before you pump.Those would be nice at our store but then we lose some of our bonus due to 50% of the bonus comes from gas sales every quarter.

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » August 5, 2004, 8:58 am

Hey Knibble I not only agree with it, but unless I am on fumes already I never buy gas at a place that makes me pre pay. That is presumption of criminal intent. If they want people to prepay then they can hire people to collect the cash at the pump or pump it for you, at 2 plus a gallon they should anyways. Yeah yeah I know profit margin small etc, but they raise prices on fuel already in their tanks all the time which is gouging, they can afford it.

Kindo · Post by **Kindo** » August 5, 2004, 9:14 am

I would back this type of punishment-fits-the-crime in just about any scenario. I sincerely believe that making law-breakers make restitution by performing some type of community service that is directly related to their crime would have a tremendous impact on crime levels. It would take considerably more effort on the justice system employees to enforce and monitor though, no more just throwing criminals into jails and prisons never to be thought of again. Not that I don't think people shouldn't do prison time, just that only time in prison as a punishment is not all that much of a punishment in some cases.

Sionistic · Post by **Sionistic** » August 5, 2004, 9:50 am

I am a manager for a company called Sheetz

You have probably heard this over and over however
Your company is called Sheetz?

Fredonia Coldheart · Post by **Fredonia Coldheart** » August 5, 2004, 10:27 am

Sionistic wrote:
I am a manager for a company called Sheetz
You have probably heard this over and over however
Your company is called Sheetz?

I love Sheetz - just wish there were more near us. We always stop at them when we are travelling. The fast food there is much better than all the other fast food chains.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » August 5, 2004, 1:20 pm

Read a site yesterday (no link since I am at work) that was talking about a Florida judge that had several "random" sentences.

She once gave a man the option to pay his bond with whatever he had in his pockets or go back to jail. He had 12 cents and was allowed to bond himself.

She also sentenced a man to assist in the courtroom until he became a disturbance and had to be removed by officers.

One person was required to sit through a lecture by a disabled person, who happened to be a family member of the judge.

I think there were a couple others that required physical activity like running or excercising as well.

While these are original, they don't seem like they would have been tailored to the crime like the one about stealing the gas. Personally, I am all for making the person go through something embarassing tied to what they did wrong. It would help stick something in their minds every time they went to do that activity again.

Markulas · Post by **Markulas** » August 5, 2004, 1:25 pm

Ah I think legally that sounds like Cruel and Unusual Punishment, which I've been told is an amendment(i think). But I say if it deters the crime, why the hell not?

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » August 5, 2004, 3:51 pm

Sheetz is the best gas stations in the area! We always filled up at them.. unfortunately we haven't found one around here after we moved yet

Knibble · Post by **Knibble** » August 5, 2004, 8:00 pm

LOL yes Sion Sheetz. Check out the web site. Thanks for loving Sheetz there guyz. Um I believe they are building a Convience Restuarant in NC.

Kylere · Post by **Kylere** » August 5, 2004, 10:15 pm

Markulas wrote:Ah I think legally that sounds like Cruel and Unusual Punishment, which I've been told is an amendment(i think). But I say if it deters the crime, why the hell not?

No cruel would be making her stand there for 12 hours in sub zero temps and do it. Unusual would be to have her nude.