- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Michigan Bottle Deposit Scam - Right out of Seinfeld
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:47 am
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:47 am
In a memorable episode of Seinfeld, two characters hatch a plot: instead of returning bottles in New York for a 5-cent refund, round up a load of containers and run them to Michigan, where the return is double, at 10 cents each.
In reality, the ploy – returning bottles purchased outside of Michigan to capitalize on the refund – is illegal under the state’s bottle deposit law. And a Michigan resident is finding out just how steep the penalties could be.
Brian Everidge, who is accused of attempting to “return” more than 10,000 bottles from other states, faces up to five years in prison for one felony count of beverage return of non-refundable bottles.
The incident dates to late April, when a Michigan state trooper pulled over Everidge – who was driving a rented Budget box truck in Tyrone Township, Michigan, about 40 miles north-west of Detroit – for speeding.
The officer, Clifford Lyden, testified at a court hearing on Thursday that Everidge’s truck was filled with plastic bags holding thousands of aluminum cans.
“I don’t think you could have put another five or 10 cans in here,” Lyden said. “It was packed.”
LINK
In reality, the ploy – returning bottles purchased outside of Michigan to capitalize on the refund – is illegal under the state’s bottle deposit law. And a Michigan resident is finding out just how steep the penalties could be.
Brian Everidge, who is accused of attempting to “return” more than 10,000 bottles from other states, faces up to five years in prison for one felony count of beverage return of non-refundable bottles.
The incident dates to late April, when a Michigan state trooper pulled over Everidge – who was driving a rented Budget box truck in Tyrone Township, Michigan, about 40 miles north-west of Detroit – for speeding.
The officer, Clifford Lyden, testified at a court hearing on Thursday that Everidge’s truck was filled with plastic bags holding thousands of aluminum cans.
“I don’t think you could have put another five or 10 cans in here,” Lyden said. “It was packed.”
LINK
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:51 am to blueridgeTiger
quote:
felony count of beverage return of non-refundable bottles.
This may be the most ridiculous thing I've ever read.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:51 am to blueridgeTiger
Well I'm conflicted on this one.
On one hand he was recycling and trying to earn money.
On another he was breaking a state law, albeit an arguably dumb one and a victimless crime
Hilarious either wAy
On one hand he was recycling and trying to earn money.
On another he was breaking a state law, albeit an arguably dumb one and a victimless crime
Hilarious either wAy
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:51 am to blueridgeTiger
out of curiosity, why is that illegal?
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:52 am to blueridgeTiger
Stupid to make a criminal case out of it. The intention of the law was met (saving landfill space).
But I don't see how it's profitable. 5 cents per bottle x 10,000 bottles is $500. Take out the truck rental and the gasoline, and you get less than minimum wage from all the time you spent collecting, bagging, and transporting the cans.
But I don't see how it's profitable. 5 cents per bottle x 10,000 bottles is $500. Take out the truck rental and the gasoline, and you get less than minimum wage from all the time you spent collecting, bagging, and transporting the cans.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:54 am to blueridgeTiger
Meanwhile,
we having running for president...
we having running for president...
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:55 am to Bestbank Tiger
Well, I believe these types of schemes aren't hatched by Rhodes scholars
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:55 am to WG_Dawg
quote:
out of curiosity, why is that illegal?
Because the purchaser is paying in less than what the state is paying out in the refund.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:56 am to blueridgeTiger
play stupid games, win stupid prizes
hope he gets prosecuted to the fullest extent.
hope he gets prosecuted to the fullest extent.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:56 am to Bestbank Tiger
quote:
Take out the truck rental and the gasoline, and you get less than minimum wage from all the time you spent collecting, bagging, and transporting the cans
Newman had that all worked out years ago.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:57 am to blueridgeTiger
quote:
Newman had that all worked out years ago.
Newman!
Posted on 7/24/16 at 11:58 am to SundayFunday
quote:
On another he was breaking a state law, albeit an arguably dumb one and a victimless crime
It's not a victimless crime. If there is a $.10 refund, there was a $.10 charge. If they didn't come from that state, the recycling deposit balance would get out of whack. I'm not saying I agree with the deposit rules, but it's no different than scamming any other government agency.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:01 pm to Bestbank Tiger
quote:
Newman had that all worked out years ago.
and on the mother of all greeting card holidays, Mothers DAy, we often see spillover into a FIFTH truck. And guess who signed up to be the driver?
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:02 pm to blueridgeTiger
He should have waited for the spillover mail truck on Mothers Day.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:11 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
out of curiosity, why is that illegal?
Probably b/c Michigan legislators wanted to clean up Michigan, not New York and every other state.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:14 pm to blueridgeTiger
Meanwhile over in Ohio, a 20 yr college student was found murdered after disappearing while riding her bicycle. They arrested a man that served less than 3 years for a very similar crime. His other victim was able to escape. The criminal justice system is broken in this country. Felony for recycling a little steep. It could be considered fraud, but I bet the guy thought he found a legal loophole in the system.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:18 pm to Bestbank Tiger
quote:
But I don't see how it's profitable. 5 cents per bottle x 10,000 bottles is $500. Take out the truck rental and the gasoline, and you get less than minimum wage from all the time you spent collecting, bagging, and transporting the cans.
Trust me ive crunched the numbers.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:19 pm to blueridgeTiger
Is it illegal to just transport? He didn't actually turn them in, correct?
Easiest defense ever.
Easiest defense ever.
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:21 pm to blueridgeTiger
Am I understanding it correctly that they can basically charge him with a felony for bringing cans back into that state (do they have any proof of what he would do once he got there?). What if he wanted to build something out of the cans like this:
Posted on 7/24/16 at 12:46 pm to AUbagman
quote:
It's not a victimless crime. If there is a $.10 refund, there was a $.10 charge. If they didn't come from that state, the recycling deposit balance would get out of whack. I'm not saying I agree with the deposit rules, but it's no different than scamming any other government agency.
You should run for Governor and propose building a wall to keep out the illegal bottles and cans
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News