Cops shut down little girl’s lemonade stand

NBC WBBH-TV ^ | June 18, 2003 | Patrick Taney

[MattAMiller]

Gotta get ready for the sale,” said Abagail.

Even though she’s only 6 years old, Abagail prepares for another day at work.

"We like making money at our lemonade stand. We want it to stay cold so they can have cold lemonade on hot days,” she said.

A young entrepreneur who does the cleaning even the advertising. And it is paying off.

"We are making lots of tips in our tip jar,” said Abagail.

But a few days ago, Abagail and her friends were put out of business by a neighbor.

"We didn't have a permit so she called the cops,” said Abagail.

The police arrived and shut her down.

"We had to take down our lemonade stand,” said Abagail.

Abagail did not have a temporary business permit, which is technically a city violation.

"So we had to do something else to play,” said Abagail.

"I was kind of shocked because I didn't know we needed a permit for 6 year old girls to sell lemonade,” said K.C. Shaw, Abagail’s mom.

According to the city, they have to act on a formal complaint.

"Normally we don't get involved in it but once we do get a formal request we must take action,” said Al Hogrefe of the city of Naples.

So Abagail’s mom went to the city code enforcement office with wallet in hand, prepared to buy a permit.

"$35 every single time for a single use,” said Shaw.

Not wanting to be sour, the city played Mr. Niceguy.

"No we did not charge her, no,” said Hogrefe.

They did finally get the permit.

"Basically a blank check to have as many lemonade stands as we can stand,” said Shaw.

So Abagail is back in business and learned laws can be tough, even for a six year old's lemonade stand.

Shaw said the police officers who shut down the stand felt terrible, but they had to do their job. One of the officers even bought a glass of lemonade from Abagail.

[MattAMiller]

How bitter and pathetic do you have to be to phone in this complaint?

[goldstategop]

We need permission from government to learn how to make a living. And its a crime to without a permit from a bureaucrat. Yes, even when you're just a 6 year old little girl.

[JakeWyld]

This smacks of senior citizenry...god forbid I live past 50...60 tops.

Of course, I could be wrong, but I'm taking a guess.

[goldstategop]

Hold Muh Lemonade Stand Alert!

[JakeWyld]

LOL. Thanks, I needed that.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Florida?

[SUSSA]

The cops should keep a very close eye on the neighbor. There's no telling what someone who would do something like this might do next.

[Brad’s Gramma]

I have two neighbors where I live who I can honestly see doing this.

How incredibly pathetic.

[goldstategop]

The neighbor was probably your garden variety anti-business liberal. ;-)

[Paul C. Jesup]

The person who called the cops NEEDS to be Freeped.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Not necessarily. I'm leaning towards just plain grumpy poopy icky people.

But then, hey......

:-)

[Fiddlstix]

I'm speechless..............

[July 4th]

Curmedgeon.

[hole_n_one]

.....and stop by every warm summer day that the stand is open and buy themselves a nice cool beverage.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Any bastard cop that would do this would also steal Tiny Tim's crutch and kick Charlie Brown's ass.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hi Speechless! Nice to meet you! I'm..........

[TLBSHOW]

disgusting is what it is!

[lilylangtree]

The entrepreneurship that made the US great is being choked to death by govt bureaucracy and regulation. Sad!

[Jhoffa_]

I remember in school, the teacher found an article about a lemonade stand that was busted for not paying taxes.. The IRS actually collected the small change the kid owed and everything.

The teacher had, of course, meant this to be instructional as to the inherent goodness and fairness of our wonderful government..

I took it completely differently. It instilled a sense of disdain and hate for the FEDS that continues even now.

Sicking the IRS on little girls and their lemonade stands? This is my government at work?

[ladyinred]

Okay, release the name, address, and phone number of the bitter, nasty, slime creep who called and complained! What have we come to in this country anyway? Stop the insanity!!!!!