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Charlton Library Sends Police To Collect Overdue Books From 5-Year-Old
CBS Boston ^ | January 2, 2012

Posted on 01/03/2012 8:12:35 AM PST by bamahead

CHARLTON (CBS) – A Charlton mom says her local library crossed the line when they sent police to collect her daughter’s overdue library books.

Her mom says the 5-year-old girl was so afraid that she burst into tears.

Charlton Police Sergeant Dan Dowd stopped by the home of Shannon Benoit to let her know that her daughter had two books several months overdue which needed to be returned or paid for.

“I thought it was way overboard,” says Benoit. “I closed my door, I looked at my daughter and she started crying.”

Hailey asked her mom if the police were going to arrest her. Hailey says, “I was scared.”

--SNIP--

Even Sgt. Dowd admits he wasn’t real keen on it.

“Nobody wanted to, on this end to get involved in it,” says Sgt. Dowd. “But the library contacted us, and the chief delegated, and apparently I was one of the low men on the totem pole.”

But state law does outline a misdemeanor for such things, and police thought a friendly reminder might make a better impression and get better results than a cold summons to court.

The Benoit’s insist they never got any warnings.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.cbslocal.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; liberty; lping
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"Let me give you a hint, junior!"
1 posted on 01/03/2012 8:12:38 AM PST by bamahead
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To: Abathar; Abcdefg; Abram; Abundy; albertp; Alexander Rubin; Allosaurs_r_us; amchugh; ...



Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

2 posted on 01/03/2012 8:13:33 AM PST by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: bamahead

Guess the cops don’t have anything to do there.


3 posted on 01/03/2012 8:14:23 AM PST by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: bamahead

Ahh, grow up Missy. At least they didn’t shoot your dog.

(is a sarc tag really necessary?)


4 posted on 01/03/2012 8:14:58 AM PST by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS! This means liberals AND libertarians (same thing) NO LIBS!)
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To: nuconvert

Well, they have the whole murder, rape, burglary, and theft thing under control so they have time to go after the real hard core criminals.


5 posted on 01/03/2012 8:17:38 AM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: bamahead

bet the Chief isn’t too happy with him now


6 posted on 01/03/2012 8:20:04 AM PST by bigbob
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To: bigbob

Because he didn’t shoot any dogs?


7 posted on 01/03/2012 8:21:17 AM PST by coloradan (The US has become a banana republic, except without the bananas - or the republic.)
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To: coloradan

Partly that but also because she wasn’t detained indefinitely and placed permanently on the no-fly list because she’s now classified as a domestic terrorist.


8 posted on 01/03/2012 8:25:58 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: bamahead

What, no SWAT team?


9 posted on 01/03/2012 8:27:10 AM PST by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: bamahead

Was it because the books were overdue or that a 5-yr old can read. We’ll have none of that - how insensitive to the 16 yr olds!


10 posted on 01/03/2012 8:27:35 AM PST by presently no screen name
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To: Responsibility2nd

next time...


11 posted on 01/03/2012 8:28:21 AM PST by ßuddaßudd (7 days - 7 ways a Guero y Guay Lao << >> with a floating, shifting, ever changing persona)
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To: presently no screen name
Was it because the books were overdue or that a 5-yr old can read. We’ll have none of that - how insensitive to the 16 yr olds!

The books were months overdue. The mother had not responded to numerous notices. The law provided that ignoring library fines was actionable as a misdemeanor offense. If the mother feels bad that the little girl feels bad, she only has to look into the mirror to find the one to blame.
12 posted on 01/03/2012 8:30:49 AM PST by aruanan
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To: bamahead
Thanks to your pic, I had to post this.
13 posted on 01/03/2012 8:32:17 AM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: bamahead

“Some where there’s a kid who wants to read The Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers without pictures of doo doo’s and wee wee’s drawn on the pages.”


14 posted on 01/03/2012 8:32:34 AM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: aruanan

Everyone has to look in the mirror - especially those who bring 5 yr olds to the library.


15 posted on 01/03/2012 8:34:17 AM PST by presently no screen name
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To: nuconvert
Guess the cops don’t have anything to do there.

Not much goes on in Charlton

Library Police = Busy Work I guess
(hey, better than pulling people over for going 5 miles over the speed limit :>)

16 posted on 01/03/2012 8:41:21 AM PST by libertarian27 (Check my profile page for the FReeper Online Cookbook 2011)
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Thank you, JoeProBono


17 posted on 01/03/2012 8:42:47 AM PST by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list)
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To: bamahead

Renew or return library books on time.

End of story.


