Ken Schram: Penalizing crime victims
Get ready to toe the line in Bellevue.
The city's hard core politicians are cracking down on... abandoned shopping carts.
Yep, when times get tough, the tough get to goin'.
In a remarkable display of steely-eyed resolve, the Bellevue City Council unanimously approved a new law that requires retailers to not only go out and round up stolen shopping carts, the stores also have to put their names on said carts.
Talk about taking a bite outta crime!
One thing in particular really bothers me about this kick butt Bellevue attitude.
Retailers now face a fine of $100 per day per cart.
Hello?
Since when did it become okay to go after victims of crimes?
Somebody rips off a Safeway cart, dumps it four blocks away and it's Safeway that gets hit with a fine?
How much is the city of Bellevue going to charge the supermarket if someone steals a bottle of beer and then doesn't recycle the bottle?
In keeping with its hard-ass attitude though, the city will also hit the elderly shopper who wheels her groceries home in a borrowed cart with a $114 fine.
Gotta give those hard-line Bellevue politicians their due: They are out to keep that haughty image of their city to a spit-polished sheen.
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Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com.
The city's hard core politicians are cracking down on... abandoned shopping carts.
Yep, when times get tough, the tough get to goin'.
In a remarkable display of steely-eyed resolve, the Bellevue City Council unanimously approved a new law that requires retailers to not only go out and round up stolen shopping carts, the stores also have to put their names on said carts.
Talk about taking a bite outta crime!
One thing in particular really bothers me about this kick butt Bellevue attitude.
Retailers now face a fine of $100 per day per cart.
Hello?
Since when did it become okay to go after victims of crimes?
Somebody rips off a Safeway cart, dumps it four blocks away and it's Safeway that gets hit with a fine?
How much is the city of Bellevue going to charge the supermarket if someone steals a bottle of beer and then doesn't recycle the bottle?
In keeping with its hard-ass attitude though, the city will also hit the elderly shopper who wheels her groceries home in a borrowed cart with a $114 fine.
Gotta give those hard-line Bellevue politicians their due: They are out to keep that haughty image of their city to a spit-polished sheen.
---
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com.