So you drive onto a car lot, park your current rust bucket, and start looking around. A sleezy looking short, slightly over weight, gentleman with an evil grin and a bad comb over starts walking towards you. He proceeds to tell you all about the car you were just looking at before you even ask him any questions. You politely tell him you aren’t interested and walk towards your rust bucket and drive away. You rather enjoy having no car payment at the moment. You are feeling pretty good about yourself as you have narrowly escaped your bank account shrinking and put a dent in the shadowy car salesmen conglomerate.

You look in your rear view mirror as a white Crown Victoria whips in behind you. Your palms start to sweat, you check your speed, your seat belt, your breath, hey she might be hot. Everything appears to be in order as the lights come on. Someone once told you that when they flash you like that they aren’t friends so you turn your turn signal on and pull over. The officer approaches the drivers door, gun drawn asking you to please step out and put your hands on the roof of the car. You comply. The officer frisks you and explains that you are under arrest. “For What??” you ask almost in tears at this point. The officer proceeds to explain to you that you are under arrest for resisting a merchant. They then remind you that it’s illegal to resist a merchant therefore not buying that car is illegal and you are going to jail.

Ok, this might be a little overboard, but I read a story in the paper this morning about someone who had been arrested for resisting a merchant when this story came to mind. To be charged with this, you must first be charged and convicted with theft from said merchant. The law is section 812.015(6), Florida Statues (1983) if anyone cares to look it up.

Cheers!