18 posted on 01/03/2012 8:43:42 AM PST by moovova (Report my sarcastic, fear-mongering, hate-filled lies to www.AttackWatch.com by clicking HERE.)
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To: Army Air Corps
I was once sitting home in my house, and a lot of cars pulled up around the house. They shined in searchlights, and I heard a voice over the loudspeaker say "We have your house surrounded. This is the New York public library" They wanted their books back, y'know, and the little librarian was lobbing grenades over the house. I came out with my hands up, y'know, kicking the book ahead of me. They took me down to the main branch on Fifth Avenue in New York, and they took away my glasses for a year.
19 posted on 01/03/2012 8:45:58 AM PST by C210N (Dems: "We must tax you so that we can buy your votes")
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To: presently no screen name

My mother taught me to read when I was four years old. And this was before Your Baby Can Read.


20 posted on 01/03/2012 8:50:58 AM PST by sportutegrl
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To: bamahead
1) The 5 YO is NOT the one responsible for the books, the parents are.

2) The town has the obligation to protect the taxpayer's investment in library books. (I'm guessing that once this news story hit the wires, several overdue library books around the country got returned.)

21 posted on 01/03/2012 8:51:38 AM PST by Onelifetogive (I tweet, too... @Onelifetogive)
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To: aruanan

I guess SOME hammerheads miss the point. Those hammerheads who do need only look at themselves in the mirror to find out who they are.


22 posted on 01/03/2012 8:51:38 AM PST by righttackle44 (I may not be much, but I raised a United States Marine)
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To: bamahead

How hard is it to return a library book!? One can return them anytime of the day or night. Next time teach your young daughter some responsibility and return the books on time.


23 posted on 01/03/2012 8:53:14 AM PST by 4yearlurker (Hearty Greetings & sincere good wishes for Christmas & The New Year!)
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To: bamahead

“Don’t Bundy that book!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RdtX9fwTOk


24 posted on 01/03/2012 8:55:58 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: libertarian27

Library Police =
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Was his name ‘Bookman’?
Does he take his job seriously?

Well if the library would have notified the parents wouldn’t they be breaking the law about parents wanting to know what their children are reading?

I did like the comment about the REAL reason being she was embarassing the 16 yo’s because she could read at 5 - Plus, she must have had a library card.

Oh, isn’t a library card a type of contract?
I thought minors couldn’t be held to a contract.

Lets get Judy on the case.
So many questions, so little time.

I love it when one of the Liberal points is in conflict with another.


25 posted on 01/03/2012 8:56:12 AM PST by xrmusn ((6/98) EGOIST - A person of low taste, more interested in himself than me. A. Bierce)
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To: Onelifetogive
Just taze them next time, bro. That'll show 'em.

"That government is best that governs least."

26 posted on 01/03/2012 8:57:06 AM PST by InvisibleChurch ( go in peace , serve the Lord)
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To: Onelifetogive
The 5 YO is NOT the one responsible for the books, the parents are...The town has the obligation to protect the taxpayer's investment in library books. Then send the bill to collections and ding the parents' credit if she doesn't pay. Put a lein on something they own. Property, a vehicle.

Don't send the cops, who may have more pressing matters to focus resources on (investigating burglaries, theft, etc). Seems like more of a waste of taxpayer resources to devote LEO's to this kind of thing. Cop cars burn $4/gal gas serving library late notices.

Just my .02. Then again - it is Massachusetts.
27 posted on 01/03/2012 9:00:38 AM PST by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: Army Air Corps

“I’ve got a flash for your joy boy! You got seven days. That is one week”

LOLOLOL


28 posted on 01/03/2012 9:03:29 AM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
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To: bamahead

As my Mom used to say, “Obey the law ... or you’ll go to prison and be raped.”


29 posted on 01/03/2012 9:04:51 AM PST by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: aruanan
The books were months overdue. The mother had not responded to numerous notices.
Why you, you, responsible person.
Now you've ruined all the fun for the FR cop haters.
30 posted on 01/03/2012 9:07:30 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: bamahead

DO they even give a 5-year-old a library card there? I know my kids at some point got “library cards”, but I was responsible for them and I was the one that got the notices if they had overdue books.

Sounds to me like the parent is trying to shirk responsibility by using her 5-year-old as a human shield.


31 posted on 01/03/2012 9:10:11 AM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

Heres a hint for the mom,,return the books,,,,duh


32 posted on 01/03/2012 9:10:12 AM PST by Craftmore
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To: bamahead
The Benoit’s insist they never got any warnings.

1) I don't believe them. Of course they got notices from the library.

2) What do you think the policeman was doing? You weren't arrested. It was a warning... Duh!

33 posted on 01/03/2012 9:15:14 AM PST by pgyanke (Republicans get in trouble when not living up to their principles. Democrats... when they do.)
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To: Onelifetogive

“The 5 YO is NOT the one responsible for the books, the parents are.”

Actually, in my little town, the Library will not tell you what book your child has neglected to return.

They just want you to pay.

I have issues with this system.


34 posted on 01/03/2012 9:16:40 AM PST by patton ("Je pense donc je suis," - My Horse.)
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To: Craftmore

They did..

“They found and returned the books,”

Also...

“The Benoit’s insist they never got any warnings.”

Not saying it’s true. But that is what they stated..


