Dumb redneck town resorts to racial profiling

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Yikes! I had no idea your bike got stolen

Hate to hear that it happened, but you do have to admit the irony that you ran a higher risk of getting mugged for your cash as well as crashing your bike only to have it stolen.

Yep! That damned bike was jinxed from the start! 

[TurboDan]

Police officers who violate the law are not police officers, they're criminals.

That being said, while the circumstances of what's going on this this town clearly sound fishy, it also sounds like we're hearing one side of the scenarios. One thing I've learned is that there are at least three sides to every story...the sides of the two opposing parties and the truth somewhere in the middle.

And, who the hell carries $6000 cash and brings a pot pipe as a gift to a family visit?

Exactly.  I was feeling sorry for the guy until he was carrying drug paraphernalia and a large amount of cash in his vehicle.  A gift for a relative?  Yeah, right.

I also didn't like the line in the original story about the "grandmother."  This was an attempt on the part of the reporter to make us feel sorry for the woman.  How do we know she was a 40 year old grandmother who has a rap sheet a mile long?

While something fishy is going on there, the "victims" don't sound like they're completely innocent.

[TurboDan]

They were on their way to buy a used car, and that's not unusual to buy outright in cash.

When I bought my last boat, the previous owner demanded cash (he was going through a divorce and most likely wanted to hide it from his ex-wife).  I said no way.  When you're dealing honestly, you at least use a cashier's check.  No, cash isn't illegal, but it's an indicator that something underhanded could be going on - especially in such a large amount.

[Soup DeVille]

When I bought my last boat, the previous owner demanded cash (he was going through a divorce and most likely wanted to hide it from his ex-wife).  I said no way.  When you're dealing honestly, you at least use a cashier's check.  No, cash isn't illegal, but it's an indicator that something underhanded could be going on - especially in such a large amount.

Perhaps, but its also an effective bargaining tool. Being able to hand over the money in cash, on the spot will often times get you a better deal.

[dazzleman]

When I bought my last boat, the previous owner demanded cash (he was going through a divorce and most likely wanted to hide it from his ex-wife).  I said no way.  When you're dealing honestly, you at least use a cashier's check.  No, cash isn't illegal, but it's an indicator that something underhanded could be going on - especially in such a large amount.

With cash, there'd be no record of the transaction, so you'd want to make sure everything was in order.  But having said that, if you can get a decent discount using cash, it could very much be worth it.

[Vinsanity]

While something fishy is going on there, the "victims" don't sound like they're completely innocent.

Still doesn't give the "cops" a free pass to act like the criminals they're supposed to be putting away.

[hotrodalex]

Yep! That damned bike was jinxed from the start! 

Should've got a Buell!

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Should've got an alarm with GPS!

Fixed!   

[hotrodalex]

Fixed!  

Eh. Buell's are loud enough that you can hear someone stealing it.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I don't think they started it. Prolly threw it in a truck/van.

[hotrodalex]

Hmmm.....

Ya got me.

[Raza]

I don't think they started it. Prolly threw it in a truck/van.

Bike lock.  I saw people on campus with them all the time, way back when.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Bike lock.  I saw people on campus with them all the time, way back when.

Not a big detterant. Two guys (with a bolt cutter) can pick the bike up and be gone in a couple seconds.

[Raza]

Not a big detterant. Two guys (with a bolt cutter) can pick the bike up and be gone in a couple seconds.

Oh, I see.  Some people here still can't tell when I'm kidding. 



The absurdity of a motorcycle chained up with a springy lock makes me laugh.  Can you imagine, pulling up somewhere looking all cool in your full face helmet and matching leathers, and then chaining your motorcycle up with this:



?

[The Pirate]

With cash, there'd be no record of the transaction, so you'd want to make sure everything was in order.  But having said that, if you can get a decent discount using cash, it could very much be worth it.

Plus, with cash, a lot of times you can get the seller to write a lesser price on the bill of sale, so you pay less tax when you go to the DMV (in NY, sales tax from private party transactions is paid when you register a vehicle).  Sales tax on used cars is crap anyway.  If I'm the third owner, that means that tax has already been collected on the car 2 times.

