When honesty isn't the best policy

[mookiemookie]

The 15-year-old Shepton High School student spotted the [$2000 in an envelope] on the ground and took it to a nearby Chase Bank.

Over the last three months, the bank and Dallas police have tried to find the owner, but have had no luck.

On Tuesday, police said under a new city policy, the unclaimed money will go into Dallas' general fund ---8212; not back to the person who found it, as in years past.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Dalla...121609364.html

Really, Dallas? Really? She turned that money in so that the owner could be found. The City of Dallas is not that owner. They've essentially stolen that money. What right do they have to the cash?

As a Houstonian, it warms my heart like nothing else to have an opportunity to say "F' Dallas."

EDIT: All's well that ends well: http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Annon...121637209.html

[AVGWarhawk]

The City of Dallas is not that owner.

It is now.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

It is now.

I guess they cited the well known court case of Finders Keepers vs. Losers Weepers

[AVGWarhawk]

Also known as tough beans....

[Betonov]

3 months ???

If I remember right, it was one year here

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

EDIT: All's well that ends well

For the honest girl certainly, thanks to a kind-hearted person who could afford to be that generous, but it still doesn't get the thieving city officials off the hook.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

For the honest girl certainly, thanks to a kind-hearted person who could afford to be that generous, but it still doesn't get the thieving city officials off the hook.

I wonder if that policy is going to be revisited due to the media crapstorm this situation seems to have stirred up.

[FIREWALL]

In this day and age any Official doesn't G.A.S. what the public thinks about them.

[GoldenRivet]

Contrary to popular belief, honesty is almost NEVER the best policy.

If you find a wallet on the ground with a bunch of cash, or you find a purse on the ground with a bunch of cash - thats one thing - sure, turn it in.

If you find money that it is obvious who lost it - as in you just saw someone get up from the table where you found it, or you just witnessed someone drop it - sure turn it over to them.

but i'm here to tell you if i found an envelope with $2,000 hard cold cash and no identifying markings just laying on the ground like gutter trash... the only person who would know about it would be me.

sucks for the person who lost it - it takes a vegetable or a really irresponsible person to just totally oops 2000 bucks to begin with.

Nice guys finish last. I will just consider that $2K i found laying on the ground a bonus for all those years i wasted being one.

[Platapus]

And, from a legal standpoint, why would a person finding money that does not belong to them, all of a sudden have that money belong to them?

It would be nice if she got to keep it, but hardly mandatory.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Platapus

And, from a legal standpoint, why would a person finding money that does not belong to them, all of a sudden have that money belong to them?

It would be nice if she got to keep it, but hardly mandatory.

because im pretty sure many municipalities have laws indicating that a person who finds money laying about and turns it over to the authorities, if nobody claims it within a given time frame, the money is awarded to the person who found it and turned it in.

i believe these laws were originally created to give people incentive to turn it over to the authorities.




In other news -- Not Everyone in Dallas is a Total Douche Bag - an anonymous donor has stepped in to assist the teen who found the money.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

Contrary to popular belief, honesty is almost NEVER the best policy.

If you find a wallet on the ground with a bunch of cash, or you find a purse on the ground with a bunch of cash - thats one thing - sure, turn it in.

If you find money that it is obvious who lost it - as in you just saw someone get up from the table where you found it, or you just witnessed someone drop it - sure turn it over to them.

but i'm here to tell you if i found an envelope with $2,000 hard cold cash and no identifying markings just laying on the ground like gutter trash... the only person who would know about it would be me.

sucks for the person who lost it - it takes a vegetable or a really irresponsible person to just totally oops 2000 bucks to begin with.

Nice guys finish last. I will just consider that $2K i found laying on the ground a bonus for all those years i wasted being one.

I'm in complete agreement with this. I'd go out of my way to return a wallet or a purse to its rightful owner. But random cash in unmarked envelopes....heck yeah, that's MINE. Especially seeing what happens when someone tries to be honest.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

because im pretty sure many municipalities have laws indicating that a person who finds money laying about and turns it over to the authorities, if nobody claims it within a given time frame, the money is awarded to the person who found it and turned it in.

i believe these laws were originally created to give people incentive to turn it over to the authorities.

My point is that this is not a universal concept and that not all municipalities have this law.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Platapus

My point is that this is not a universal concept and that not all municipalities have this law.

correct, it is not a universal concept and not all municipalities have this law.

however, the problem here is that Dallas is one such place that DID have the law when she found the money.

but the law has since changed having recently been modified that any found money will go to the general city fund instead of going back to the person who found it.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

correct, it is not a universal concept and not all municipalities have this law.

however, the problem here is that Dallas is one such place that DID have the law when she found the money.

but the law has since changed having recently been modified that any found money will go to the general city fund instead of going back to the person who found it.

My limited understanding of the law and what is right and wrong would say that this case should have been handled under laws in force at the time this all started.