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  1. #1
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    Feb 2008
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    Question Petty Theft For Dine And Dash, in California

    if a a group of people dine and dashes then gets away, but the restaurant manager cites their liscence plate, can police run the plates and arrest the person who owns the car and if they could, under what conditions can they be arrested? only at home? work? or anywhere?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
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    Michigan
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    Default Re: Petty Theft For Dine And Dash, in California

    Are you asking because this happened, or because you're thinking about it? If it's the latter, consider paying for your dinner.

    If you did this, we're not psychics - we don't know if, how or where you might be arrested. But when executing an arrest warrant, the police don't have to avoid embarrassing you in public or at work.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    9,096

    Default Re: Petty Theft For Dine And Dash, in California

    The quick answer to your question is "yes". You can be arrested for a dine and dash.

    Why wouldn't you be?

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Petty Theft For Dine And Dash, in California

    Quote Quoting jkrew
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    if a a group of people dine and dashes then gets away, but the restaurant manager cites their liscence plate, can police run the plates and arrest the person who owns the car and if they could, under what conditions can they be arrested? only at home? work? or anywhere?
    Yes, the police can run the plates. They will then get the DMV photo of the owner of the vehicle and run that past the restaurant staff. If the owner is identified, then a warrant might be issued. if a warrant is issued, the suspect can be arrested anywhere - at home, at work, in his car, on a stroll in the park, etc.

    If the owner was NOT the one that committed the offense the owner will likely be contacted and asked who was in the car. The store could also take civil action against the owner of the vehicle should they feel the need (likely if the owner is uncooperative).

    "Dine and dash" is a crime. In fact, it can also be charged as a felony as burglary under the right circumstances. Is it worth that risk to get your Grand Slam breakfast for free?

    - Carl

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    811

    Default Re: Petty Theft For Dine And Dash, in California

    Good officers will ask for a description of the people in the party.
    There won't be a line-up. They will take you by the restaurant and ask the manager "Is this him?"

    Do you know how well people recall things? No? Neither do I. What I do know is that if they take you by the restaurant and you are not a regular and good customer, you are toast even if you are innocent. ..but you are posting here, so you are guilty as hell.

    ...and don't believe that they will do this with you and 6 others in a line.
    ...and don't believe that every officer made A's through Police Academy.
    ...and don't believe that the officer is on your side; they are pissed because they are wasting their time on a dine'n'dash.

    ...or, they may just charge you with the crime, as the owner of the vehicle, and force you to come to court. If you weren't there the judge can compel you to testify as to who was driving your vehicle that day. ...and you can't take the 5th since you weren't there.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    California
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    Default Re: Petty Theft For Dine And Dash, in California

    Quote Quoting usedbranflakes
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    There won't be a line-up. They will take you by the restaurant and ask the manager "Is this him?"
    We can't do that unless he is under arrest or unless he agrees to be transported. Usually (in my experience) these dine and dash issues are done by people outside the area.

    Heck, we can't even transport witnesses to the police department unless they want to go with us as a courtesy transport. We can't just say (at least in my state), "Everyone's comin' downtown while we sort this one out!"

    - Carl

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    811

    Default Re: Petty Theft For Dine And Dash, in California

    Even when I was in college there was a lot of discussion whether or not lineups were even legal and what constituted a legal lineup. About 15 years ago the officer could drive the person by and in some cases they would make restitution right there (usually gasoline drive-offs where I was from) and that would be that.

    Nowadays it has become a lot more structured but I still hear about the officer (WV) driving the accused to the place of the crime. ...and with cameras and video it makes life a whole lot easier.

    ...and that little drive by stunt still happens today:
    http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43799

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