There's got to be a "bobbing for bobs" joke in here somewhere, but I can't quite get it...

You know, I just don't see how that can truly be considered theft. It's a public fountain, not an organized fund raising device. If idio...I mean people, want to toss change away on the ground/in a trash can/in a public fountain why can't some bum pick it up? Whos money was it anyway?

So who owns the money in public fountains anyways? I mean, if you find a coin on the sidewalk, its generally considered to be finders keepers. A fountain is just any other public location.

I'm just confused because to steal ... it has to be from someone. Who is the someone they stole from?

Did they use a magnet on a stick?

So, does the government own the fountain money?

95629: I'm just confused because to steal ... it has to be from someone. Who is the someone they stole from?

Well, as the story claims they "returned to the fountain", I'm guessing that's who they "stole" from. When a fountain became an entity, on the other hand, is an interesting question.

FarkinHostile: You know, I just don't see how that can truly be considered theft. It's a public fountain, not an organized fund raising device. If idio...I mean people, want to toss change away on the ground/in a trash can/in a public fountain why can't some bum pick it up? Whos money was it anyway?

Not the bum's. If it was anyone's to take, anyone would have taken it already and there wouldn't have been any for the bum to take.

"i'm taking my dreams back!"

95629

So who owns the money in public fountains anyways? I mean, if you find a coin on the sidewalk, its generally considered to be finders keepers. A fountain is just any other public location.

I'm just confused because to steal ... it has to be from someone. Who is the someone they stole from?

A lot of times there really isn't much money to be had. (maybe because it's stolen) but for the most part the Town owns the fountain so you are stealing from the town it's in. However, larger fountains like those in Las Vegas are dedicated to charities.

nytmare: If it was anyone's to take, anyone would have taken it already and there wouldn't have been any for the bum to take.

Circular reasoning and doesn't answer the question.

FarkinHostile: You know, I just don't see how that can truly be considered theft. It's a public fountain, not an organized fund raising device. If idio...I mean people, want to toss change away on the ground/in a trash can/in a public fountain why can't some bum pick it up? Whos money was it anyway?

A little tidbit on British Law, from someone who is neither British nor a lawyer...

Back in the day (nineteenth century or so), any time you did something rash like throw your money into a public fountain, the money was forfeited to the Crown. Back then, the Crown estate was a separate entity from the British government, but some time in the 20th century the Crown and the government had a merger (sort of). So now, anything that would have been forfeited to the crown back in the day, is forteited to the government now. Ergo, the government owned the money in the fountain.

aerojockey: Ergo, the government owned the money in the fountain.


So, any monies that are purposely abandoned are considered government property.

Thank you.

FarkinHostile: aerojockey: Ergo, the government owned the money in the fountain.

So, any monies that are purposely abandoned are considered government property.

Thank you.

Yes, and by "early 20th century" I actually meant 1760.

/as always, it is a good idea to "Wiki before Clicky"

aerojockey: FarkinHostile: aerojockey: Ergo, the government owned the money in the fountain.

So, any monies that are purposely abandoned are considered government property.

Thank you.

Yes, and by "early 20th century" I actually meant 1760.

/as always, it is a good idea to "Wiki before Clicky"


Regardless, its a stupid law. I have no problem with bums cleaning out public fountains of change people throw away, unless there was a sign/notification that the money was going to a charity or some other cause. It's not like the guy broke into a car or trespassed on private property. It's even reasonable for him to think it wasn't an actual crime, the money was abandoned.

aerojockey: FarkinHostile: You know, I just don't see how that can truly be considered theft. It's a public fountain, not an organized fund raising device. If idio...I mean people, want to toss change away on the ground/in a trash can/in a public fountain why can't some bum pick it up? Whos money was it anyway?

A little tidbit on British Law, from someone who is neither British nor a lawyer...