[TBR]

Plus, with cash, a lot of times you can get the seller to write a lesser price on the bill of sale, so you pay less tax when you go to the DMV (in NY, sales tax from private party transactions is paid when you register a vehicle).  Sales tax on used cars is crap anyway.  If I'm the third owner, that means that tax has already been collected on the car 2 times.

Same way in Texas, but that just seems a little sketchy. Plus Texas enacted a law that says you either pay tax on the wholesale value or what you actually paid, whichever is higher.

[Rupert]

Oh, I see.  Some people here still can't tell when I'm kidding. 



The absurdity of a motorcycle chained up with a springy lock makes me laugh.  Can you imagine, pulling up somewhere looking all cool in your full face helmet and matching leathers, and then chaining your motorcycle up with this:



?

While you are kidding, I feel the need to educate you on bike locks. Cable locks are shitty. You at least want a U-lock that won't easily be cut or picked. Or this, which is nearly unbreakable:

[Raza]

I know a little bit about bike locks.  Cable locks are just funnier.

I was trying to find a Hello Kitty one.

[Soup DeVille]

While you are kidding, I feel the need to educate you on bike locks. Cable locks are shitty. You at least want a U-lock that won't easily be cut or picked. Or this, which is nearly unbreakable:

Volvo jack.n  Pump, pump, pump. Pop

[The Pirate]

While you are kidding, I feel the need to educate you on bike locks. Cable locks are shitty. You at least want a U-lock that won't easily be cut or picked. Or this, which is nearly unbreakable:

I have that very lock! 

[Rupert]

I have that very lock! 

My friend had a bike stolen using that lock. He'd just finished tuning his new-to-him Mountain Cycle San Andreas, and he parked it in the wrong spot. The lock was gone, too, so I think they outsmarted his parking job, not the lock. It was shitty.

[Rupert]

I know a little bit about bike locks.  Cable locks are just funnier.

I was trying to find a Hello Kitty one.

[Rupert]

Volvo jack.n  Pump, pump, pump. Pop

Will that fit in there? That's a pretty small U-lock...

[Tave]

While you are kidding, I feel the need to educate you on bike locks. Cable locks are shitty. You at least want a U-lock that won't easily be cut or picked. Or this, which is nearly unbreakable:

AHAHAHAHAHA.

Whatever helps you sleep at night, man.

[Cookie Monster]

I have that very lock! 

How much did you pay for it? I want one.

[Cookie Monster]

AHAHAHAHAHA.

Whatever helps you sleep at night, man.

You're not going to get past it with any hand tools, and if you're willing to use power tools to cut through it then I guess nothing will stop you.

[Tave]

You're not going to get past it with any hand tools,

[omicron]

Nope, cash isn't illegal. It's extremely unusual to find somebody carrying $6000 in cash in this age of electronic funds, but not inherently illegal.

Now, as a person of average economic means, I've never carried that kind of funds in cash on me. Hell, I'm almost always armed and I wouldn't be comfortable carrying $6000 in cash! What ever happened to bank transfers and cashiers checks for large sums?

I work from time to time on the cash registers at a suburban Kmart, so our customer base isn't the richest on the planet, and I am constantly surprised (and shocked) by the number of people who quite happily carry around thousands of dollars in their purses and wallets. Just the other day I had someone come in and pay off a $3500 credit card bill with a thick wad of $50 notes, and it's not unusual for quite unassuming, conservatively-dressed people to be wandering about with equally-large sums of money. I'd never do such a thing; I'd feel far too paranoid.

[Byteme]

I work from time to time on the cash registers at a suburban Kmart, so our customer base isn't the richest on the planet, and I am constantly surprised (and shocked) by the number of people who quite happily carry around thousands of dollars in their purses and wallets. Just the other day I had someone come in and pay off a $3500 credit card bill with a thick wad of $50 notes, and it's not unusual for quite unassuming, conservatively-dressed people to be wandering about with equally-large sums of money. I'd never do such a thing; I'd feel far too paranoid.

I've known several people who wanted to carry a large roll of money.  Why I don't know.  Maybe it made them feel rich or important, or they thought it impressed others.

Personally I would think that would be a beacon that would attract potential muggers.  Flash your roll at the register and you just might get followed out to the parking lot.

[Cookie Monster]

One of my friends in high school would carry around a few thousand dollars in a roll everyday to hide the money from his dad.