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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts) Wed Feb 27, 2013, 12:06 AM Feb 2013

Woman receives bill after making restroom pit stop [View all]

ERIN, TN (WSMV) -

A license plate gives police a whole lot of information about you, and law enforcement is supposed to protect those details. However, one local sheriff admits he gave a driver's name and address away, and the reason he did it is downright bizarre.

The story all came about when a woman stopped to use a restaurant's restroom and then left without buying anything.

A few days later, the woman checked her mail to find a bill from that restaurant, asking her to pay for using their restroom. And it turns out the sheriff, himself, helped the restaurant's owners track her down.

"I just feel like I've been violated," Patricia Barnes said.

Barnes received a handwritten letter that asked for $5 because she used the restroom at The Flood Zone in Houston County.

http://www.wsmv.com/story/21310627/woman-receives-bill-after-taking-a-restroom-pit-stop

102 replies

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Woman receives bill after making restroom pit stop [View all] The Straight Story Feb 2013 OP

There are many jurisdictions in Minnesota Jenoch Feb 2013 #1

Theft of service. Xithras Feb 2013 #2

Nope, WRONGO bucko rustydog Feb 2013 #9

Seems to be an odd waste of taxpayer money to recoup $5. Based on what I read, they madinmaryland Feb 2013 #12

Maybe in WA. Xithras Feb 2013 #18

"She's a thief." Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #19

Quite seriously Xithras Feb 2013 #20

If the owner of that restaurant was a decent human being, proud2BlibKansan Feb 2013 #33

One does not preclude the other Xithras Feb 2013 #34

maybe she was sick or had the runs shanti Feb 2013 #70

Why? It's their for his patrons use. It costs money and time to clean it up. I've worked in retail KittyWampus Feb 2013 #54

Clearly that owner is lacking for brains Blue_Tires Feb 2013 #66

Not a lot of competition for available restrooms, either. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #67

You'd think people would be grateful.... ProudToBeBlueInRhody Feb 2013 #71

My guess is the cost to the restaurant to provide the restrooms is negligable. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #36

My town created a law just for asshole restaurant managers like this Drale Feb 2013 #51

So restaurants must send employees in to check after every asshole NON-patron comes in to use KittyWampus Feb 2013 #57

Then charge non-customers a penny to use the restroom. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #61

Some businesses are located in areas Bay Boy Feb 2013 #88

That's where the "bathroom key" approach comes in handy. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #92

Have you ever seen a bathroom key Bay Boy Feb 2013 #97

I've used one at a Starbucks in downtown Miami. nt Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #98

I guess a big city thing. Bay Boy Feb 2013 #99

Back in the 60s when I was a kid I remember bathrooms in terminals and snagglepuss Feb 2013 #101

when I worked in retail, we were required to service the restroom once an hour notadmblnd Feb 2013 #84

Ever work retail where you have to clean public toilets? I think not. Cause I have. The messes KittyWampus Feb 2013 #53

When I was a lifeguard, I would have to clean the bathrooms at the pool at times. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #55

Paying customers are PAYING. And btw, restaurants with seating are required to have bathrooms for KittyWampus Feb 2013 #60

And those restrooms have to be cleaned periodically regardless. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #63

And I'd bet a great deal of those messes were made by paying Sheldon Cooper Feb 2013 #56

Right. Paying customers who are PAYING. KittyWampus Feb 2013 #58

I've worked retail. xmas74 Feb 2013 #85

You might look like an idiot for thinking that it's legal to charge for a toilet MattBaggins Feb 2013 #41

Pretty loose definition of "service" if you ask me. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #13

Doesn't much matter. Xithras Feb 2013 #16

Looks like they learned their lesson from their own stupidity. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #17

Clearly posted doesn't mean shit MattBaggins Feb 2013 #42

Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't. Heywood J Feb 2013 #69

You could make a pretty strong legal argument that the "service" Blue_Tires Feb 2013 #21

The restaurant pays for that service. NCTraveler Feb 2013 #25

Next time I pay thousands of dollars to get my bathroom remodeled alcibiades_mystery Feb 2013 #26

really? magical thyme Feb 2013 #29

Yeah, the county gets off cheap...All they do is pipe the shit out and magically pipe fresh water in Blue_Tires Feb 2013 #31

You're saying the county provides free water and sewage magical thyme Feb 2013 #35

Sometimes you just have to go. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #38

same here, but I still make a point of buying something, anything magical thyme Feb 2013 #68

