Another brilliant new law

[catnapper]

The other day, I went to Walmart to buy a can of spray paint for a craft project. Stood in line forever - needed just this one item. A whole 97 cent can of black paint.

Never did get the spray paint because I didn't have ID. I didn't have ID because I just ran in with cash to buy this one thing!

Apparently, its a new law that you need ID now to buy spraypaint... no matter how old you look because I just might be 17 and ready to go graffitti up the town. Good intentions, but lousy in practice. Why not stop the graffitti in town, and make the townspeople liable instead of making the poor cashier working for $6 an hour the gate keeper?

It certainly didn't stop the kid from putting grafitti on my property last year. And who's to say they won't break into my house and steal my 97 cent can of spray paint? If they want to do it bad enough, they'll find ways to get the paint and make their mark.

Does this seem odd to you? Excessive? Just plain STUPID?

[K9soul]

That does seem excessive to me for that reason, but are you sure it might not be because some kids will inhale paint fumes to get high? But then you'd have to present an ID to get magic markers or glue next... so it still seems odd, and seems odd that it wasn't obvious that you are an adult. Next they will make you have an ID to buy toilet paper because you might just use it to TP someone's yard

[dukedogsmom]

Just another example of the village raising the child. Even if you are an adult, you could still give it to, gasp, an innocent child to huff. If they want that stuff, they will get it. These assinine laws aren't going to prevent them from doing so. It just makes life more difficult for the rest of us.

[kuhio98]

Here's another example. We can't buy more than 2 bags of cough drops at a time because we might be meth freaks. My hubby went to the store to get some because everyone in the house was sick so he decided to buy a couple of bags. NOPE! Seems druggies use cough medicine in their "recipe".

[K9soul]

Geez, I had no idea it was getting this bad

[moosmom]

Catnapper,

Sad isn't it??? "Huffing" as they call it, is the latest rage with teens. It where they spray the paint in a plastic bag and inhale. All in the name of getting high. I just read an article about the newest "huffing" sensation. Ya know the "air in a can" used to clean keyboards, hard drives, etc. Well, they're nowing using that to get a buzz. It's not as obvious as the pain is. It can cause an instant heart attack, brain damage, even death.

I know how aggravating it was for you, but ya gotta commend the store for sticking to the law and the store's policy.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

And we moan in the UK cos we can't buy more than one box of paracetomal............has the world gone mad?

[sirrahbed]

We had a similar problem buying the generic Sudafed at Wal-Mart Pseudoephedrine

Is this a state law or a Sam's Law??

[Pit Chick]

Whatever happened to a good old natural, from-the-earth, herbal high? Kids these days. If someone wants the spray paint to do illegal things with it, they're gonna steel it. Duh. And what about the adults that huff?

[senorita02]

Now that is just plain stupid!! Carded for spray paint!!??

I was carded for a lotto ticket last month, im 29! And just ran out like u did with my cash, ( ID) and they said NO i could not get one, ok if i was 17 i wouldnt be able to claim my winnings even if i did win.
(You have to be 18 to get a ticket)
i was so mad.

[catnapper]

I understand the huffing thing, but I think its primarily for graffitti. I tried to find the law online, and saw it from other states, and they mentioend it was due to graffitti.

They can huff anything in aerosol, right? Hairspray, Room deoderizers, spray glue, etc? I don't know, as it never occured to me to want to get high off that stuff! I was spray painting outside and the fumes got to me there! Oh, I am such a fragile flower!

Now, I also wonder... they sell spraypaint almost anywhere today. Craft store, discount store, etc. Will they card me there? I never did go anywhere else for the paint -- still need it too! I did notice last month one of the discount stores had spray paint behind a mesh cage and if you wanted it, you'd have to find a sales associate to unlock the cage. I never stopped to wonder what that was all about. I just assumed they were being proactive about stealing and graffitti (it was in a store in the heart of the city, with it own share of graffitii on the outside of the building.)

[sasvermont]

Hey, it is because of the huffing, I am sure. Kids are still killing themsevlves with the stuff. So the law isn't so crazy after all. Kids even huff with the spray cans that clean computers and electronic equipment. Anything that is aerosol.

There was just a program on TV about the epidemic of sorts, with the aerosol cans, including paint cans.

This has been a problem for years and I guess they are trying to avoid selling the items to teenagers.

You should take it as a compliment. The clerk must have thought your were under 18!

[catnapper]

Aha! I did find something. I'll look later for info regarding statewide, but here is an article for Philadelhia

graffiti law

"The first step of PAGN was to create tougher anti-graffiti regulations and to increase the intensity of law enforcement. An ordinance made it illegal to sell spray-paints to minors and prohibited unlocked displays of paints in stores. "

Whew, that was time consuming! But in my search I did learn a lot about graffiti!

[catnapper]

Originally posted by sasvermont
You should take it as a compliment. The clerk must have thought your were under 18!

Oh, how I wish that were true! I ran in with my hair pulled back and LOTS of grey roots in bad need of touch up showing bright as day against my almost black hair. No confusion as to whether or not I am anywhere near 18!

[Jadapit]

Originally posted by sirrahbed
We had a similar problem buying the generic Sudafed at Wal-Mart Pseudoephedrine

Is this a state law or a Sam's Law??

Most States have made that a law. Sudafed is used to make meth. They are trying to stop the cooks from making it so its sold behind the counter. I think you can only buy two boxes at a time.