35 posted on 01/03/2012 9:17:23 AM PST by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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To: bamahead
Then send the bill to collections and ding the parents' credit if she doesn't pay. Put a lein on something they own. Property, a vehicle.

Good point, but...

As an owner of rental property, I know that there are MANY people who specifically don't own property in their name, and don't care about their horrible credit ratings and go about life ripping off one person after another leaving them with no recourse.

36 posted on 01/03/2012 9:17:35 AM PST by Onelifetogive (I tweet, too... @Onelifetogive)
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To: patton

Our library doesn’t do any kind of “official” notifications. You find out when you go to check out other books. I have an advantage, a friend is a library volunteer so she always reminds me if any of us have anything overdue.


37 posted on 01/03/2012 9:19:42 AM PST by Gabz (Democrats for Voldemort.)
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To: bamahead
Yeah, '71. That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries. Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abby Hoffman telling everybody to steal books. I don't judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public Library, fella.
38 posted on 01/03/2012 9:20:39 AM PST by Portcall24
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To: moovova

Exactly. How hard is it to return books? What is this moron teaching her child about responsibility and about being considerate of others who may want to borrow those books?

I raised 4 children. Whenever we went to the library, I marked the books’ due date on my calendar along with the number of books we were to return. I also had a basket dedicated to library books, and my sons knew that they were to place the books in there after they had read them.


39 posted on 01/03/2012 9:24:01 AM PST by Bigg Red (Pray for our republic.)
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To: bigbob

While the cops were chasing down that dreaded criminal book ‘thief’, who “stole” what ?....a five dollar Jack and Jill picture-story book, illegal aliens were probably raping little boys in the next block. And, by now, Holder would have already provided the illegals with a team of FEDERAL defense lawyers.


40 posted on 01/03/2012 9:31:05 AM PST by jmax
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To: Bigg Red

Heck...I’m not perfect when it comes to the library. I got a email notice yesterday that I had 5 five books due THAT day. I went online and tried to renew them. Only 3 renewed because there were holds on the other 2. So...

I’ll take those 2 in today or tomorrow...AND pay the overdue fine. My fault, my consequence.


41 posted on 01/03/2012 9:33:58 AM PST by moovova (Report my sarcastic, fear-mongering, hate-filled lies to www.AttackWatch.com by clicking HERE.)
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To: Gabz

When we absconded from NYC, my mother had my twin and & drop off a steamer trunk full of books at the library.

Hey, I was 10! The thing was heavy! LOL!

Luckily, we then left the country.

Recently read that Ben Franklin owes a couple of hundred grand in NYC library fees.

Oh well, Mom is in good company!


42 posted on 01/03/2012 9:34:12 AM PST by patton ("Je pense donc je suis," - My Horse.)
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To: patton

You’re a trip, pal!

Happy New Year to you and the clan, hope you had great holidays.


43 posted on 01/03/2012 9:38:32 AM PST by Gabz (Democrats for Voldemort.)
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To: Gabz

HNY. Gabz. Knees are sore - spent the weekend rock climbing with the kids.

I am too old for this. ;)

Of course, my 72-YO father keeps showing me up - I am going to slap that jerk. LOL.


44 posted on 01/03/2012 9:46:34 AM PST by patton ("Je pense donc je suis," - My Horse.)
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To: nuconvert

Fantastic to know that crime has been eradicated in Boston and the police now have time to collect on overdue library books..............
What a bunch of assclowns............


45 posted on 01/03/2012 9:47:42 AM PST by SECURE AMERICA (Where can I sign up for the New American Revolution and the Crusades 2012?)
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To: bamahead


What about that kid, sitting down, opening a book right now in a branch of the local library and finding pictures of pee-pees and wee-wees in The Cat in the Hat and The Five Chinese Brothers. Doesn't he deserve better?
46 posted on 01/03/2012 9:52:12 AM PST by crosshairs (Liberalism is to truth, what east is to west.)
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To: jmax
According to Wiki:

The racial makeup of the town was 98.08% White, 0.46% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

As of December 2009, there were 13,745 residents.


47 posted on 01/03/2012 9:59:40 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: libertarian27

> Library Police = Busy Work I guess
> (hey, better than pulling people over for going 5 miles over the speed limit :>)

In October 2009 I was pulled over and given a speeding ticket for doing 34 mph in a 30 mph zone. The idiot cop actually wrote “a high rate of speed” in the comments part of the ticket. It cost me $140, a day of vacation for the appearance, and an unknown increase in my insurance for the next 5 years.


48 posted on 01/03/2012 9:59:56 AM PST by BuffaloJack (Defeat Obama. End Obama's War On Freedom.)
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To: bamahead

Yea, maybe picking up a phone and calling the folks with the overdue library book instead of the cops would be in order.


49 posted on 01/03/2012 10:01:20 AM PST by dmz
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To: SECURE AMERICA

Doesn’t look to be near Boston, either.


50 posted on 01/03/2012 10:02:00 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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