Back in the day (nineteenth century or so), any time you did something rash like throw your money into a public fountain, the money was forfeited to the Crown. Back then, the Crown estate was a separate entity from the British government, but some time in the 20th century the Crown and the government had a merger (sort of). So now, anything that would have been forfeited to the crown back in the day, is forteited to the government now. Ergo, the government owned the money in the fountain.

Seems to me like it should belong to a certain watery tart, then.

Maybe my wish was that poor people could get a bite to eat.

FarkinHostile: aerojockey: FarkinHostile: aerojockey: Ergo, the government owned the money in the fountain.

So, any monies that are purposely abandoned are considered government property.

Thank you.

Yes, and by "early 20th century" I actually meant 1760.

/as always, it is a good idea to "Wiki before Clicky"

Regardless, its a stupid law. I have no problem with bums cleaning out public fountains of change people throw away, unless there was a sign/notification that the money was going to a charity or some other cause. It's not like the guy broke into a car or trespassed on private property. It's even reasonable for him to think it wasn't an actual crime, the money was abandoned.

I'm not disagreeing, I'm just explaining. Also I highly doubt its a law; at best it's a royal decree dating from centuries ago. Unlike America, where we are used to things being codified, in England there is a lot of unwritten common law on matters such as these.

The interesting thing is, common law isn't absent in America, and many judges use common law concepts when the written law doesn't address the issue at hand (and sometimes even when it does). It wouldn't surprise me if, today, in America, a judge would rule that coins thrown into a public fountain belong to the city, on the basis that it has been common law dating back to England, and that no written law addresses the issue (assuming that's true).

29 pounds? Damn, that must be at least 100 bucks!

/am i joking?

aerojockey: FarkinHostile: aerojockey: FarkinHostile: aerojockey: Ergo, the government owned the money in the fountain.

So, any monies that are purposely abandoned are considered government property.

Thank you.

Yes, and by "early 20th century" I actually meant 1760.

/as always, it is a good idea to "Wiki before Clicky"

Regardless, its a stupid law. I have no problem with bums cleaning out public fountains of change people throw away, unless there was a sign/notification that the money was going to a charity or some other cause. It's not like the guy broke into a car or trespassed on private property. It's even reasonable for him to think it wasn't an actual crime, the money was abandoned.

I'm not disagreeing, I'm just explaining. Also I highly doubt its a law; at best it's a royal decree dating from centuries ago. Unlike America, where we are used to things being codified, in England there is a lot of unwritten common law on matters such as these.

The interesting thing is, common law isn't absent in America, and many judges use common law concepts when the written law doesn't address the issue at hand (and sometimes even when it does). It wouldn't surprise me if, today, in America, a judge would rule that coins thrown into a public fountain belong to the city, on the basis that it has been common law dating back to England, and that no written law addresses the issue (assuming that's true).

It is a stupid law (of sorts) but you cannot take money out of a fountain (even if you just threw said money into it a second ago) anywhere in the UK (unless the fountain belongs to you).

FarkinHostile: It's not like the guy broke into a car or trespassed on private property

Well, I bet it is illegal to get into the fountain.

KrispyKritter: "i'm taking my dreams back!"



Approves.

downstairs: Well, I bet it is illegal to get into the fountain.

Why? It's a public fountain. As long as he's not damaging it, why wouldn't he be able to get in it? Hot days make criminals:








I get it that it is somehow illegal, but it's farking stupid, makes a harmless guy a criminal and it's a waste of resources.

Madness, I tell you.

FarkinHostile: downstairs: Well, I bet it is illegal to get into the fountain.

Why? It's a public fountain. As long as he's not damaging it, why wouldn't he be able to get in it? Hot days make criminals:

[img.photobucket.com image 416x300]

[img.photobucket.com image 470x313]

[img.photobucket.com image 500x349]


I get it that it is somehow illegal, but it's farking stupid, makes a harmless guy a criminal and it's a waste of resources.

Madness, I tell you.

Don't get me wrong, its not like I don't agree with you. But when it comes to liability and all that... I'm pretty sure most fountains are off limits.