That's what I do, too. I'd feel chintzy if I used a restroom without purchasing something from the tblue37 Feb 2013 #91

Often I do so as well, but I don't feel obligated to do so. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #94

No they can not charge what they want MattBaggins Feb 2013 #43

Just because you put up a sign doesn't make it so. MattBaggins Feb 2013 #39

It seems to me that instead of giving out the info dsc Feb 2013 #3

ummm...no Blue_Tires Feb 2013 #24

I'd pay that fine...via a bag of pennies. nt Javaman Feb 2013 #4

Ridiculous. JaneyVee Feb 2013 #5

What's next? Charging people for breathing the air in a business if they don't buy anything? nt. OldDem2012 Feb 2013 #6

Don't give them any ideas... Blue_Tires Feb 2013 #22

Outrageous. City Lights Feb 2013 #7

Well it's safe to say she'll never be a customer now gollygee Feb 2013 #8

BINGO - they just generated way more than $5 worth of bad publicity, bullwinkle428 Feb 2013 #11

Agree. AsahinaKimi Feb 2013 #14

Nice one star review they've earned themselves..... Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #15

That "sheriff" comes across as a total bumpkin, reflection Feb 2013 #10

This would be the ultimate revenge on the Yelp site MattBaggins Feb 2013 #44

Smart move there jsr Feb 2013 #23

Why am I the only one amused that the restaurant's name is THE FLOOD ZONE alcibiades_mystery Feb 2013 #27

They have to pump it uphill to get it out jberryhill Feb 2013 #32

That's why I just pee behind their dumpster Capt. Obvious Feb 2013 #28

Did the restaurant post anything I wonder? get the red out Feb 2013 #30

Yes they did. Their handwritten note (with random punctuation) to her is also here: KurtNYC Feb 2013 #59

At least they had a sign get the red out Feb 2013 #64

it only says they have these signs, and that the one about the $5 charge was somewhere in the niyad Feb 2013 #77

Phone number for The Flood Zone is 931-289-5848 Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #37

I wanna know the menu for it, more for #1 than #2, is it buffet style? The Straight Story Feb 2013 #47

There have been times in my old age that bkkyosemite Feb 2013 #40

Well, the restaurant is reaping the bad publicity MineralMan Feb 2013 #45

How many people stop in just to use the restroom, and end-up buying something? Ian David Feb 2013 #46

Good point. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #48

You are absolutely right laundry_queen Feb 2013 #87

The Sherriff who ran the plates is Darrell Allison, 931-289-3633 (work) msanthrope Feb 2013 #49

We should all add that to cell phones and call whenever someone goes to the bathroom The Straight Story Feb 2013 #50

THAT is an AWESOME idea! In fact, my wife didn't replace the toilet paper roll when it ran out. Ian David Feb 2013 #89

Next time she should buy a bag of flour and toss it around. Auntie Bush Feb 2013 #52

What a gross misuse of taxpayer money. Apophis Feb 2013 #62

Fascism. Unfettered capitalism. BushInc's getting the NWO they wanted. blm Feb 2013 #65

Most anywhere in Europe, it's not free of charge to use the bathrooms DearHeart Feb 2013 #72

umm, when was the last time you saw a bathroom attendant in a mcd's stateside? or any niyad Feb 2013 #73

Never have, but they should have them...they're disgusting usually! DearHeart Feb 2013 #75

Restrooms at the rest stops on the Autobahn .... oldhippie Feb 2013 #83

The sheriff should be in big trouble for giving out that information. nt Raine Feb 2013 #74

that sheriff thinks he is above the law, apparently niyad Feb 2013 #78

That sheriff must mot have much to do. Brigid Feb 2013 #76

When I get a frivolous bill, I like to send back one of my own Matariki Feb 2013 #79

That buisness would be off my list liberal N proud Feb 2013 #80

I wonder why the restaurant doesn't just have tokens to get into the restroom... Moonwalk Feb 2013 #81

Most such places? In this country? Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #95

I guess it's not all that common around the country then--I saw it used-- Moonwalk Feb 2013 #96

was going to suggest picketing but i did a mapquest and it looks a bit too much in the middle of dembotoz Feb 2013 #82

Which makes it all the more wrong. Tommy_Carcetti Feb 2013 #93

Geez lady, act like a modern adult NoPasaran Feb 2013 #86

I quit going to TGI Fridays over a similar issue... Kalidurga Feb 2013 #90

When my daughter was a toddler frogmarch Feb 2013 #100

It is an offense for an officer to give that information to a citizen. appleannie1 Feb 2013 #102