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Texans Being Arrested for overdue Library Books

DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs

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While most libraries around the country are doing their best to remain relevant, one Texas town has decided to speed up its library's demise by threatening to arrest residents who don't return books on time.

A recently passed ordinance in Copperas Cove allows courts to issue arrest warrants for library patrons who have had a book checked out for over 90 days and have not responded to requests — by phone, email, or otherwise — to return the book.

Jory Enck was arrested last week after he was found to be in possession of a GED study guide that was checked out in 2010.

Municipal judge Bill Price told KWTX the law was passed because Copperas Cove was "spending a tremendous amount of money replacing these materials that people just didn't return."

Price acknowledged that there was "universal hatred" for the law among locals because "nobody wants to get arrested over a library book."

Which is apparently something that is happening "quite frequently," according to Sgt. Julie Lehmann of the Copperas Cove Police Department.

She told Yahoo News that her fellow officers are not "actively out there going after these felony book thieves," but often a run of someone's driver's license during a traffic stop will bring up a "library warrant."

As for Enck, KWTX reports that he returned his overdue book the day after he was released from jail on a $200 bond.

Wow, seems like they just want everybody to stay away from their library. I know I wouldn't do business with them if I was going to get arrested for not returning it if I forgot
 
Arrested for not returning library books? Extreme much?
 
I think this is just a covert attempt by Texans to imprison people who read.
 
It's only a matter of time before they start executing people for it too.
 
How did I know that episode of Seinfeld would referenced?
 
I think this is just a covert attempt by Texans to imprison people who read.

You uncovered their plot. If you get an invitation to go to Texas soon, don't do it.
 
Mike might need to hang out in London for a while, then.
 
It is sad that this is happening; libraries are facing an uphill battle, and stupid decisions such as this make the battle all the more difficult.
 
"Sir, you checked out Green eggs and Ham on February 2nd 1984 and failed to return it. Legally we are required to shoot to kill on sight."
 
As a circulation clerk in Texas..

X42x049.gif
 
If you are too lazy to return a book after 2 years it don't find that overkill.
It's the United Stated after all where you can sue God because the sky isn't blue enough and where you use a flying fortress to kill a mosquito.
 
Have you seen our mosquitoes, frenchie? :argh:
 
After a certain period of time it is theft, which is an arrestable offense.
 
I think if you're ignoring the requests that's just being a dick about it, but if they never contact you and out of the blue years down the line try and collect it gets a little iffy.
 
"So what are you in for?"

"Killin' a man, what about you?"

"Forgot to return The Da Vinci Code"
 
So super Red state Texas, where citizens always complain about wasting tax payer money think this is a great way to use state and local manpower and time? My Zod...
 
I can understand a fine, but an arrest over not returning a book in 3 years, that's too much

How fat is the book? And how old?
 
This just gives new meaning to the phrase "throw the book at him/her." :o
 
I think this is just a covert attempt by Texans to imprison people who read.

:lmao:

I can understand that it should be considered theft if they don't return the property, I would have agreed on a ticket fine. But an arrestable offense? Jeesh.
 
The irony of someone getting arrested if one of the books was Orwellian.
 

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