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.

[honeygrl]

"Had that happened today there is a good change the dog would have been put down and my parents sued out the wazoo for damages. "

Yep, the dog would be dead these days and those people would own you.

[honeygrl]

I don't think it was the cops fault either. They were doing what they were told to do. I think the jerk in the matter is the nosey neighbor who called them and complained.

[scouse]

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

Some neighbor!!!!!

[honeygrl]

"How pathetic!!! Our across the street neighbour, an old, decrepid, single, cat loving, woman keeps her door open during holoween. When kids show up for candy, she starts yelling at them - "satan lovers!!!!" - I've wanted to kick her ass....."

OMG I know that was meant to sound horrible but I am just LMAO at that! I want to go to her house now at halloween and dress both of my kids up as devils!

[Zack Nguyen]

I'm betting on A+Bert. :)

[TexasCajun]

I think this neighbor needs some Freeping Love!

Should'nt the complaint be available to get some info on the asshole who tried to put this 6 yr old out of business.

[honeygrl]

"Unfortunately, if there is one thing the government guards zealously it is the identity of their snitches. "

I bet the parents have an idea of which neighbor did it if they've lived there very long.

[Destructor]

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

There's a "neighbor" that's just begging for some flaming bags of dog dookie on their doors step!

[jriemer]

This looks like a job for Kool-aid Man!

[E Rocc]

"Unfortunately, if there is one thing the government guards zealously it is the identity of their snitches. "

I bet the parents have an idea of which neighbor did it if they've lived there very long.

Not if there are several such people.

-Eric

[Jhoffa_]

I thought you were exempt if you made less than like 1500/yr or something like that and were claimed as dependants still by your parents.....

I have no idea, but when I was in grade school (which was a while back..) that's what the article said.

?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Oh, really? So it's law enforcement's job to harrass a six year old kid because of some vindictive neighbor with no life? So are you saying that city regulatory technicalities and busybody neighbors are more important than a little kid who is doing something constructive?

The cops would probably catch a lot less crap if they spent more time catching real criminals instead of hassling six year old kids.

As for the neighbor that complained, some good old-fashioned thump therapy is definitely warranted. Maybe next time the sumbitch will mind his own business instead of getting his kicks harrassing little kids.

[cigarboxtoblackbox]

You are the reason why most people hate the police. Except for Washington State (where the cops need a bachelor's to impart in them the professionalism that makes them outstanding examples of the community,) most cops are dullards who barely graduated high school, and only then because they were on the football team. The police are too chicken to go after real criminals, no, they want to stand out by creating their own crime. Fifty bucks says that little girls becomes an attorney, and makes a living going after rampant police abuse. And, by the way little boy: responsible firearms owners keep their piece holstered unless of dire emergency. They don't go around waving it at little kids!

[USMMA_83]

No you don't. That's one scary, wacked out wench. Her friggin' cat hisses too! Not kidding.

I've been reading effdot's posts - I have tears in my eyes - can't stop laughing.

[rwfromkansas]

She was on David Letterman tonight. Oh my she was hilarious!

She said the "crabby neighbor next door" called the cops on her and then said he asked which neighbor it was and she said "left."

lol...wow.

[newwahoo]

"You are the reason why most people hate the police."

Thought you'd be happy to hear that I collared two bodega robbers (grocery stores to non-NY'ers) the other night. I'm sure their families are sticking pins in their NYPD dolls as I type.

"The police are too chicken to go after real criminals"

Oh yeah, one guy had a knife on him and the other was on parole for some drug sale convictions. The store manager sure thought they were "real criminals" but I doubt the anti-cop freepers would consider a three-time dealer as one.

"most cops are dullards who barely graduated high school, and only then because they were on the football team"

Oh yeah, this one happens to have his JD and passed the Bar. "Salaam" to you as an NRA brother. I hope you can goose step a mile in my jackboots someday.