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Klondike's avatar

For a bike? Damn, you are strict! For me that seems like more of a civil issue but I certainly understand the anger.

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Edward McNamara's avatar

For the record it's definitely not a civil matter. It's 100% criminal.

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Klondike's avatar

Sure, I just meant it could be handled financially rather than with jail time.

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Christina's avatar

I agree- financial recourse should be the answer to most nonviolent crimes. Restitution in the form of actual money that is punitive beyond the amount stolen if the perp has it, and community service to pay off the debt for those who donтАЩt. And not just some bullshit 20 hours of volunteering somewhere and youтАЩre done. More like- youтАЩre going to spend a whole year giving x number of hours every week to this specific restitution task outside your normal job.

Instead of letting the state foot the bill for punitive incarceration, make criminals atone by actually contributing something back to the society theyтАЩve wronged.

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Edward McNamara's avatar

That's pretty much the way the system works now. At least here in Kansas. Every time you see a bunch of blue garbage bags piled up on the side of the highway I guarantee you those were done by people serving the community per court order.

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Midwest Molly's avatar

But if they are in jail, they are not stealing bikes.

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Klondike's avatar

Well, you're logic is irrefutable. Iron Lady, Bane of the bike booster

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Midwest Molly's avatar

I am generally a delight! Kind, generous, easy going. Just don't steal my stuff, man!

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Moltar's avatar

Bikes are many peopleтАЩs forma of transportation. Bikes can cost months of wages even at the lower end depending on how much you make.

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Klondike's avatar

Ya fair enough, I just thought bike thieves are often young and jail time seems steep is all.

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Moltar's avatar

Yeah, the crazy thing is bike thieves are usually syndicates of adults. TheyтАЩve arrested people (rarely as the police donтАЩt usually care) with hundreds of bikes in basements.

Many times what they do is steal 10-20 bikes and then bring them to sell to nearby cities.

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist make it easy to liquidate stolen voods like this.

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Klondike's avatar

Well no kidding, huh, I did not know that. Ya, I would imagine that's a crime that's defacto legal given the low priority of it. Man, if I weren't so out of shape, I might have an exciting new side hustle...

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