Wow. People are always plugging in their phones and such at schools. I'm sure it costs more than five cents. LOL
I had no clue it would be illegal to plug something in at a public building or at a place one was patronizing.
A lot of stores where I used to live had plugs all over the parking lots. For free. I figured it couldn't cost that much if they were all doing it.
Oh well. Hope the police officer thought he was doing the right thing and following his conscience, otherwise he'll have to...wait, no. He isn't required to think. It's okay to just do your job and enforce the law, even if it's ludicrous, right? :)
Common sense says that an accessible electrical outlet near a parking lot is meant for the use of those parking there, especially in modern times.
This is a common set up and assumption in many states. The only real issue I've heard of before has been with people using outlets specifically set up for the types of cars that came before hybrids, though places that get cold, like Alaska, there really is no question, you just plug your car into an outlet. That's what they're there for.
It never would have crossed my mind to consider it theft. My first thought, having now moved to a state where I don't see the outlets themselves in the parking lots as often, specifically set up, is that the ones on the building near the lot are for that purpose or the building is not updated and they're fine to use. It never would occur to me that it was theft.
I just think its going to happen more & more in our busy society with these battery operated devices.....scenario: I'm working and have to go to the kiddies school for a sporting event, dance recital etc & either my battery operated car or my cell phone needs a recharge. Well I look for the closest outlet to service it....thats natural. And from what I pay in taxes in NJ to schools maybe I think Im entitled & thats the problem.....THE ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY. In truth, no you dont have license to recharge anything but thats what we are confronting these days. Non consciousness Christians can fall into that trap as well as non believers.
Yes, of course, we pay taxes, it's like a bank. Need something, go get it from the school, you're 'entitled'. We pay taxes so we're heading to the fire department to plug in our hybrid and fill up my duramax. They'll understand.
Not necessarily. But five cents worth of electricity? Calling the police about this is petty, vindictive, and arrogant. If he'd walked in to the main office and walk out with a computer, I'd say "Arrest him." This is utter nonsense, regardless of the technical description of the activity.
With an electric plug-in cars, I see this as tantamount to pulling up to the school district's gas pump (remembering back to the days when school districts had bus fleets).
Plugs on the outside of schools/hotels/hospitals, are installed because most likely the laws require it, and for the maintenance of the building itself. It is up to each establishment to decide how much of their electricity they want to give away.
But maybe a sign saying "NOT FOR PUBLIC USE" would be in order ? Or some other way to let people know you don't want them plugging anything in ?
I can't see it as being that serious. Maybe I'm being blind, but I don't think so. Someone asked earlier if it is also stealing to charge your cell phone or tablet at an office or the public library, for example. Everyone does that and neither asks nor does anyone say anything -- most don't anyway.
So, if you can charge your phone without a second thought, why not your car, which isn't taking any more electricity than the smart phone is?
Wow, due to some ya'll I see we need to put up a sign around our house and property that reads: 'DON'T PLUG YOUR CAR OR ANYTHING ELSE INTO OUR ELECTRICAL OUTLETS.'
Because, you know, neither common sense nor common decency are common anymore.