I was browsing another forum... and I came upon this post... it was interesting.

Make me more conscience of when I go after-hours car drooling.

FYI: It was NOT ME...!

I went out for some ice cream tonight. Just down the road from the DQ is a Lincoln-Mercury dealer so I thought I would look around the lot at the Mariners. It was after hours (about 9:45 pm) but I have done this before and didn't think twice about it.

I parked the car near the back in the 1st parking space I saw and walked toward the front of the dealership where they had a nice Kiwi Green Mariner. As I'm walking I see a cop car make a quick u-turn and stop in front of the dealership. The officer gets out and yells at me "Hey you! What are you doing here!?"

I answer "Looking at the cars." He asks me what I was doing in the back. I answered that was where I parked.

The nice officer asks me a few more questions and then asks me to put my hands up. Then he asks me to put my hands on the nice new Mariner. He then frisked me (1st time by the way) and asked me a few more questions. He asked me where I lived, where I came from and what kind of ice cream I had. He asked me if I was looking to buy a new car. I said I was thinking about it but it was unlikely because my current financial situation probably wouldn't allow it.

He took my licence and asked me over to the police car where I guess he checked up on me and recorded my name... After that he walked me to my car and told me there had been some recent vandalism in the area and at the dealership. In fact they recently had security cameras installed. Then he told me I was trespassing and had to leave the property immediately... So I did... Didn't even get a chance to look at the Mariner other than the hood

 

yup, I had a buddy who would go inspection sticker "shopping" at the dealerships at night. He used to peel off the stickers from any vehicle that happened to have it's doors unlocked......he'd even go through some of the wrecked vehicles in the service dept.

 

Unfortunately with our rights being stripped away like they are, this is all too common. He could have rightfully detained him up to 48 hours or some crazy horse crap if he really wanted to. I'm not telling you to vote Republican, just make sure you don't vote Democrat.

 

I guess I've been lucky so far.I always do my truck shopping when the dealerships are closed,but not usually that late in the evening.I won't even talk to a salesman until I find the truck one I want.

 

Illinois does not allow auto dealers to be open on Sunday - we used to do our window shopping on Sundays, but many dealerships have security fences and/or gates to keep people out now. The ones that don't usually park used cars crossways across the driveways.

 

I too also like to browse after hours, but many around here have security guards and movement sensors. I was told rather politely but strongly to leave.

Tim C.

 

Wow! That's the most intelligent post I've seen in a loooooooong time......I didn't know trespassing on private property was a right that has been stripped away.

What's next, you'll come on here complaining how Best Buy won't let you walk through their store after they've closed.

 

I do not think the Democrats had much to do with this---it is called sound business practice; while I admittedly like to browse without the hastle of a salesman, it is indeed trespassing. Also add into the mix that there might be the possiblity of vandalism or burglarlies, well, while I may not like it, I understand where the dealer is coming from. I guess it is well within the dealer's RIGHTS to do this.

I work in the summer for a market gardener, and he does take it rather seriously when people try to take the produce from him---it may not be a RIGHT, afterall, to make a profit, but I still do not think that the democrats incited the people to trespass to take large numbers of melons, pumpkins, etc.

Tim C.

 

My friend and I go to the local Ford dealership all the time at like one in the morning. They always leave every vehicle unlocked.

I end up sitting in all the King Ranches while my friend drools over the Saleen Mustang (also unlocked). One of the KRs had a keyfob in the console.

After we are done we always lock them all. Why? Maybe I'm a nerd...

 

I remember, back in high school, when I had a friend that drove me to the local Chevy dealer's used car lot to look at trucks long after dark. He knew that they stashed the keys behind the gas door. We didn't drive them, but I never went "truck shopping" with him again. He joined the Marines when he graduated. That's the facts.